INNSIDE Liverpool

In a city with two football teams, an extremely healthy stag and hen do scene and more Beatles memorabilia than you can shake a stick at, it’s not surprising that there’s always a need for new hotels in Liverpool.

Enter stage left, INNSiDE by Melia. Located in the business district of the city, it’s the newest resident in the affectionately named “Sandcastle’, a big brown brutalist hulk that up until recently was home to the Liverpool Echo. Having spent the last 2 years being renovated, the latest addition opened its doors in September – not just a hotel but a sister venue for Gino D’Campo’s existing restaurant, plus a much-lauded sky bar. An exciting addition to Old Hall Street, an area that’s usually quiet at the weekends.

The entrance hall is open plan, with an expansive area that includes the reception, a bar, and the aforementioned Gino D’Campo gaff. It feels modern and fresh, with laidback turquoise chairs and low-hanging lampshades. It’s also extremely busy, mid-afternoon with a full house already, a mix of hotel guests and restaurant visitors.

Heading up to the room – we stayed in the Townhouse suite – another expansive affair with a huge bed (super king-size? Let’s just say BIG), floor to ceiling windows and an oversized bathtub positioned in the corner of the room overlooking the city. Pretty swish, huh. The Sandcastle is a substantial building and it’s nice to see that INNSiDE have translated the space into generous rooms with a luxurious feel. It’s the kind of hotel room that feels like a treat, that you’d happily spend a weekend in nestled away from real life.

That can be applied to the whole venue, it feels like a treat. The sky bar serves up cocktails and panoramic views of the city, a relaxed vibe that feels like an escape. Downstairs, Gino’s restaurant offers an alternative to its busy relative on Castle Street, less rambunctious with food being eaten instead of photographed. It’s a rare treat to take a weekend away in your own city, especially one that doesn’t require you leaving the building.

Over stylised capitalisation aside, INNSide is a welcome addition to Liverpool, a hotel that’s taken time to make sure the whole experience is worth it, no matter where you’re visiting from.