Review of Hope Street Hotel, by Lee Kuen Tan

Billed as Liverpool's first boutique hotel, Hope Street Hotel is well-situated within the city's cultural quarter with many restaurants and theatres at its doorstep. The boutique hotel building - once a warehouse - was built in 1860 in the style of a Venetian palazzo, but inside it is all contemporary minimalism.

The facilities

Privately owned, this boutique hotel, for all its cool atmosphere, has a personalised touch. From the bowl of apples at reception to the welcome vase of flowers and bar of Green & Blacks chocolate in your room, you are made to feel welcome. Upon arrival, tea or coffee is offered and brought up to the room on a silver platter.

Hope Street Hotel's renowned London Carriage Works restaurant serves up a well-thought-out menu of fresh, locally sourced produce and an impressive wine list. Downstairs in the basement are meeting rooms and the boutique hotel bar. The latter is only opened Thursday to Saturday but is well-patronised by local art and media-types.

The rooms

There are 48 rooms at Hope Street Hotel, and all are individually designed to resemble a chic designer home. Suites have their own living areas. Rooms are compact but airy in feel, helped by the light-wood floor and picture windows or skylights. The gadgets are top-class with Bang & Olufsen TVs and Jacob Jensen telephones. The king-size bed with super-soft Egyptian cotton sheets is especially luxurious, making it quite difficult to wake up in the mornings. The bathroom is a treasure at this luxury hotel. Mine had a skylight over the bath, perfect for soaking under night stars with a glass of wine.