The United Kingdom is hosting the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of the 2022 winners, Ukraine. Liverpool was chosen to be host city, with the Grand Final taking place in the Liverpool M&S Bank Arena next to the River Mersey on Saturday 13 May and Semi-Finals being held in the Arena earlier in the week.

Just a stone’s throw from the Arena stands a very special Pillar Box, one of three survivors of seven that were installed Liverpool in 1863, and the only one still in service. They were created when the city’s Head Postmaster argued that boxes that had been designed for the country as a whole were not adequate to cope with the heavy postings experienced in Liverpool where – unlike London – the posting of newspapers as well as letters was allowed. 

After a long battle the Head Postmaster was permitted to draw up his own design for a box which would meet all local requirements and the distinctive ‘Liverpool Special’ was born. These Liverpool boxes were based on the 1859 large first standard pillar boxes with a couple of notable additions, the most prominent being the large crown on the top.

The ‘Liverpool Special’ that originally stood on Sheil Road at its junction with Huntley Road was installed in September 1987 in its current location in the bustling, rejuvenated Albert Dock area, where tourists and, in May 2023, Song Contest visitors, can use it to send postcards home.

In celebration of Eurovision the box has been fully repainted, and is now looking more special than ever, as seen in these images taken by Letter Box Study Group member Pauline Jones.