Signature plans September opening for Preston hotel

Preston’s grade-two listed former post office building will re-open as a hotel in September, the 114-year-old building being rebranded as The Shankly Hotel following a refurbishment by developer Signature Living.

The £15m project to convert the building into a 65-bedroom boutique hotel is currently ongoing, and Signature has chosen the Shankly brand for the development, following a similar hotel in Liverpool.

The building facing the Flag Market was to be called the Harris Hotel, named after the principal benefactor of the city’s museum, Edmund Harris, before its rebrand. The post office opened in 1903, but was closed in 2005.

Named after the footballer and manager Bill Shankly, the rebranded hotel will include similar features to its Liverpool namesake, including memorabilia and photographs.

Shankly is best known for his time as Liverpool manager, but he also spent time with Preston North End as a player, helping the team win the FA Cup in 1938.

The Shankly Hotel brand is being developed by Signature Living in partnership with the Shankly family. Bill Shankly’s grandson, Chris Carline, is heavily involved with the Preston project and also co-owns the Liverpool hotel with Signature Living’s Lawrence Kenwright.

Roger Jonas, head of stakeholder relations for Signature Living said: “These are extremely exciting times ahead for Signature Living to be coming to Preston, there is a new era of excitement and confidence about the city.

“Preston has some exciting developments and projects at the moment including the re development of the Guild Hall by local entrepreneur Simon Rigby, the investment by Swedish furniture giant Ikea and the £430 million pound investment of the City Deal.”