This was published on the Echo website today. Sounds very interesting !




Unique £14m hotel for the elite to open next year Jul 7 2005

Exclusive By Kate Mansey, Daily Post Staff

LIVERPOOL'S first five-star hotel should be ready for business by the end of 2006.

The £14m venture will be the only one of its kind in Merseyside.

Designs for the hotel, drawn up by Salford-based architects Leach Rhodes and Walker, have been based on the luxurious Burj-Al-Arab, in Dubai, the world's only seven-star hotel.

In plans seen by the Daily Post, the building on the corner of Sir Thomas Street and Dale Street in Liverpool will have 80 bedrooms, a swimming pool, a gym and a restaurant which aims to be of Michelin star quality.

The retreat, aimed at the country's elite, will even have its own cinema, a mini beach with sand, a chill-out zone and a wedding room.

The guests will also be able to call upon an individual butler service.

Dr Marwan Koukash and the Iliad Group will be joint owners

He said: "I am confident this will be one of the top five hotels in Europe.

"Many VIPs do come to Liverpool and we know there is a market for a hotel like this. Although we have said it will be a five-star hotel, we are aiming for a much higher level of customer service than that."

Dr Koukash also revealed the hotel will be named after his six-year-old daughter, Layla.

Dr Koukash said his daughter was delighted with this, but added the little girl had already made a name for herself as she had modelled for Versace when she was just two.

The 46-year-old electrical engineer, originally from Kuwait, has lived in Liverpool for 30 years.

He graduated from Liverpool John Moores university and later gained his PhD in 1986.

In 1992, he set up EuroMa-Tech, an international company which trains executives and officials in management and finance.

He said: "Often I have around 120 people travelling to Liverpool from all over the world to attend conferences, and I know there is a gap in the market for a hotel of this calibre."

Dr Koukash's wife, Mandy, from Liverpool, will run the wedding ceremony side of the business.

He said: "I love Liverpool and have lived here for so long I consider myself from here.

"I think this hotel will be a draw to Liverpool. Rather than people staying at the hotel while they are in Liverpool, I see people coming to Liverpool to stay in the hotel.

"Instead of the chain hotels, it will be totally unique and the service will be exceptional."

The final designs for the front of the building are being considered in line with a planning application for the Grade II-listed building.

The five star Layla will be the first in a series of three new hotels which will form a network around the world. The second will be built on Dubai's man-made Palm Island and the third will be in Marbella, Spain.

kate.mansey@liverpool.com

Looking forward to this, Liverpool's first top swanky hotel. I'm sure the owners of the Adelphi is cacking it already.

http://www.greatestcities.com/6517pic/476/CP28476.jpg/Burj-Al_Arab_0.jpg

They're going to build that on Sir Thomas Street?

HA ha ! It's already there. I passed it when I was in town on Friday. It's next to one of the municipal buildings I think. An old victorian building rather than that freaky kind of lego model you have just put on the post ! When he referred to it being simlar to the one in Dubai I assumed he meant in terms of customer service quality and what services they have to offer. I was in the Marriott a few days ago and one of the staff there said 'Av ya finnished with ya plate like ?' after a post conference lunch. I'm sure she will be head hunted by Dr. Koukash in person. The Marriot is ok for a chain hotel but is starting to look worn already. Doors and bars are looking scuffed etc, or am I just damn fussy ?

Ahhh, I see. Had a hard time placing where you where on about.
Is it the one with the scaffold round it now I assume?

Well we don't have a 5 star now, so there is certainly a gap in the market.
Maybe it'll make that irish boutique chain who are supposed to be doing up the old Royal HQ buck up their ideas.

That's true, hopefully it will spurn other developers on to make some good hotels. In truth there is only so much market space for 5 stars etc but there is potential for a few old victorian buildings to be converted into boutique style 3-4 star hotels. The Royal insurance building on Dale Street/North John Street has potential and an idea for a hotel there has been kicked around a few times but never got far. It is a beautiful building when you stand back and look at it but because the stone work is filthy and pigeons have made it a home people tend to just walk by oblivious to it. Would be nice to see that get off the ground. What about Albion house on James Street ? A White Star/Titanic theme hotel/bar ? Or am I just being a big kid ?

Glad to hear the Beatles hotel on the move too. Just hope it is done in good taste.

That's another important step in our regeneration.

Indeed it is. The need for hotels can get to saturation point of course. You just need more reasons to come to Liverpool. The Kings Dock arena and conference centre is probably the best example of this and the knock on effect need for hotels. More business and entertainment can help the hotel industry flourish further.

Also, with Liverpool and Everton both attracting more support from outside the city, there is a need to provide more hotel beds. Everton playing in the Champions League this year will also increase the demand.

You only have to listen to Liverpool fans on the various LFC forums to get an idea of the shortage of hotel rooms on match-weekends.

Liverpool is also beginning to rival the likes of Edinburgh and Newcastle as a top destination for stag / hen nights.

What we do need though, as the General points out, is more reasons for people to stay at the hotels mid-week. The Conference facility should provide this.

What about Albion house on James Street ? A White Star/Titanic theme hotel/bar ? Or am I just being a big kid ?



Thats supposed to be getting turned into flats.
Something of a waste of its potential if you ask me.

A Titanic museum would go down well....

I walked past the Layla hotel yesterday. It's in the Municipal annexe. Goes quite far back too. :)

i'd Go..
I still think Moat house should get one of the new hotels built
as they got chucked out for the paradise project and cheap hotel bring poor people and tourists

No. They were bought out for around £20m, offered an alternative site and declined. They were happy to make a fast buck and get the hell out of th city. Fools.

People should remember that "It is a blessing to welcome the stranger."

Whilst some might like 5 star (and plus) and can afford it - maybe others cannot.

Nevertheless their money and value as guests is no less welcome in a city that prides itself as being `friendly.`

Liverpool and the region has a fabulous variety of attrations - not all expensive and many free and can provide a wonderful day out or extensive holiday.

It goes against the grain to claim we have a tremendous downtown (which we do) if it can`t be shared.

Good comments chaps & chapesses. Just makes me wonder what superstars will be coming to stay there. Can picture Mariah Carey acting a diva on Dale Street now. She is up her own arse but if you are going to be up your own arse it's best to have an arse like hers.

On a more serious note, I looked on the downtownliverpool.org website and they mentioned some news about the royal insurance building on Dale Street/North John Street. I mentioned it previously in this thread. It has now been given grade II listed status/under threat. Apparently it could cave in so many years. Giving a building grade listings is all well and good if you are going to protect the building but sometimes you have to be open to alternative proposals that may modify the original but ultimately save it. The council and English heritage should now be wide open to any ideas for this place apart from demolition.

