“Liverpool is the greatest city on Earth,” according to the actor James Nelson-Joyce when I interviewed him in his hometown. A proud Scouser, born and bred, his opinion couldn’t be described as unbiased but a weekend in the city gave me no cause to disagree.
Somewhat embarrassingly, it was my first visit to Liverpool but there’s no chance it will be my last. It really is a magical place: the stark beauty of the docks, the city centre on a permanent buzz, the bohemian Lark Lane just across the road from Sefton Park. This is a city with not one but two cathedrals: the gigantic red-brick Liverpool Cathedral, the largest in Britain, and the crowned Metropolitan Cathedral constructed in the 1960s.
Anfield and Goodison Park (the latter only for another month). The Caravan Club. The Grand National. More museums and art galleries than you could hope to visit. Enough Irish bars to slake all of Dublin. There’s no time to waste and you’ll want to stay in the heart of the action – which is where Radisson RED comes in.
Radisson Hotel Group has a far more storied history than you might realise, dating back to 1909 when a female entrepreneur named Edna Dickerson decided to use a multi-million dollar inheritance to construct a luxury hotel in Minneapolis. At 16 stories, the building was the second-tallest in the city – Edna and her husband lived on the 13th floor. Amenities included a cigar room, a library, a marble lobby and, um, a silver scale-model Viking ship.
The hotel was named after 17th century French explorer Pierre-Esprit Radisson, an intrepid fellow who was captured and subsequently adopted by Indigenous Mohawks as a teenager, became a fur trader and founded the Hudson's Bay Company, still going today. (It’s the oldest corporation in North America.) He died in England in 1710, blissfully unaware two centuries later his name would adorn a Minneapolis hotel that would sprout into one of the largest chains in the world.
Radisson RED is a more recent offshoot, launching in 2015 with an emphasis on upscale modernity that doesn’t break the bank. You’ll see the Liverpool Radisson RED as soon as you emerge from the station: it’s a gigantic Victorian brick building directly opposite St George’s Hall. Technically the hotel is attached to the station, meaning you can use a special exit to emerge from the lobby practically onto the platform. (Very cool.) The location is ridiculously good: not merely for your journey but the entire stay. You’re bang in the centre of town, most of the major attractions within walking distance and nothing more than a short bus ride away.
Radisson REDs are geared towards millennials and look to embody the spirit of their host city. In the case of Liverpool, this means a red Vespa, an arcade machine, a submarine sculpture (red, not yellow) and numerous Beatles prints. Local artist Indigo Art has prints all around the hotel, including the lobby and rooms. Halfway up the stairs you’ll find the Fab Four crossing Abbey Road. It’s a vibey space with far more character than your standard chain; there’s a real sense of effort being made.
The in-house restaurant Stoke Brasserie & Grill serves up a fine dinner if you don’t fancy heading into town. The menu changes seasonally but you can expect to find some classic British fare – fish and chips, burgers, steak – alongside a selection of European dishes. I thoroughly enjoyed my Grilled Lamb Kofta with garlic pitta; the calamari with wasabi mayo was another winner. There will be more exciting restaurants in the city but it very much hits the spot. The cocktails are great, too.
Rooms are simple yet comfortable – mine had another Indigo Art print above the bed and a vintage telephone on the table, two nice touches that do much to add character. There’s a gym entirely illuminated by red lights; I didn’t get the chance to work out but it looks like a nightclub with added dumbbell. Rates vary depending on occupancy: some week nights are less than £70 whereas a busy Saturday will be around £260. Book a stay and explore a city that's right on your doorstep.
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For more info, see Radisson Red
