A new hotel has opened in Liverpool city centre after months of delay and a £30m transformation project.
Radisson RED Liverpool is the first hotel of its brand in the North of England and has taken over the grade II-listed former Northern Western Hall next to Lime Street train station. The building was first opened as one of the original British railway hotels in the 1800s.
The hotel had been originally set to open its doors this summer but delays forced it to be pushed back to September and then today.
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The 10-storey hotel includes 201 guest rooms and suites, some overlooking St George’s Hall. It also features barbecue and robata grill restaurant, Stoke.
The building was originally designed by Aigburth-born Alfred Waterhouse as one of the British Transport Hotels, offering direct links to the neighbouring railway station. From the 1930s, the building was largely unused except for student accommodation in the 1990s.
The renovation works saw the restoration of a nineteenth century stained glass window and a grand sandstone staircase.
More than 792 hours were spent refurbishing the grand staircase and polishers added the finishing touches to the 94-meter handrail.
The building’s turrets and spires, original features from the 1800s, have also been restored.
Tom Flanagan Karttunen, area senior vice president, Northern & Western Europe at Radisson Hotel Group, said: "The Radisson RED brand and the city of Liverpool are the perfect match, both representing fun and vibrancy with strong links to music, art and design.
"The building has undergone an incredible transformation. It’s one of the first buildings that visitors to the city will see when they arrive so we’ve worked hard to create an unforgettable experience for both locals and tourists."
Gary Waring, general manager at Radisson RED Liverpool, added: "The opening of Radisson RED Liverpool and the building’s renovation have been greatly anticipated across the city for some time and we’re thrilled to finally reveal the finished look.
"Liverpool is an incredibly unique place and we’ve worked hard to reflect this throughout the hotel, paying tribute to local icons and giving a nod to the building’s rich heritage.
"Bringing an exciting food and drink venue to the city was also a key priority. We are looking forward to welcoming guests and creating a real must-visit destination."
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