English herritage have a page for it

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/ConBar.2464

Can anyone think of any other buildings in this position ? I know the Echo ran a 'Stop the rot' campaign which was good. It at least raised people's awareness for a few forgotten buildings.

Can picture Mariah Carey acting a diva on Dale Street now.

Not as silly as it sounds. The arena shoud ensure we have at least a couple of major stars in town every week.

I will be looking out for her arse on Dale Street then PJmulholland ! I hope she is getting the opening slot when the arena is finished. Her arse is getting on a bit now. Let's see if she fancies a pint in the ship and Mitre. I can imagine her getting wellied on Urdinger and roaring at the taxi drivers now.

The arena is supposed to be just under 10,000. That can attract most acts really. Sometimes the MEN or NEC isn't full when they have concerts on. Better playing to a full house of 10,000 than a half empty arena twice the size. We are going to need a lot more hotels !

I was in the Marriott a few days ago and one of the staff there said 'Av ya finnished with ya plate like ?' after a post conference lunch. I'm sure she will be head hunted by Dr. Koukash in person.

My dads got a similar story about the Radisson, when he was involved with the Liverpool Internation tennis thingy.

the girl behind the desk was talking to a spanish coach of one of the players, in a scally type way, just as my dad was thinking this was embarassing, she broke into fluent spanish and held a conversation in the spanish coach's native tongue. It shut my dad up anyway ;)

My dads got a similar story about the Radisson, when he was involved with the Liverpool Internation tennis thingy.

the girl behind the desk was talking to a spanish coach of one of the players, in a scally type way, just as my dad was thinking this was embarassing, she broke into fluent spanish and held a conversation in the spanish coach's native tongue. It shut my dad up anyway ;)

Fair point. There is Comedy in that one Mark ! The normal situation would not involve the fluent Spanish retort though. Your dad's experience not the norm.

I do think customer service quality in the city center is poor at times. The people who employ the staff should look carefully when they are interviewing prospective employees. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with the Liverpool accent but when you hire someone who is effectively going to be the face of your company you need staff who can communicate clearly and in an articulate manner. The staff need to give off the vibe that nothing is too much trouble for them. All too often I have seen the 'Scally' type girl with her arms folded sporting a miserable gob, If you ask them for some service they slouch over disinterested in your concern.

We do have the tallented people in the city to provide good customer service. My gripe really is with employers who put the wrong people forward as their business face. Stick the scally girl in the kitchen to wash pans or better still don't hire her in the first place. Sorry if I am being a bit harsh but I am General Zod after all !

Fair point. There is Comedy in that one Mark ! The normal situation would not involve the fluent Spanish retort though. Your dad's experience not the norm.

I do think customer service quality in the city center is poor at times. The people who employ the staff should look carefully when they are interviewing prospective employees. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with the Liverpool accent but when you hire someone who is effectively going to be the face of your company you need staff who can communicate clearly and in an articulate manner. The staff need to give off the vibe that nothing is too much trouble for them. All too often I have seen the 'Scally' type girl with her arms folded sporting a miserable gob, If you ask them for some service they slouch over disinterested in your concern.

We do have the tallented people in the city to provide good customer service. My gripe really is with employers who put the wrong people forward as their business face. Stick the scally girl in the kitchen to wash pans or better still don't hire her in the first place. Sorry if I am being a bit harsh but I am General Zod after all !

That's not harsh Zod. Perhaps companies should do more to train their staff. After all, there is much about the scouse character that is well suited to customer service- Friendliness, good humour, and for outsiders- an interesting accent. But yeah, some 'assistants' in Liverpool (-and in other places I might add!) have an attitude that is totally unsuitable for customer service- i.e. gobby, scally (kidda la) intonation, miserable/unhelpful looking face.

I think thats spot on Blabbernsmoke.

Its down to the training and the employers pushing their staff to deliver the best customer service. They (the employers) have to recognise that good customer service is not being offered and drum into the staff the need to appear interested in queries, to provide a smile and seem articulate.

That's not harsh Zod. Perhaps companies should do more to train their staff. After all, there is much about the scouse character that is well suited to customer service- Friendliness, good humour, and for outsiders- an interesting accent. But yeah, some 'assistants' in Liverpool (-and in other places I might add!) have an attitude that is totally unsuitable for customer service- i.e. gobby, scally (kidda la) intonation, miserable/unhelpful looking face.

Cheers Blabbersmoke. I think we should start our own recruitment consultant agency. We know what we are talking about. Some of the recruiters are just too desperate to fill the posts they just throw anyone in that ticks their basic boxes. The interviewers should look for those personable qualities in prospective employees. Just looking at the person and judging them by their body language is important because that's what customers do when they see the representatives of a company. If you have got helpful warm inteligent people at your forefront it adds to the good vibe of a hotel, pub or restaurant then your business will be a success and the good word will spread.

He he, good thinking General. Hopefully there will be a bit of a culture shift as competition in the city's retail and lesiure offer increases. After all, a lot of the people who work in these places have been selected by their managers. Pehraps this sheds light on the quality of management. It wouldn't surprise me if you get some idiots giving jobs to their mouthy nieces and nephews just because they're related. People need to learn that a job isn't for life the way it was in the old days- it has to be earned, and constantly fought for.

-Says me who is talking to you guys instead of getting this case typed up. Better go! :runaway:

Wasn`t there a call for a "Tourism" initiative (NVQ or similar) launched in Liverpool a few years ago for those who wanted to join the hotels and related service industries in Liverpool? (It was allied to the catering college?)

Those who were interested within the "Black Cabs" had similar `Tourism` training if requested some years earlier.

If Liverpool is to make the most of Ecoc etc then surely it would be a nice badge of honour for those in the service industries to have a little Liverbird badge or similar to show that they know some basics about the city and the service industries?

I`m very very proud of Liverpool but sometimes I`ve had to cringe at poor service.

There is a mistaken belief that those who work in the `service` industries are no more than an underclass.

It is a "Blessing to welcome the stranger" from both sides.

It would be really great though if Liverpool`s service industries presented a united front.

That's true Blabbernsmoke. I remember watching that programme on the Adelphi Hotel about 7 years ago and I cringed horrendously. I knew the rest of the country were watching and thought that this was the worst advertisement ever for Liverpool and it's hotel business. The manageress at the time - who's name escapes me - was very gobby and unprofessional. My mate was in the lobby once and a Frech man walked in with a bag of McDonald's food. She asked him where did he think he was going with that etc in a very confrontational manner. She said he wasn't allowed to bring food in and he had to order off the menu. It was late and the night menu was obviously limited. He just wanted to grab something quick and hit the hay but she was being arsey with him and created a big scene in the lobby with an audience of onlookers. If I was in her position a nice smile and a goodnight would have been better. He is never going to go back there or recomend it to friends after that incident. So what if he wanted a Mc Donalds, how much hassle is that creating ? Sometimes you have to impose rules but you also have to turn the odd blind eye because the benefits outweigh the hassle raised.

