Hope Street Hotel has been leading the way for boutique hotels in Liverpool since it opened its doors in 2003. Twenty years on, it’s still one of the chicest places to stay in the city.
The Venetian-style building has a fascinating history, having formerly been a furniture shop, booksellers and coach maker for Rolls Royce.
Now it’s an award-winning hotel with a 2 AA Rosette restaurant and a spa that was recently voted the UK’s ‘Best City Spa’ by the Good Spa Guide.
Here’s what happened Boutique Handbook writer Lauren Hughes checked in for the night…
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Hope Street Hotel is located in Liverpool’s Georgian Quarter. Reaching it from the train station didn’t take long on foot and we were at the check-in desk within 15 minutes of arrival.
The style is chic and minimal, with a distinct Scandi feel that characterises the lobby through to the tastefully-decorated rooms. White-washed walls, wooden floors and exposed beams create a loft-like feel and instil a sense of calm as soon as you enter the building, as do the attentive front-of-house staff.
I asked for a couple of glasses of ice so we could enjoy a G&T on the sun-soaked terrace before dinner, which promptly arrived at our room, complete with elegant glassware. Already the experience felt like a special one.
THE ROOMS
The 89 rooms at Hope Street Hotel are tastefully decorated and come equipped with some impressive amenities. There are eight room types, ranging from a King Standard to a Rooftop Suite. For special occasions request a room with a freestanding bath in the room or outdoor bathtub on your own private terrace.
We stayed in a Lounge Suite, which included a spacious bedroom, separate lounge and terrace overlooking the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. The perfect place to enjoy an alfresco pre-dinner drink or morning coffee.
The beds are extremely comfortable and huge! There’s plenty of room for couples who want their space during the night, which was handy for us staying during a heatwave.
The amenities feel considered and high-end, with delicious-smelling REN toiletries in the bathroom, fluffy robes and slippers, a Nespresso coffee machine and a smart TV that offers additional information on the city.
FOOD AND DRINK
There are two dining options at Hope Street Hotel; fine dining at The London Carriage Works and 1931, which serves pizza, pasta, salads and sharing boards, as well as a hearty Liverpudlian full English with all the trimmings. There’s also 24-hour room service that caters for everything from breakfast to midnight snacks.
The 2 AA Rosette restaurant, The London Carriage Works, comes highly recommended and is famed for its inventive take on European culinary classics, but we dined at hot new Liverpool restaurant NORD, a 10-minute cab away in the city. Read our full review of NORD here
Breakfast at 1931 was an informal affair, with an impressive buffet that kept us full until dinner time, its plentiful produce sourced locally. With plates piled up high, we enjoyed the calming ambience of this city-centre bolthole.
EXTRAS
The spa at Hope Street Hotel certainly deserves a mention. For an extra fee of £55pp guests can enjoy two hours in the spa and experience the relaxing thermal journey, which includes saunas, steam rooms and an outdoor hydrotherapy pool.
There are also treatments on offer in the tranquil surroundings using Temple Spa products. Massages, manicures and reflexology can be arranged in-room from £40 per hour.
Hope Street Hotel also has a secret cinema room, which seats 39 and comes with its own bar. It can be hired out privately and claims to be the first hotel cinema in Liverpool.
OVERALL VERDICT
You’d be hard pushed to find a better place to retreat to after a busy day in the city than Hope Street Hotel. With a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere that’s just the right amount of sophisticated, there’s a real focus on comfort and ease and we particularly loved how attentive the staff were. Nothing was too much trouble.
Liverpool has so much to offer in terms of wellness, culture and nightlife – but with an award-winning spa and restaurant right on your doorstep, you might not even need to leave the hotel at all.
Rooms start from £79 a night
Book a stay at Hope Street Hotel here
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