REVIEW: Find Out If The Aloft Hotel, Liverpool Raises The Roof

Discover the Aloft Hotel, Liverpool

The Aloft hotel is part of the Starwood Preferred Guest group which has few properties in the UK, but the ones that exist are pretty spectacular. I recently earned a bunch of SPG points, just by signing up for a credit card. Fortunately I still had some points to burn! After a hard day of walking with Edge Travel Worldwide (hi Dave), my pal Angela and I decided to go snoop (sorry, stay) at the Aloft property in Liverpool.

I was pretty excited, as the hotel gallery teased me with images of boutique rooms, grand architecture and jaw-dropping common areas. Would the hotel live up to expectations?

Location

The hotel is in the heart of the city, in an old Royal Insurance building (seems kind of fitting considering my day job!). The downside is that it does not have on site parking (although you benefit from a discounted rate at the nearby Q park: £8 instead of £20) but you are just minutes from lively bars and restaurants. It’s no more than a ten minute (slow pace) stroll to the docks too if you fancy taking a ferry across the Mersey.

First impressions

The hotel is housed in a stunning, Victorian period building. From the outside it is very impressive with tall windows, and carvings galore. But, on the inside it is a treasure trove!

Check-in

The wow factor continues as you wander through the sliding doors into reception. Its big enough to fit a ballroom and equally impressive, with high frescoed ceilings, modern chandeliers and a bold mixture of colour to assault your eyes. There’s an intimate seating area to the left of the entrance and a psychedelic reception desk to your right.

Check in is quick and efficient and in no time we are heading up to room 534.

The rooms

I booked a twin which was huge. Two good-sized beds with relaxation bolsters take centre stage whilst the bedroom cupboard houses a built-in safe, ironing board and storage area. The bathroom is sterile white, with sleek, glossy tiles and an oversized showed. There’s free wi-fi, although my one criticism with this hotel is that frankly it did not work!

The piece de resistance is however, definitely the bed. I love the bright bolster pillow which serves as a welcome rest for my weary legs, and I have one of the best night’s sleep I’ve had in a hotel in ages.

The bar

We didn’t have enough time to check out the RE:Charge gym (We had just walked, scrambled and clambered 9 miles in the mountains for Christ sake!) or the bar and restaurant, but we did have time to admire the furnishings and attractions in the bar. Take this super cool table football for instance, or the inviting pool table and the devilishly stylish seating. I could definitely see myself returning to indulge in a few cocktails!

Re:Fuel bar

If you should get the urge to indulge in some midnight munchies, you can head to the Re:Fuel bar stocked with snacks, drinks and other items you may have forgotten. It’s a pretty neat idea!

Other

If you happen to be a dog lover, pooches are welcome here. A little dog bed awaits by the door! This must be a rarity in an inner city hotel!

Verdict

This was a great hotel to blow some points for. I love the mixture of old and new, from the original stained glass windows, wood panelling around the stairs, fabulous metalwork and the spectacular ceilings. My only real issue is that we simply did not have enough time to properly indulge!