In my own experience, I had a Christmas meal there and I remember the main course being of a decent standard but the christmas pudding was awful. You may say 'Well what do you expect at that time of year - all christmas dinners are made in bulk so are not perfect - I disagree. If you pay your hard earned money you should expect good standards. Anyway, when I had the main course a spotty teenager brought the meat cuts out in a steel dish/tray with sauce. As he leaned over he angled the laiden tray and the sauce followed over my shirt and into my lap. I was not impressed and let him know about it. He simply replied 'Soz la!'. This kind of thing doesn't just happen in the Adelphi and I would be victimising them otherwise but my point is that if you see this kind of think once, never mind twice in a hotel you simply don't go back and you tell all your friends. I'm sure everyone who dines in the Adelpi doesn't get a lap full of sauce each time they sit for a meal but it is all about first impressions. The managers in hotels should be eternally vigilant of their environment, staff and resources.

Standards in some places are good though, I went for a meal in the Monroe on Duke street recently with my family. The food was spot on, the meat was cooked to my liking and the veg was timed well. A lot of restaurants are guilty of letting the veg sweat in a bain marie all night and day until it is used up. The staff were courtious too. I recomend the place. For something different, try St Petersbergs down the road. Excellent ambient atmosphere and the food is cooked and prepared meticulously to perfection. The staff are polite, discreet and always on hand for you.

Ha ha, good story General. I remember that Adelphi programme. There was a camp guy who was a manager- and a Lancashire chef who kept calling him a "fucking puff" at the top of his voice. That was the only amusing part really.

Before I graduated from uni I worked in all kinds of places- Superdrug, Virgin Megastores, Wetherspoons, and as a waiter at the Railway Museum in York. Even though I knew it wasn't my chosen career path I was always polite and helpful to customers. If anything, I was sometimes a bit nervous- but that's better than being cocky and shit. Because I have worked in 'services' jobs and worked to a good standard- I now notice very quickly when I (as a consumer) am receiving a poor service. And frankly, it absolutely infuriates me when the service is shoddy. If I am a paying customer I deserve the same standard of service they would receive from me if the rolls were reversed.

People don't have to go over the top and start blabbing away (-this sometimes happens when I take my bird out for a meal and I really just want the person to fuck off and leave us to it)- but I can't stand somebody who comes across as not giving a damn. Politeness, friendliness, helpfulness- in unintrusive amounts is what I demand. Some friends have criticised me for this, but I simply will not leave a tip if I have not been satisfied- a tip is supposed to be voluntary and to represent gratitude for a good service. If I go to a restaurant and the waitors have been miserable and left us waiting too long, etc. then they will be lucky to get tuppence from me! All I ask is that they smile, say "Please" and "Thank you" (-which I always do anyway) and be reasonably efficient.

I think the Liver badge suggested by Pietari is a good idea- but only if it is taken seriously. If management isn't strict then lazy dick heads end up getting a badge and we end up back at square 1.

Blabbernsmoke, I agree with you on Pietari on the badge thing. As long as it's integrity is maintained unlike those 'Investors in people' plaques which infuriate me - I was made redundant from a place that had just been awarded one ! Ha ! They would have to make it a high honour so you couldn't get any old scally getting them for basic service.

I agree with you and Mr. Pink from reservoir dogs on the tipping ethic for the record. I also agree with your polite, discreet approach to service. If someone wants to talk about the history of the building or talk about some anecdote whilst there as a tourist then join in with them for a bit but otherwise just be available and on hand for the customers needs and do the job well. You should always think 'Well how would I want to be waited on it I was taking my girlfriend out?'. I am always polite and nice to restaurant staff unless they are complete arses. I think that someone who is nice to you but automatically a sh*t to a waiter is not a nice person.

I think that someone who is nice to you but automatically a sh*t to a waiter is not a nice person.

True, some people are on a power-trip and act like c**ts toward the service staff. But a skilled employee will know how to deal with this, i.e. act polite/helpful and then go tell everybody how much of a twat that fat c**t on table 14 is when they get into the back. :)

Central Buildings, North John Street, contractors have started ripping out this building ready to be converted to the long awaited "Hard Day's Night Hotel" tortuous is a word that springs to mind when you consider the difficult incubation period this project had, shows at its worse the unholy alliance of a great idea and vision relying on public grants, fantastic building IMO.

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/6114/centralbldg17hz.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/4431/centralbldg24zf.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

Couldn't agree more with the customer service comments made here, but I have seen the very best and worst of this aspect in Liverpool, all new employees should be given a mantra of eye contact and a smile doesn't cost anything.

This is an excellent bit of news, the city needs five star hospitality if it really wishes to reposition itself as a world class city.

I look forward to more similar projects in the future!!

Central Buildings, North John Street, contractors have started ripping out this building ready to be converted to the long awaited "Hard Day's Night Hotel" tortuous is a word that springs to mind when you consider the difficult incubation period this project had, shows at its worse the unholy alliance of a great idea and vision relying on public grants, fantastic building IMO..

Great news Doug, yes that is a beautiful building, I hope the outsde stonework gets a clean and an sparkling lighting scheme. This building does hold some memories for me as my farther worked there for over 20 years.

Doug thanks for your superb photos.

You can just about see hints of the golden coloured sandstone hiding beneath that layer of pollutants. The thing thats great about this building is the base hasn't been "blandised",(like Marks & Spencers etc has been), this is stunning to look at without having to look up. There are a number of flagpoles there also that need to be utilised when the hotel is complete to add that big city feel.

Great pics Doug. It's great to see that projects like the Beatles Hotel and the 5* one are filling in the vacant gaps in the city's grand, old buildings. Those pics of yours could easily be old New York- I'm well chuffed that superb buildings like this are being preserved and having money pumped into them. The decline is being revered!

When I returned from Japan I was looking forward to the many changes in Liverpool. I was not disappointed when I got back except for one thing; customer service. After four years of the best, from corner shop to five star hotel, Liverpool (and the rest of this country) have got a loooong way to go. Some kind of academy for this kind of thing needs to be set up as I think the service trade in Britain needs to have serious overhall. I've travelled a lot and it never ceases to amaze me how quickly the high of feeling appreciated for daring to frequent a place is quickly stamped upon once returned to thin precious little isle of ours.

