Double joys of a night by the Pool
LIVERPOOL is one of my all-time favourite cities.
Rich in culture and steeped in music history, it’s a haven for those looking to shop, eat out and party – and this was certainly a city break to twist and shout about.
Checking into two of Liverpool’s most luxurious hotels over the weekend, my fiancé Nicos and I got the best of both worlds, with a chance to relax and rejuvenate in Morgan’s Spa at 30 James Street before joining the party at the new Shankly Hotel.
Home of the RMS Titanic, its former port of registry, the Grade II listed Albion House building at 30 James Street is close to the Albert Docks and its namesake railway station.
As a fan of the blockbuster, I enjoyed the quirky nautical features paying homage to the ill-fated ship. XXXXXX xxxxxx Most impressive was the stunning
Xxxx Carpathia Champagne Bar and Restaurant. There you can enjoy a Heart of the Ocean cocktail in the rooftop bar with views over the Mersey to the sound of The Beatles. Guests can also marvel at artefacts from the RMS Carpathia – which rescued Titanic survivors – while enjoying afternoon tea.
And the rooms are equally as stunning with both classic and modern furnishings including a Jacuzzi bath.
We stayed in the majestic Olympic Stateroom Turret Suite and had a couple’s massage in the luxury spa, “down in steerage”.
New to the city’s nightlife is another of Signature Living’s ventures, the Sugar Hut on Victoria Street.
A must for TOWIE fans, we were apprehensive at first, but found the mouth-watering menu and down-toearth Scouse servers, armed with a vast knowledge of the city’s best nightspots, were right up our street.
Salivating starters of mini steak avocado tacos and lobster mac and cheese balls with a 10oz rib-eye steak and truffle fries to follow, washed down with a few mojitos, proved there is more to this place than the garish pink seating.
Specialists in stag and hen parties, developers Signature Living are also behind the award-winning Shankly Hotel, named after the LFC legend. The vast reception area is full of stuff related to the iconic Liverpool manager.
As we were escorted to our room, we were immediately impressed by the high level of customer service. Staff really went the extra mile to welcome us.
The grand size of our suite – which can sleep four – matched with the tasteful decor gave an immediate wow factor. Each room is inspired by Bill Shankly’s career with his quotes on the ceilings.
“Aim for the sky and you’ll reach the ceiling. Aim for the ceiling and you’ll stay on the floor” was one of my favourites.
The suite features the comfiest beds ever, a 50in plasma TV, WiFi and Bluetooth speakers and all the extras you need, and there’s a Jacuzzi bath too.
We dined at the Bastion Bar and Restaurant, the perfect precursor to a night on the town.
Homemade Scotch egg starter with crispy serrano ham and house brown sauce and the slow-braised ox cheek main with carmelised shallot mash tickled our tastebuds from the dinner inclusive menu. And we could not resist traditional sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce and clotted cream.
A great dining experience for the discerning foodie heading out to the city’s nightclubs.