CAVERN Walks is to undergo a £1m refurbishment to transform itself into Liverpool's premier fashion centre.

Having already signed up flamboyant punk icon Vivienne Westwood, the precinct's owners are talking to other top designers about opening stores.

Owner Warner, who took over the precinct 14 months ago, wants to buy up neighbouring property to expand.

The revamped centre will play Beatles music while shoppers browse as the owners seek to market the historic link with the band's birthplace.

As the Daily Post exclusively revealed last month, Vivienne Westwood has signed up for a 15-year lease on a flagship boutique in the centre. The 1,715 sq ft unit will be her third store outside London.

The letting is part of a strategy by Warner to enhance its profile. Other new tenants who have come to the precinct recently include upmarket store Drome. Existing designer emporium Cricket have signed up to extend their premises in the precinct.

Richard Moore, Warner's property director, said it was all part of a long-term vision to re-brand the precinct.

He said: "We want to increase the attractiveness of the place to fashion retailers appealing to a special niche market. What we want to do is build on the Cavern's reputation.

"We've got three good names down there which could potentially attract other good names in.

"Getting Vivienne Westwood was a coup for us, but that won't be the only name over the next 18 months.

"We've already started to explore other names that would build on what we are doing. Exclusive fashion, but modern fashion."

The famous statue of the Beatles will remain, and their music will be piped through the precinct.

Mr Moore said: "We're still building on the Beatles' history.

"We've got one or two interesting ideas to build on their name, and people will certainly have it more impressed upon them.

Warner say the long-term plan is to establish the precinct as a serious rival to the trendy boutique stores of Chester and Manchester.

Mr Moore said: "Our game plan is to primarily concentrate on Liverpool, and once we have done that, look at the wider picture across the North-West to see if we can start to increase the catchment area.

"We'd like to see if there's any scope for expansion by additional acquirements.

"What we always look at when we get a place is not just what we have bought, but whether we can expand it and add further floor space."

Warner are currently working on a five-to-seven year timescale, and hope that they will have completed the bulk of the work by 2008.