People here don't really go into customer service as a career though. It's a means to an end for a lot of them; some who are students, bored housewives etc.

Great pictures Doug. Thanks for the contribution to the thread. As Blabbernsmoke said, these old buildings are finally being used up for positive things. hopefully there will be a knock on effect and more investors will take on the opportunities. I think the Beatles hotel will be good. I was worried it would be a bit of a bad joke first of all but the guys responsible are the ones who run the cavern and export the image all over the world. There are cavern replicas in a few other cities and they have to adhere to strict criteria to hold the name. My brother went to the Tokyo cavern recently and he said 'It was exactly the same as the one in Liverpool' - I joked with him and reminded him that he sounded like one of those people who go to the Costa del Sol and looks for a Red Lion boozer instead of flirting with the local culture.

Juxtapol - I think it is a shame that half of Liverpool's buildings are covered in a thick layer of filth hiding their potential. There was talk in the Echo not so long ago that a lot of buildings would be cleaned up for the COC year. Why not do it now? A clean city center and shiny buildings would attract more investment and the tourists would want to come back.

With regard to the Layla hotel, I walked past it last night and there seems to be only a bit of basic action happening at the moment - scaffolding and plastic sheeting and not much else. Still, it is early days.

good news, but a shit name, why dont name it something better than your daughter, it sounds like run down holiday appartments in Ayia Napa!

good news, but a shit name, why dont name it something better than your daughter, it sounds like run down holiday appartments in Ayia Napa!

I agree it needs a better name

Central Buildings, North John Street, contractors have started ripping out this building ready to be converted to the long awaited "Hard Day's Night Hotel" tortuous is a word that springs to mind when you consider the difficult incubation period this project had, shows at its worse the unholy alliance of a great idea and vision relying on public grants, fantastic building IMO.

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/6114/centralbldg17hz.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/4431/centralbldg24zf.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

Couldn't agree more with the customer service comments made here, but I have seen the very best and worst of this aspect in Liverpool, all new employees should be given a mantra of eye contact and a smile doesn't cost anything.

Beatles themed hotel set to be mecca for Fab Four fans May 10 2005




By Deborah James Daily Post Staff






PLANS to build a Beatles themed hotel at the heart of Liverpool city centre are finally on track 13 years after the scheme was first mooted, the Daily Post can reveal.

Bowdena yesterday revealed it has signed a £10m deal with Cavern City Tours to refurbish the derelict Grade II-listed Central Buildings next to the Cavern Club, on the corner of Mathew Street.

It means the 120-bed Hard Days Night Hotel will take its first guests in December, 2006, as tentatively proposed in January when the scheme was awarded £2.3m European Objective 1 funding.

The Bowdena deal represents a dream come true for Bill Heckle and his Cavern City tours teammates, who first conceived the plan more than a decade ago.

Although Bowdena began preliminary work to start clearing the derelict former office building in April, 2004, the company has now formally agreed to sign over the £10m for the full project.

Last night Bowdena's legal adviser Phil Turner said: "Until now the project was largely speculative, but now what was a dream for so long will become reality.

"The signing of this deal means the development is going ahead and the hotel will open its doors for business in December next year."

Mr Turner, partner at Manchester legal services firm Turner Parkinson Creative Unit, revealed the final paperwork was signed with Bowdena two weeks ago.

He added: "The Beatles have inspired so much investment in the city of Liverpool. The Hard Days Night themed hotel is set to become a key tourist attraction and Bowdena are delighted to be involved."

The hotel is set to become a shrine to the Beatles. There are even plans to link its basement to the Cavern club via a tunnel.

Each floor will be dedicated to a Beatles album and each room decorated by murals.

Even the rooftop will have a penthouse suite designed to echo the famous rooftop concert when the Beatles played their last ever gig.

The hotel will be managed by Bill Heckle and his team at Cavern City Tours (CCT), although they will not own the building.

In January, Mr Heckle, together with fellow CCT men Dave Jones, Ray Johnston and George Guinness, were the subject of a BBC2 documentary about their struggle to open the hotel.

The foursome bought the building, confident the project would go ahead, in

1992. But a series of disasters between 1997 and 2001 resulted in Irish backer John Tweedle pulling out.

Millions of pounds had already been poured into the building, which had by then started to become derelict.

The partners' desperate attempts to bring in extra cash took them as far as Spain, before the team finally linked up with Bowdena in 2005.

At the time, Mr Heckle said he was heartened that the hotel would go ahead, but was only disappointed that he would not be one of the owners.

He said: "The hotel completely consolidates and unites the Beatles industry.

"After all the setbacks, I'm glad to be doing positive work and promoting it, instead of fighting it."



Here is the article from 2 months ago confirming the Hotel's official go-ahead. It will be nice to see this come about. North/South John Street is a bit on the quiet side in my opinion and this will hopefully pick things up a bit more.

On the sides of the building, the block is constructed of white ceramic bricks. Is this to reflect light down the narrow alleyways of Mathew St, to save money or to reduce the impact of airborne pollution, like the Tower Buildings? :?

Don't know about that Bunnyman, perhaps an experienced architect would be able to shed some light on that one. You could argue for either really. There are some old dirty buildings in town, we should let lose the guys with the steam cleaner guns.

P.S, sorry about taking the mick out of your beloved EFC the other day. I was just telling the story as it happened. It was a hilarious moment. Half the fun of being a Liverpool or Everton fan is to wind each other up isn't it ?

Aye. We can always take the piss out of your Irish accents... :)

There are a lot of Irish fans. I was in Belfast a few years ago and all the kids had Liverpool or Manc shirts on. It's a bit messed up in my opinion. You would have thought Belfast had a large enough population for a fan base to support at least one big team. Then again, we have fans in Norway and the far east. Biscan is a sex symbol in Thailand you know !

So is Gary Coleman! You should see our shop on a Saturday (JJB, Williamson Square). Heaving with Irish and Europeans. Not a Scouser amongst them. Most of the staff are Evertonians too!

Oh well then if Gary Coleman can be a sex symbol over there then so can I. I'm leaving this damn desk job to sell my ass.

You shouldn't criticise people going into the Liverpool store really. They are here as tourists and in a way, that's what this website is all about. We want this town to push on and improve itself. That's why we are taking so much interest in this site. Still, it's always part of an Evertonians verbal arsenal for taking the mick. We do have lots of foreign fans, we have an appeal, most of our success is in the past in all honesty but we can get the far flung fans adding to the coffers. We are more famous around the world than Everton, hence that Czech waiter story on the 'Hail Raffa' thread. Anyway, I don't want to descend into a childish Liverpool - Everton argument. My mates are guilty of doing that in the pub. Squabbling away about who has the better set of fans etc when there are girls arses to be clocked.

