A reliable choice for remote workers, the Municipal Hotel and Spa Liverpool MGallery also has a pool and spa, although you’ll have to pay extra to access them. Lotte Jeffs reports
Globetrender looks for five things from a great city: cultural vibrancy, well-designed public spaces (parks, gardens, waterfronts), efficient transport or walkability, innovation and personality.
We quickly realised that Liverpool ticked all our boxes while exploring the birthplace of The Beatles on a cold sunny day in November.
Albert Docks was our favourite area to wander around, with a handful of excellent restaurants including Maray, Panam and Madre, an outpost of the Tate Gallery, and the International Slavery Museum which offered a fascinating insight into the city’s historic ties with the slave trade and efforts to face up to the grievous wrongs of its past.
‘I’m Only Sleeping’
Of course, key to our enjoyment of a place is the accommodation on offer. It’s a fallacy that where you lay your head doesn’t matter when on a busy city break. If you’re out pounding the pavements all day, the place you come back to – even if it is just to freshen up before heading to dinner – can make or break a trip.
We were confident that the Municipal Hotel wouldn’t disappoint. We chose it for the central location (a ten-minute walk from Lime Street Station) and the historic charms of the building which started life as the home of Liverpool City Council in 1868.
Thanks to a recent renovation, it was the beautiful Art-Deco Palm Court atrium, with its towering ceilings, palm trees and mirrored walls along with a showstopping spa and 16-metre swimming pool, which really validated our choice to stay here.
Our room was a slightly awkward shape being in a corner of the building and the windows were higher than head height making it hard to enjoy the view. But due to the reimagining of this administrative headquarters into a five star hotel, each of the 179 rooms is different and many have floor to ceiling windows.
The queen bed was supremely comfortable and we liked the simplicity of the interiors which gave a nod to the Art Deco feel of the lobby, with quirky touches such as an old fashioned rotary phone, without it being overtly thematic.
‘Come Together’
The hotel’s signature restaurant, Seaforth, nestled within a historic dining room, offers a menu curated with locally sourced ingredients. From traditional Scouse specialties to contemporary twists on British classics, every dish is a celebration of Liverpool’s gastronomic heritage.
Meanwhile, for those seeking a moment of reprieve, the hotel’s rooftop terrace offers panoramic views of the cityscape. Against the backdrop of Liverpool’s iconic landmarks, here you can unwind after a jam-packed day exploring, with handcrafted cocktails and delicious small bites.
Breakfast is served in the Palm Court and while the buffet itself was underwhelming by Globetrender’s standards, the friendly staff and grandeur of the room itself made it memorable.
‘Here, There, and Everywhere’
The hotel sits within Accor’s boutique MGallery portfolio, home to other Globetrender favourites Paris’ Hotel Molitor and Santa Teresa in Rio. The interiors were designed by Koncept ID.
Inspired by the building’s famous clock tower, the notion of time informs the visual concept, although thankfully this is very light of touch. We were pleased to find refillable bottles in the bathroom instead of Globetrender’s pet hate – the environmentally thoughtless minis. And Culti Milano products were a chic, quirky choice.
The pool was one of the nicest we’ve experienced in a British city centre hotel, thanks mainly to the huge glass windows which flood the space with daylight. Before a relaxing full body Elemis massage, which was tragically interrupted by an alarm going off in a disabled bathroom, we enjoyed taking the thermal circuit with a salt sauna, steam room, laconium and experience shower.
There’s also a small gym, nail salon and treatment rooms. It was pleasantly quiet during our visit, which is probably a benefit of the extra £30 charge to use the facilities. While we appreciated the exclusivity, some may be frustrated to find that access doesn’t come as standard.
If you’re in town for business, the boardrooms which are named after Liverpool’s six quarters – Ropewalks, Baltic, Cavern, Waterfront and Georgian would be pleasant, high ceilinged and bright spaces to spend a day and cocktails in the Palm Court would be a perfect spot for networking.
Verdict:
Globetrender would happily recommend the Municipal Hotel Liverpool to any discerning traveller. Just be sure to request a room with a view and pay extra to access the spa.
Price: rooms start from £121 per night