The Renovation of MELT Arts CIC (2025–2026): A Journey of Resilience, Grit, and Belief

The story of MELT Arts CIC’s renovation is not just about bricks, dust, and paint. It’s about resilience, rejection, belief, and carving out space for creativity when the odds keep saying no.

The Search for a Home in the Liverpool City Region

Our journey began with what we thought would be the simplest part: finding a building. The reality was far from simple.

Across the Liverpool City Region, we faced repeated setbacks. Three separate buildings fell through—each one unraveling due to unrealistic expectations, systemic bias, or barriers that felt designed to exclude grassroots, community-led organisations like ours.

Every rejection carried the same message: you don’t quite fit here. But we refused to disappear quietly.

Two Weeks in Birkenhead: Knocking on Doors

With few options left, we turned our attention to Birkenhead. For two weeks straight, we walked the Creative Quarter—street by street, door by door—trying to track down landlords, introduce ourselves, and explain our vision. There were no shortcuts. Just conversations, persistence, and a belief that somewhere, someone would listen. Eventually, they did.

We found a space in Birkenhead. It wasn’t the ideal location on paper.

It wasn’t polished or central. But it was an opportunity—one that allowed us to step away from the oversaturation of Liverpool city centre and instead build something intentional, rooted, and different. A chance to create our own niche, our own pathway.

May 2025: The Reality Sets In

In May 2025, we were offered the keys.

That was the moment reality truly hit.

The building was in a far worse state than we had imagined. What stood before us was the decaying shell of the former

Bam Buddha Lounge, filled with remnants of its past life and years of neglect. Before any real building work could even begin, we spent eight weeks simply stripping it back—clearing, dismantling, and uncovering what we were actually working with. It was myself, Jade, Katieann, Emma, Erin, and Daniel—day after day—pulling down remains, hauling debris, learning the building piece by piece. It was exhausting, emotional, and at times overwhelming.

The Saving Grace: The Great Welsh

Then came the turning point.Two incredible builders from Wrexham—now fondly known to us as the Great Welsh—stepped in when we needed it most. They believed in our story, in our mission, and in what MELT Arts CIC could become. More importantly, they brought skill, integrity, and heart. These two men didn’t just renovate a building—they helped restore it. With care and craftsmanship, they brought this unique space back to life, respecting its character while reshaping it into something entirely new.

Their belief in us changed everything.

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18 January 2026: Opening the Doors

On the 18th of January 2026, after months of struggle, sweat, doubt, and determination, we finally opened our doors to the community.

What stands now is more than a venue. It’s proof that persistence matters. That community-led arts spaces belong everywhere—not just in city centres. That belief, when matched with

hard work, can transform even the most neglected spaces.

This is only the beginning.

MELT Arts CIC was built through rejection, resilience, and collective effort—and our story is just getting started.