You should see the amount of foreigners who buy Liverpool shirts with players names on though. There must me at least 30 who get them printed on a Saturday, and we're right above the LFC Club Shop. They're generally well mannered, but a lot don't know the words please/thank you. That can annoy you if you're not used to it. They also have no idea what a size 42 shoe is....

Generally they're alright. I've convinced quite a few to buy Everton shirts instead, as it's the REAL team of the city, but the only time I tell customers off is if they're buying unsuitable running shoes (I'm on footwear) orif they're buying Manc Uniturd/Arsenhole shirts...

Sales isn't in your blood Bunnyman. You should find an alternative career if you can't sell without questioning your morals.

The foreigners buy the Liverpool shirt because it is the name of the city and has had more success. If you went to Madrid you would more likely to come back with 'Real' rather than 'Athletico' gear. Same thing here, a foreigner would have little interest in Everton.

On a funny note, there is a programme on BBC2 every Monday night about football in developing nations. Last week it was about Zaire and this week it was about the Palestinian football team. I flicked to it last night and one of the head coaches was wearing an Everton shirt shouting tactics in Arabic at his squad. A bizzare sight. I'm sure he was teaching them the 'He's got red hair but we don't care...' song.

Not 'He's got red hair so blow him up?' that's unusual...

Was it a Rooney top? Everton often donate their out of date merchandise to poorer countries, whilst Liverpool donate theirs to JJB...

It wasn't a Rooney top no. It was just plain on the back. On that issue though and I may be wrong but I am convinced that Guy Fawkes wore a 1995 Andrei Konchelskis away shirt whilst he was trying to blow up parliament. Also he had a teddy bear face and legs made out of kwik save bags.

That was the bastard! Later followed into martyrdom by Barmby and JeffEars...

The standard of our Guy Fawkes effigies is shocking these days. When I was a child I wouldn't dare beg for cash unless my Guy had a beard, a buckled hat and a doylee around his neck. I was also clued up on the gunpowder plot unlike some of the little uneducated scallywags you get now. Ask them 'What did a teddy bear with Biscan's shirt on have anything to do with the gunpowder plot ?' You will be met with 'Just giz a quid and piss off mister'. The world has gone mad. I despair.

The standard of our Guy Fawkes effigies is shocking these days. When I was a child I wouldn't dare beg for cash unless my Guy had a beard, a buckled hat and a doylee around his neck. I was also clued up on the gunpowder plot unlike some of the little uneducated scallywags you get now. Ask them 'What did a teddy bear with Biscan's shirt on have anything to do with the gunpowder plot ?' You will be met with 'Just giz a quid and piss off mister'. The world has gone mad. I despair.


We are not all swearing fucking shits who have to beg check my profile ther is at least one of us who is rich anyway most just burn down flats all it costs is 50p for a lighter and charge poor people to get by the Heat. HAHAHAHA im so EVIL

Thanks
LiverOdysea
______________

18th July 2005 - Celebrating 1 year of Odysea

:weirdo:

"And so say all of us!" :cheers:

^ wierdo

Ahh. What's up? Don't like me picking on somebody that isn't you sheep child? :?

Ahh. What's up? Don't like me picking on somebody that isn't you sheep child? :?

????????????????????????????

Im my day we used to dress one of my mates in clothes that were too big for him, tie the hands and feet closed and stick a Santa beard on him. when people used to say 'that's not a real Guy, just some little tit in his brother's tracksuit', we used to give him a good kicking to prove he was a real Guy. He couldn't say anything otherwise he'd lose out on our hard earned cash. :cheers:

hahahaha
-In my Day-

Ten years ago. :)

Why the deletions to this'un thread? Liverod was being winningly daft and I responded with what I hoped might be entertaining sillyness about trying to get pissed on wine gums and my contempories' unsuccessful attempts to get monged out by smoking the contents of Typhoo teabags when I was a teenager.

Now: all gone. All gone.

A shame, perhaps.

Why the deletions to this'un thread? Liverod was being winningly daft and I responded with what I hoped might be entertaining sillyness about trying to get pissed on wine gums and my contempories' unsuccessful attempts to get monged out by smoking the contents of Typhoo teabags when I was a teenager.

Now: all gone. All gone.

A shame, perhaps.

Ahh, gone in the hack...

Thread resurected. Give us our 5* hotel ! Bomb the Adelphi back to Satan's gaff!

Beatles hotel on page 2.

Sorry to geg in on this thread months later but i saw the crappest guy ever the other day outside a shop in Huyton - tracky bottoms with no filling in - the yellow away Liverpool top from the Roy evans era with a coat stuffed inside and a halloween mask on the floor. Absolutely piss poor effort.

When I was younger I robbed my sisters pram and told my brothers mate to sit inside it with a halloween mask on and a long duffle coat, he got the shock of his life when some older lads bullied us, robbed our change then threw the guy on top of the bus shelter. I bet those lads wouldnt have got half the pleasure they got doing this to that scally outside the Huyton shop. Or maybe they would have grown out of it now as they'll probably be about 37/38 now.

The Adelphi is Satans gaff, my mate spent the night in the "honeymoon" suite there and said his missus was in tears about how crap it was - sponk stained bedsheets, staff who dont speak Ingles, scummy bathrooms, overpriced food and lifts that dont work

It sounds more like "one night stand" suite to me. ;)

You are confusing that with the former Jamaica inn hotel on Dale Street.

Wasn't that some brothel you used to use? :?

I have been there for a cup of tea early one morning and there were prozzies leaving. The guy on reception was like Hightower from police accademy. I left quickly. My dad and some guy who drinks in the rose and crown said it was a knocking shop so it must be true.

And you went there for a cup of tea. If you insist. ;)

Hey ! I'm not old and ugly enough to pay for sex yet !

For the record, the place is now closed. Try the floor above the chinese restaurant on South Road in Waterloo instead if that is your thing. Just bang on the door and the pimps will shout 'Whaaaraaayaaawaaaahn'.

And how do you know that then? ;)

My mate told me. Crosby and Waterloo are rife with secret sex dens. I read in the News of the World (Reliable source) that there was one above the laundrette on college road opposite Marine's ground.

Anyhow, this thread was resurected due to the issue of a 5* hotel coming/not coming to Liverpool. Not 1* £30 a session suburban brothels.

I remember looking in that vile place when I was 17. The plan was to go for my usual night out to the Krazy House and a few other haunts and then stay in a dirt-cheap hotel rather than have to get a cab back to Runcorn (which could cost anything between £20-40 depending on how much of a twat the cab driver was.)

