Grade II-listed North Western Hall in Liverpool to be converted into a hotel
One of Liverpool's most prominent buildings is to return to its original use as a hotel.
The Grade II-listed North Western Hall, adjacent to Liverpool Lime Street station, has been used as student accommodation for Liverpool John Moores University since 1996.
It previously operated as the North Western hotel within the British Transport Hotels portfolio, which at one time also included the Midland in Manchester, St Pancras in London and the Balmoral in Edinburgh.
Worthington Properties, the owner and developer, plans to return the building to its former status by mid-2019, subject to planning permission.
An operator is being sought to run the hotel, which could range from 180 to 230 bedrooms, depending on the style of the business.
Jeremy Collins, director of leisure specialists Jenics briefed to secure a new operator, said: "The hotel market in Liverpool has developed significantly over the last three years, largely due to both the growing popularity of the city's tourist and leisure market and an improving commercial sector.
"The central location of the North Western Hall is close to Liverpool's major attractions including Albert Dock, Liverpool One, the Tate Gallery, the Beatles Story, Echo Arena, the Cavern Quarter, Liverpool Cruise Terminal and the CBD.
"Having Liverpool Lime Street Station literally on the doorstep is another obvious benefit for an hotel operator, with annual passenger traffic of more than 20 million people."
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