The Lighthouse pub to mark one-year anniversary of Elle Edwards' death

26-year-old Elle was killed while standing outside the pub on Christmas Eve last year. She was with her sister and friends at the Lighthouse when she was shot by Connor Chapman. 

Just after 11.50pm, Chapman, of Houghton Road, Woodchurch, fired a Skorpian sub-machine gun multiple times outside the pub killing Elle and injuring five other men. 

In July this year, Chapman was jailed for 48 years for the murder of Elle, 22 years for the attempted murders of Kieran Salkeld and Jake Duffy, seven years for wounding, 18 months for assault, 15 years for possession of a firearm and three years for stolen property. The sentences will run concurrently.

The incident devastated the community over the Christmas period, and a sea of floral tributes were left at the pub following the beautician's death.

This Sunday (December 24) will mark one year since Elle's death, and the Lighthouse has released a statement on their social media saying that "many of us are still in utter shock about what happened".

They have confirmed "after much deliberation" they have decided to open on Christmas Eve, but will close "earlier than normal and respectfully asking people to depart the premises by 11pm".

Elle Edwards (Image: Merseyside Police)

The statement read: "We are approaching a year since Elle Edwards lost her life in devastating circumstances outside our pub on Christmas Eve 2022, with many of us still in utter shock about what happened.

"We have spent a lot of time over the past few months thinking about what is the right thing to do on Christmas Eve this year and how best to be there for our community at such a difficult time for everyone, but in particular for Elle’s family and friends.

"The support everyone has shown for us this past year has been incredible and we’re truly grateful from the bottom of our hearts.

"After much deliberation we have decided that we will open on Christmas Eve – but we will close earlier than normal and we will be respectfully asking people to depart the premises by 11pm, with last orders at 10.30pm.

Lighthouse on Christmas Day last year (Image: PA)

"We hope you understand that we don’t want to remain open this year at the same time as when last year’s tragic events unfolded.

"We will all be taking that time this year to remember Elle and our decision is something that we have discussed already with members of her family.

"Our pub will reopen on Christmas Day and we are fully booked for meals, many of those are people who would have joined us last Christmas Day and we cannot thank you enough for choosing to come back this year and we look forward to spending the day with you.

"We are truly grateful to the entire Wallasey community for your continued support."

A Greene King spokesperson said: "Elle’s death continues to resonate with all of us nearly a year on and our deepest condolences remain with her family and friends for their unimaginable loss.

"Deciding how to approach Christmas Eve has been something we’ve thought about for a long time.

"After discussions between our pub team and the local community, we felt the right decision was for The Lighthouse to remain a place for everyone to be together as so many people were deeply affected by what happened."

Anyone who has any information about the use and storage of guns and weapons is asked to DM @MerPolCC or contact @CrimestopperUK anonymously on 0800 555 111.