That Jamaica place was rancid and scary. Woow, I'd forgotten about that night- I didn't even know it was Dale St. How could such a fine street be soiled by such a turd of a hotel? They were all booked up with scum bags and directed me to their (ugly) sister hotel. I disticntly remember seeing some hooker types lurking around. There was a scary black guy on the reception.

I ended up staying in the other place past the Baltic Fleet on the Dock Road. High Tower's look-a-like's twin was running that place. The place was putrid- the walls were painted in radioactive colours and there were scary people there (some of whom appeared to be living there.)

I arrived there at about 3.30am, the alcohol was starting to wear off and I distinctly remember thinking "Oh my fucking god. What am I doing here. I'm too young to die. This is the stupidest idea I have ever had..." At about 8am some middle aged slapper came and banged on the door, shouting "get up! get out!" (- I think they call that an alarm call!) I didn't need telling twice.

It cost me £15. There was supposed to be breakfast included. Whether this was a lie or not I'll never know.
I returned back into town- shaken and stirred. I took these 2 pictures which I later found connected. I have subsequently drawn on them, unfortunately.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y187/rob*******1/WAPPING.bmp

Yep, that's the place. Liverpool's first -5* hotel. And it's sister hotel to boot. Scary to think there is two of them. It must have been an experience for you !

Thankfully with all the new hotels going up everywhere places like this will be pushed out of business. Even the formula 1 hotel offers a room for £20 these days. Nothing special but serves a purpose for the likes of people in the circumstances you mentioned you were in yourself a few years ago. A workmate stays there and is glad to pay the £20 for a crashpad rather than fight over a blackcab or walk all the way down to the pierhead to get away from the crowds. She pays a couple of quid the next day to get the merseyrail home to Southport after that. A tad more expensive but removes that hassle away from the evening.

Yep, that's the place. Liverpool's first -5* hotel. And it's sister hotel to boot. Scary to think there is two of them. It must have been an experience for you !

Thankfully with all the new hotels going up everywhere places like this will be pushed out of business. Even the formula 1 hotel offers a room for £20 these days. Nothing special but serves a purpose for the likes of people in the circumstances you mentioned you were in yourself a few years ago. A workmate stays there and is glad to pay the £20 for a crashpad rather than fight over a blackcab or walk all the way down to the pierhead to get away from the crowds. She pays a couple of quid the next day to get the merseyrail home to Southport after that. A tad more expensive but removes that hassle away from the evening.

Wow, if only I could've gone to that Formula 1 place. Is that like an Ibis or something?
I hope those horrible Jamaica places collpase under the weight of the dirt- I shudder to think about it.

Waiting in a taxi queue can be a life threatening experience so I don't blame your friend for taking a hotel. Although the Liverpool ones aren't nearly as bad as the ones in Birkenhead. I went for a few night outs there with an old Wirral friend and remember deciding to walk 45min back to her house rather than get battered up by the local mutants.

I remember looking in that vile place when I was 17. The plan was to go for my usual night out to the Krazy House and a few other haunts and then stay in a dirt-cheap hotel rather than have to get a cab back to Runcorn (which could cost anything between £20-40 depending on how much of a twat the cab driver was.)

That Jamaica place was rancid and scary. Woow, I'd forgotten about that night- I didn't even know it was Dale St. How could such a fine street be soiled by such a turd of a hotel? They were all booked up with scum bags and directed me to their (ugly) sister hotel. I disticntly remember seeing some hooker types lurking around. There was a scary black guy on the reception.

I ended up staying in the other place past the Baltic Fleet on the Dock Road. High Tower's look-a-like's twin was running that place. The place was putrid- the walls were painted in radioactive colours and there were scary people there (some of whom appeared to be living there.)

I arrived there at about 3.30am, the alcohol was starting to wear off and I distinctly remember thinking "Oh my fucking god. What am I doing here. I'm too young to die. This is the stupidest idea I have ever had..." At about 8am some middle aged slapper came and banged on the door, shouting "get up! get out!" (- I think they call that an alarm call!) I didn't need telling twice.

It cost me £15. There was supposed to be breakfast included. Whether this was a lie or not I'll never know.
I returned back into town- shaken and stirred. I took these 2 pictures which I later found connected. I have subsequently drawn on them, unfortunately.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y187/rob*******1/WAPPING.bmp

Rob, as a 17 year old, I would have been absoloutely petrified with that experience. I'd have sooner slpet rough, either on a bench at the Pier Head or on Chavasse Park. Anyhow, at least it gave you a life experience you can tell your children about eh? :laugh:

LOL! You can say that again :laugh: Put it this way. The last time I had to stay over there and had little cash I ended up just walking round all night- far less scary.

Birkenhead at night is full of mutants. It's like the Michael jackson Thriller video. Then again, I can't talk, I live in Seaforth :)

Yeah the guy at the Jamaica looks like Hightower when he dresses up as Badoola the Voodoo priest in police accademy 4. I asked him if I could smoke despite there being an ash tray infront of me. I was scared ! He would have screwed my head off if I had got it wrong.

Yep, that's the place. Liverpool's first -5* hotel. And it's sister hotel to boot. Scary to think there is two of them. It must have been an experience for you !

Thankfully with all the new hotels going up everywhere places like this will be pushed out of business.

Nah, there'll always be a demand for -5 star hotels in a city such as Liverpool. They'll just be moved to more rancid areas i.e. London Road as opposed to Dale Street. You can imagine there were many of these years ago when randy sailors arrived for a couple of days at a time, so they could have somewhere to stay and get their leg over. Hardly glamorous, but an economy nonetheless.

Waiting in a taxi queue can be a life threatening experience so I don't blame your friend for taking a hotel. Although the Liverpool ones aren't nearly as bad as the ones in Birkenhead. I went for a few night outs there with an old Wirral friend and remember deciding to walk 45min back to her house rather than get battered up by the local mutants.

I've gotten into disputes with people in taxi queues when I haven't even been waiting in the queue. I don't bother these days. I just walk out of the centre in the general direction of West Derby and then flag a cab heading inwards.

Anyway, that should become a thing of the past with 24 hour licensing to be introduced.

Glad those days are gone from the city centre. However, when I get the bus in the morning lost truck drivers always ask me directions by the Seaforth flyover. The truckers and the sailors tend to drink in the dodgy dives in seaforth like the Caradoc or Gateway hotel B&B (Formerly St Winifreds). Lots of russians and they sometimes go down the dock road and venture into Bootle. See, the trade just moves. Unfortunately onto my doorstep. Hey, I may cash in on it and open my own brothel !

