Revised plans have been submitted to turn a historic former River Mersey ferry into a restaurant and event space.
For 64 years, the MV Royal Daffodil took countless passengers across the famous river connecting Liverpool and the Wirral. Now, more than a decade since she was decommissioned, plans for a redesign of the historic vessel could be ready to set sail.
Having originally been submitted in 2019, fresh proposals have been put forward to reimagine the ferry - once known as MV Overchurch - into a restaurant, bar and 13-bed boutique hotel. Subject to Liverpool Council approval, the Daffodil would be anchored at a mooring point located within Canning Dock, leased from Canal and River Trust.
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A design and access statement from Liverpool City Ship Ltd, who now own the ferry, said the main structure of the plans will be formed from the vessel itself and transformed into a “unique and nationally significant hospitality venture.” The statement said the overall principle of redevelopment was welcomed and the reaction to the initial proposal was “very positive.”
The current state of the ferry is described as “dilapidated” but holding “great significance to the contemporary maritime heritage of the Liverpool City Region.” Liverpool City Ship Ltd said they now want to create the region’s “premier floating food and drink destination.” Under the plans, the ferry’s promenade deck would be turned into a bar space with outdoor drinking area, with a seafood and grill restaurant on the main deck to serve 126 people.
A mini heritage museum would be created on the Bridge deck to “showcase the historic significance of the vessel formerly named the Royal Daffodil and both the Mersey Ferry and Mersey river crossing heritage of the city region.” The plans said a multi-function event space for private events, weddings, conferences and live music events, with potential for a 13-bed Boutique Hotel would feature on the lower deck.
The external structure of the vessel would be restored, with minimal changes made to its physical appearance, to allow the boat to be in keeping with the character of the local surrounding, according to the statement. Any external features of the ferry will be retained where possible and restored while any items that are too dilapidated or not in keeping with the new use will be replaced like for like or as similar as possible to its original feature.
The outer hull and funnel are to be repainted in their original colours using the same materials, with all original timber deck flooring being cleaned, sanded and restored. Original navigation consoles, a new ship’s wheel and binnacle are to remain on the bridge deck to provide historical significance and be used for the heritage museum.
Bank seating would also be reupholstered to be in keeping with the theme to each deck. As the vessel will reside in Canning Dock, where the walls are registered under UNESCO Maritime Mercantile City World Heritage Site and Royal Albert Dock Conservation Area, no physical alterations would be made to the dock wall.
The application’s heritage statement said: “The intended restoration of the vessel back to its former glory provides an historic tourist attraction and will boost the economy of the area. Whilst providing a commendable outlook for sustainably, bringing the vessel back from the brink of the scrap yard, a piece of maritime history that would have been lost.”
A date for the plans to be considered by Liverpool Council has yet to be confirmed.
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