Plans are being discussed that could mean major changes for Mathew Street - including ramped up security which would control who goes in and out of the famous area during busy periods.
Meetings have been held between councillors and key figures from the city's nightlife community about how to clamp down on issues of crime, disorder and aggressive begging in and around Mathew Street - and potentially at other popular city centre nightspots.
The idea is the brainchild of John Hughes, one of Liverpool clubland's most influential figures - who says he wants to make the city centre a safer place.
John, who chairs Liverpool's Pubwatch group and has set up the Liverpool Nightlife Community Interest Company, believes action needs to be taken to keep people safe in the city centre and make it the best place to socialise in the country.
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And the way he believes this could be achieved would be through 'control zones', which would allow security guards to stop those who may present problems coming into the famous street at certain times.
John said a similar approach could be used in other busy nightspots like concert square - stating that anti-social behaviour like drug dealing, knife crime and aggresive begging has become a major concern for clubland.
He told the ECHO: "I have worked in the city centre for 35 years and I love it, but there is a lot of unrest about these issues at the moment.
"The bars are all doing what they are supposed to be doing, but the problem is the streets outside - there is a lot of crime including stealing and dealing."
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John said he has met with some city councillors and Merseyside Police about his control zones proposal.
He said: "I've also spoken to all the bars in the area who think this is a good idea - although it is only in the early stages at the moment."
How would the plan work?
John has stressed the plan is at a very early stage, but he believes it could involve installing security around Mathew Street's various entrances from around 6pm on busy nights.
He said those at the entrances would be able to carry out safety searches on those looking to come to the area and help to keep unsavoury characters out.
He said part of the plan could also involve installing a mobile triage area, pop-up police stations and safe havens - all with the aim of making the area safer for those visiting and those running businesses in it.
John said: "My aim is to make Liverpool the safest and most vibrant city in the world."
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He said it is important to take all views into consideration and said that on the sensitive issue of begging, he would like to work with charities like the Whitechapel Centre and the Papercup Project.
Could plan be expanded to other areas?
It's still early days but John said Mathew Street is the ideal place to try his proposals out because of its popularity, the issues raised and the geography of the area.
But he believes that it could also work in Concert Square, where similar issues have been raised by licensees.
How likely is it to happen?
It's hard to say at this stage and John has said that he will of course respect any decisions made by the council.
But having had meetings with councillors and police - and with the backing of many of clubland's members - it is certainly an idea that is likely to be put forward for debate.
