A new Liverpool city centre hotel located in a Victorian building opens its doors in time for Eurovision. Tony McDonough reports
A new 55-bedroom hotel has opened in Liverpool ONE, just in time for Eurovision.
School Lane Hotel, on the corner of School Lane and Peter’s Lane, was first proposed by since collapsed developer YPG in 2018. It has now been completed by the owner of the upmarket Hope Street Hotel in the city. Architects were L7 Architects and Carpenter Build was the contractor.
Occupying 17,500 across five floors, School Lane Hotel is located in the Russell Building which dates back to the 1850s. It is just yards away from the historic Bluecoat Chambers, the oldest building in Liverpool city centre.
All 55 rooms offer their original sash windows and three-metre-high ceilings. They come furnished with bespoke oak furniture, super-king beds, rain-dance showers and Temple Spa products.
The reception and lounge area features a glass installation commissioned by acclaimed glass artist Katerina Christou.
Dave Brewitt, founder, owner and chief executive of Hope Street Hotel, said: ‘We are very excited to be opening School Lane Hotel at Liverpool ONE in time for Eurovision.
“We have created something really special and I am incredibly proud of the teams at Carpenter Build and Hope Street Hotel for delivering such an amazing project in such an incredibly short space of time.
“We thoroughly look forward to working with our new School Lane Hotel team and welcoming guests for Eurovision and for many years to come.”
School Lane Hotel’s opening comes ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest which takes place at the M&S Bank Arena on Saturday, May 13. More than 100,000 extra visitors are expected in Liverpool this week.
Rob Deacon, senior asset manager at Grosvenor, owner of Liverpool ONE, added: “We are hugely excited to see School Lane Hotel open at Liverpool ONE, just in time for Eurovision. Footfall is set to increase at the destination by 25% during this time.
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“The city is going from strength to strength in its position as a leading tourist hotspot, and curating a well-rounded, varied tenant mix is crucial.
“The arrival of high-quality, independent hospitality operators such as School Lane Hotel only adds to this, and we look forward to seeing them thrive in this prime city centre location.”