Fab Four-themed hotel opens in time for Liverpool 08 festival

A Hard Day’s Night, a luxury ‘Beatles’ hotel in Liverpool, is to swing open its doors to coincide with the city’s tenure as the 2008 European Capital of Culture.

With interiors and brand identity by Design LSM, the four-star boutique hotel will comprise 110 individually designed bedrooms. It will include luxury and deluxe rooms and two penthouses – the specially created Lennon and McCartney suites.

Many deluxe rooms have been designed to incorporate the contours and character of the building, with other rooms – situated in the new rooftop extension – offering panoramic views of the city.

Commissioned artwork, created by Beatles artist Shannon, will feature on the walls of bedrooms (pictured) and public rooms, telling the story of the pop group.

‘This was certainly an interesting project in lots of different ways,’ says Design LSM creative director Simon McCarthy. ‘We wanted it to be about more than just The Beatles. As it was such a huge industry, we wanted to include many of those who were involved in the band. The initial idea was not to have an out-and-out theme hotel – we didn’t want it to be like a Disneyland.’

The hotel, which is set to open on 1 February, will be home to two restaurants, The Brasserie and Blakes, as well as two bars, Hari’s and Bar Four.

The interiors for Blakes will feature images inspired by Sir Peter Blake, the artist who designed the Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover. It will have a modern feel and the imagery will change at certain times of the day to complement the restaurant’s shifting ambience. The other restaurant, The Brasserie, will incorporate a combination of carpeted floors and booths.

Bar Four is a ‘high-end destination bar’, with high ceilings, cream-coloured furniture and large cabinets, while Hari’s is for residents only and takes on an Indian theme, to echo the time The Beatles spent in that country.

The hotel’s visual identity includes the opening bar of the song Hard Day’s Night and depicts the order in which the four Beatles always sat.

Other facilities include two conference rooms for private entertaining and corporate events, and a wedding chapel. The opening ceremony for Liverpool Capital of Culture takes place on 12 January.

OPEN EIGHT DAYS A WEEK?

• The hotel is a Grade II-listed building dating back to 1884, designed by Thomas C Clarke

• It is located in the Beatles Quarter of the city, adjacent to the iconic Cavern Club

• The building would have housed a number of merchant interests at a time when

Liverpool had a prominent international trading role