GUnfortunately onto my doorstep. Hey, I may cash in on it and open my own brothel !

Hey, why not? I'm sure Tony Sebo would be pleased with your entrepreneurial spirit. :laugh:

Well when prostitution is legalised in Liverpool there will be a stampede towards Seaforth and I will cash in with the help of my bitches.

Yeah the guy at the Jamaica looks like Hightower when he dresses up as Badoola the Voodoo priest in police accademy 4. .

Yama yama yama yama yaaamaa, MU HA HA HA!

:runaway:

Zod, why the hell were you sat in the lobby of the Jamaica? Have you been pimpin yourself? :laugh:

Hey ! I'm not old and ugly enough to pay for sex yet !

So you wank instead? :)

When she's not around yes. You can either be a wanker or a lying wanker.

Thought that this was a thread about a hotel in the city centre and not about people having a Jimmy Floyd?

Yes Guv'nor ;)

There was another article in the Daily post today about whether or not Liverpool will be able to sustain a 5* hotel. I think with the PSD and the Kings Dock arena and conference venue this may be justified but it will be a few years yet. Can you imagin U2 or Celine Dion staying at the Queens square marriot ? Bring on Chaz n' Dave for now and stick them in Jamaica house.

Yamma yamma yaaaaaama !

LOL!!! :laugh: Poor shaz and Dave


The market should be left to decide. If some company think they can profit from a 5* hotel then it will happen. The Echo always talks as though some guy in the council decides whether to have such a hotel.

I agree though Zod, with Kings Dock and 'Liverpool 1' (- I had to be the first :) ) as well as the expansion of the business quarter, etc. there will easily be demand for it.
What is the new Princes Dock hotel going to be in terms of rating?

The Malmaison at Princes dock is going to be a 4* as far as I know. I have stayed in the Manchester and Leeds ones and they are 4*. Very nice and cozy but modern. Cool decor too.

I suppose we couldn't call it the 'Paradise street project' forever. It suggests a work in progress rather than a finnished shopping centre. Also 'The paradise project' sounds like a bond villians plot to take over the world and eliminate the unpure to make a brighter future for the human race. I refer to Moonraker.

'James Bond. You defy all my attempts to plan an amusing death for you'. Drax - Moonraker.

Drax: "James Bond, you appear with the tedious inevitability of an unloved season"

Bond: "I didnt think there were any seasons in space"

Drax: "As far as you are concerned,only winter"


As far as the 5 star hotel goes, I don't think at the moment they could justify one but maybe in a few years, if they sort out the landing stage and sell the city a bit better than what is happening at present. There arent that many high rollers coming to Liverpool at the moment who would splash out 300 quid on a room. Mike Myers stayed at the Radisson when he was here a few months back

When she's not around yes. You can either be a wanker or a lying wanker.
Hey man, no arguments from this quarter but, there are more than just the above type of wanker. There are those, like me, who wanked themselves and those like some on these forums (EB etc), who wank others. In my day I could change hands without missing a stroke.

PS: An amusing anecdote; I once worked alongside a Scouser who hailed from Old Swan, named Terry Reaney. This was one of the most obnoxious characters you could meet and one day I was having lunch in the company of a number of co-workers when Terry approached the table. Seeing me reading with my glasses on he said, in a very loud voice, "I didn't know you wore glasses, how come?". "Well", sez I, "when I was a kid a used to wank a lot". "So did I" came his reply. "I know" said I, "but I used to wank myself". The cafeteria erupted in laughter and Terry never spoke to me again, thank God.

PPS: I know, this should be in the Skybar. Sorry.

Well if a new five star hotel comes to Liverpool you can book a fancy room next door to Mike Myers and play with your sausage. Terry Reaney is not invited.

Well if a new five star hotel comes to Liverpool you can book a fancy room next door to Mike Myers and play with your sausage. Terry Reaney is not invited.

On reflection, I'd like Celine Dion book into the Jamaica House- she'd have a long face then! :)

I think we should start our own movement 'Friends of Jamaica House'. We can badger the council for a grant to get it restored to it's former glory and get Badula his job back, provide a safe house for hookers and set standards of hospitality back as far as we can.

I think we should start our own movement 'Friends of Jamaica House'. We can badger the council for a grant to get it restored to it's former glory and get Badula his job back, provide a safe house for hookers and set standards of hospitality back as far as we can.

Lol! "Providing service and accommodation fit for the Dark Ages." :laugh:

Badoola probably goy shot in 1997 by some angry pimp. I don't think theres a business case for reopening Jamaica House as the Adelphi already have the monopoly on Dark Age service in Liverpool.

On a more serious note - didnt the Chieftain development include a 5 star hotel?

Yes Matrix, I think it did.

That is probably why Liverpool wont have a 5 star hotel in 2008 then

Badoola was alive in 1997. That's when I went in for the scariest cup of tea ever. He probably got his ass shot off by an angry pimp in the following years.

Shame the Chieftan tower is on ice, a 5 *hotel that near the station with conference rooms etc would have brought a lot into the city.

Why not brand Jamaica House a Five Star hotel ? As in the crap band and have it themed with a room dedicated to the different dickheads of the band. A lower class 'Hard day's night' hotel. This way we can technicaly get around the 5* hotel thing. I would love to read the reviews on trip advisor.......

Chip Kochanski. San Antonio USA

When I arrived at the Five Star Hotel I was greeted by a 7ft Tall man who looked like that Hightower dude from police accademy. He blanked me and persisted in chanting 'Yamma yamma yaaaaammmmaaa!' which I thought the hight of bad manners. He was not interested in my concerns and did not help me plan a route to Loogabaroogah (Loughborough) to see my cousin Bob Kawolski. A skanky buck toothed middle aged skeleton led me to my room up a narrow stair case decorated in blue woodchip wallpaper and British car liscence plates. Classy. I was wondering why it was rated 5* then I received my answer. I got to my room and it had a muriel of one of the five star band members on the wall. Apparently a British pop act from the 1980's. Crap. All night long I heard pimps and hoe's yelling at each other - 'Bitch where's my money', 'I ain't got shit Fly Guy'. There was a police raid for crack and the food was low quality. Remeniscent of British food in the 1970's. Greasy fry ups etc. The coca cola was flat and I was always hungry. My ass was too fat to go through the door and 'Hightower' charged me for a blow job on my check out which I claimed I never received. This has tarnished my view of Liverpool and I will never be coming back

*Star out of 10.

ROFL!

What does that Stand for sorry ?

Rectal Orifice Filled with Love.

I've just looked up High Tower on imdb. He was played by a Mr. "Bubba" Smith.

What does that Stand for sorry ?

