Global hotel giant Hilton to operate fourth hotel in Liverpool, with its latest venture located above the iconic Cavern Club in Mathew Street, as part of a £35m development. Tony McDonough reports
Liverpool developer Craig Greenwood has secured a deal for the Motto by Hilton brand to run the new £35m hotel he is creating in Mathew Street above the famous Cavern Club.
Craig, who has also built up a successful air-conditioning and ventilation supply business, acquired the former Cavern Walks site in 2022 from Signature Living. He set about creating a 125-room hotel.
However, this franchise agreement between Hilton, Craig’s Greenwood Developments and property investor JSM, will mean the hotel will now have 283 rooms. Craig is seeking approval from Liverpool City Council for the change of plans.
This will be the fourth Hilton hotel to open in Liverpool. There is already the Hilton Liverpool in Liverpool ONE and Hampton by Hilton hotels in the city centre and close to Liverpool John Lennon Airport.
The Cavern Club, of course, is known worldwide as ‘The birthplace of The Beatles’. It was at the popular 1960s music they were discovered by Brian Epstein who steered them to global fame.
In 1973 the original Cavern Club closed down and was partly demolished. In 1981, plans were unveiled to excavate the buried remains of the Cavern Club cellar.
This proved impossible but the club has been recreated and now sits at a 90 degree angle to the original and covers 70% of the original Cavern footprint.
In the early 2000s Cavern Walks became a thriving upmarket retail destination, housing leading designer fashion outlets such as Cricket and Vivienne Westwood. It was also home to two cafes and provided office space on its upper floors.
However, the opening of nearby Metquarter followed by the £1bn Liverpool ONE, sent Cavern Walks into a downward spiral from which it did not recover. Signature Living bought the site in 2018 with the intention of opening a hotel. But that project did not materialise.
Craig Greenwood said, “We are delighted to be working with Hilton to bring the Motto by Hilton brand to Liverpool, and are grateful to Liverpool City Council for their support as we progress with the development.
“The brand is a natural fit for the Cavern Quarter, and with its exceptional location in the heart of the action, the hotel will perfectly complement the area’s vibrant tourism scene.”
Motto by Hilton Liverpool Cavern Quarter will become part of the Hilton Honors guest loyalty programme, which is available across Hilton’s 22 world-class brands and more than 7,500 hotels worldwide.
Members who book directly with Hilton have instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows them to choose nearly any combination of points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount, free standard Wi-Fi and the Hilton Honors app.
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Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president, development, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Hilton, said, “Liverpool offers remarkable cultural attractions, bars and restaurants – all of which thrive thanks to growing numbers of international and domestic visitors to the city.
“The Motto by Hilton brand is the perfect fit for this lively area of the city, giving travellers a base from which to explore everything the city has to offer. We look forward to working with Greenwood Developments to bring this project to life.”