Malmaison Liverpool

Malmaison are noted for opening hotels in unique buildings and in most instances, they give a modern spin to a heritage building. However, the Malmaison Liverpool hotel is unique in that it is a modern purpose-built hotel rather than a conversion of an existing building.

There are 130 guest rooms on six floors of the modern 11-storey building. All rooms have comfortable beds, a work desk, a flat-screen plasma telly, ironing facilities, a minibar, tea and coffee making facilities and en suite bathrooms. Standard rooms are available as either double or twin rooms but superior rooms are only available as doubles.

The superior rooms have larger beds and the en suite bathroom comes with both a shower and a bath. Six of the rooms are set up for guests with disabilities.

The hotel has two suites with a football theme (one for each of Liverpool’s two Premier League teams). The Toffee Shop suite is for Everton fans and the Kop suite is for fans of Liverpool FC. Both have separate living and sleeping areas with a massive bed, views of the River Mersey and the Royal Liver Building and an en suite bathroom with a big bathtub and a walk-in monsoon shower.

Malmaison is much more design-focused than your average chain hotel and there is a Liverpool theme throughout the hotel with Beatles posters and photographs of Liverpool landmarks. It is all too easy for a theme to go overboard (just ask anyone who has stayed at the Arthouse Hotel) but at the Malmaison Liverpool, the theme gives the hotel a local flavour without going over-the-top.

The hotel’s Chez Mal Brasserie restaurant features an industrial-chic decor with exposed air-conditioning ducts and exposed brickwork. It is popular with locals and other people not staying at the hotel and its menu focuses on classic brasserie dishes. The restaurant is noted for its liquid brunch, Sunday lunch and the prix fixe menu is good value.

If you don’t want to dine at the hotel you can always start your evening with a drink or two at the hotel bar.

The hotel also has a 24-hour fitness centre.

Free Wi-Fi wireless internet access is available throughout the hotel.

Prices vary according to seasonal demand, although it is usually cheapest on Monday and Sunday nights and more expensive on Friday and Saturday nights.

The hotel is located immediately north of the Crowne Plaza and it also backs onto Princes Dock and is close to the Three Graces on the Liverpool waterfront. The location on the edge of the city centre means that some areas, such as the waterfront, are very close by but other areas, such as the area around Lime Street station, are farther away. However, most areas of central Liverpool are no more than a 20-minute walk from the hotel.

The closest attractions to the hotel include the Royal Liver Building, the British Music Experience, the Pier Head ferry terminal, the Museum of Liverpool, the Western Approaches Museum, the Cavern Club and the Magical Beatles Museum, which are all within a 10-minute walk from the hotel. The attractions around Albert Dock are around a 15-minute walk and the cluster of attractions near Lime Street railway station are around a 20-minute walk away.