Rolling On the Floor Laughing!

ROFLMAO = Rolling on the floor laughing my ass off!

That's standard net talk down my way cock.

Rectal Orifice Filled with Love.

I've just looked up High Tower on imdb. He was played by a Mr. "Bubba" Smith.

If you look at Bubba Smith's filmography and other jobs you will see that he was the desk clerk for Jamaica house in the 90's after Police Academy 85 bombed at the box office and the tired old joke was well and truly over.

I stayed in a "Jamaica House" style youth hostel in Harlem in Noo York in 2000. I left my mate in charge of booking a hotel for us to go at new year in October of that year as I went away for a month, when I got back he hadnt bothered doing anything so the only thing we could get from STA Travel in Bold Street was a crack den on 110th street. The guy who worked on the front desk looked anad acted like Chris Rock and his Dad looked like Uncle Phil out of the fresh prince of Bel Air. There were lots of shady characters hanging about inside and out. We got locked in our room and Chris Rock smashed our door down with a sledgehammer. It was also minus 5 degrees and we had to kip in our jumpers and coats. Given that we had booked a "dorm" we also had to share a room with 8 shady Chinese blokes.

I can imagine Jamaica House to be similar

Ultimate respect to you - I'd have been on the first plane home.

It was a nightmare, tried to spend the least amount of time in there as possible. It reminded me of some place that Steven Seagal would visit to rough up a few heavies/pimps/grasses or dealers.

I'm sure most people on this site have had a bad "Jamaica House" experience whilst on their travels.

Ping this one up there...

Any movement on this? I've not been in Liverpool for a bit. Does this seem to be an active building site? If, as early reports claimed, the new hotel will be open in 2006, it should be.

hello,

Can anyone post any information (recent) on this building project?

hello,

Can anyone post any information (recent) on this building project?

Opening summer 2008, but it won't be called Layla.

They havent update their own website if it isnt being called Layla. Here's the link to it.

www.bespokehotels.com/hotel/pages/layla/home.htm

hello there,

Thanks for the info guys. Anyone have any pictures of this hotel? (I know it's still under construction.)

Why are there 6 stars underneath the name? i thought it was 5 star not 6?

Why are there 6 stars underneath the name? i thought it was 5 star not 6?

http://www.mentalfloss.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/SpinalTap_Edith_503.jpg

http://www.mentalfloss.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/SpinalTap_Edith_503.jpg

:lol:

Explain^^^

It's from a fake documentary about a fake band west. Duh! :D

This is Spinal Tap (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088258/usercomments?filter=prolific)

It's a reference to this scene Westi:

Spinal Tap - 11

AhVWJgIzftE

Bump

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l537/openlyjane/P1000475.jpghttp://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l537/openlyjane/Buildings%20in%20Liverpool/P1000475.jpg

The scale and the grandeur of the Hotel Layla is very impressive indeed.

Dale Street is grimy and litter-strewn though. All three buildings pictured make up the hotel.

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l537/openlyjane/P1000471.jpghttp://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l537/openlyjane/Buildings%20in%20Liverpool/P1000471.jpg

Detail of hotel.

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l537/openlyjane/P1000470.jpghttp://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l537/openlyjane/Buildings%20in%20Liverpool/P1000470.jpg

More detail. Notice the Liver Bird above door.

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l537/openlyjane/P1000473.jpghttp://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l537/openlyjane/Buildings%20in%20Liverpool/P1000473.jpg

Details.

The workman I spoke to said it would be more likely an August opening.

Amazing building...pics are great. Such a shame they wrecked the building in between and put that modern one in...even if it isnt that bad. Anyone got a pic of the building before they wrecked the middle one?

Great close-ups there Jane. ^^^^ I agree, the building that was given the 'Josepine Butler House' treatment,that is ,mutilated under the cover of darkness..despicable isn't the word..shouldn't have been demolished. It wasn't the same calibre as the building above(red brick) but it formed part a good mid-Victorian block.

Belting pics there oJ.

I noticed scaffolding on the block of run down terraces on Dale Street today. Any idea what is going on there?

I remember posting this article way back in 2005 and it is still not completed. Aparently most of the work is being done inside out rather than the other way around. I think people on this thread are the only ones paying attention. It does need brightening up before it can shout the odds as a top hotel. Can you be a 5* hotel without a car park? People using the Thistle hotel park in the small old American Confederate Embassy but there is not much room here - poor example.

More activity lately. More scaffolding on the hotel too.

I'll have you know it's El Layla now! :lol: Six years earns it an El.

As far as I'm aware, 5* hotels don't need to have their own car parks on site. A designated car park with valet parking would suffice

I take it part of this new Hotel was the Education Committee buildings in Sir Thomas Street. Does it extend around the corner into Dale st, ie - the Municipal Annexe?

Keayman, aparently they have linked all these buildings together internally. This was one of the challenges linking all the floor levels up the the different buildings to make it one.

Correct.

From memory, the Annexe was only connected to 4 Sir Thomas Street via a labyrinthine sequence of corridors and staircases. 4 STS was only connected to 6 at lower ground / ground floor level respectively by a small flight of stairs but the upper floors had no through route and 6 and 14 were not connected at all.

A real stroke of luck that number 6 decided to implode overnight. :bash:

There was zero activity at the site today, and, clearly, plenty still to be done. I reckon there is a funding crisis. There is no way it will be open in June, maybe not even this year by the feel of it.

I saw plenty of workers around the site this morning. It's a funny project this one though. One day it looks dead in the water, the next it's a hive of activity. Considering they already have a general manager for the hotel, I guess things are progressing.

Some photos here
http://twitter.com/layla_liverpool

http://media.ws-django.co.uk/layla/uploads/images/page-images/location-map.jpg
http://www.laylahotel.co.uk/contact-us/

Has the El gone now?

Back to Layla :dunno:

Does anyone know who Iliad Group appointed as the construction contractor for the Layla hotel?

Delay to opening of Liverpool’s first five-star hotel
by Marc Waddington, Liverpool Echo
May 24 2011

THE opening of Liverpool’s first five-star hotel was put back for up to six months after a contractor working on the scheme went into administration.

The Layla Hotel, which will be housed in the former Municipal Annex, in Dale Street, was due to open by the end of the summer, but is now not expected to open until the start of next year.

It is understood air-conditioning firm the All Group was placed into administration earlier this month.

A hotel spokesman said given the listed status of the building and the need to make sure it was a high standard, managers “were not willing to compromise the integrity and character of the build to meet original opening dates”.

Source: Liverpool Echo (http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2011/05/24/delay-to-opening-of-liverpool-s-first-five-star-hotel-100252-28749515/)