Brookside actor to turn Royal Daffodil into restaurant, hotel
Liverpool City Council has voted to approve Philip Oliver’s plans to convert the former Mersey ferry into a “premier floating food and drink destination”.
Oliver, who rose to fame portraying Tim “Tinhead” O’Leary on the Liverpool-based soap opera Brookside, is the director of Liverpool City Ship – the company that put forward the plans for the Royal Daffodil reconfiguration.
Constructed in 1958 by Cammell Laird Shipbuilders and decommissioned in 2012, the ferry is currently undergoing refurbishment after it fell into a “dilapidated condition”, according to the council’s planning officers.
Liverpool City Council gave a green light to the project at the planning committee meeting on 6 June. This was the second time the boat had been on the committee’s agenda, having been on the docket for the April meeting but not discussed so that the applicant could gather additional information.
With permission secured, the Royal Daffodil is now set to be permanently moored in Canning Dock. The ferry’s promenade deck will become a 1,900 sq ft saloon bar with 2,300 sq ft outside drinking space.
Going onto the main deck, there will be a 126-cover seafood restaurant 1,800 sq ft of external space.
The ferry’s lower deck would hold around 13 hotel rooms, while 400 sq ft of the bridge deck would become a dedicated heritage museum.
Liverpool City Ship’s proposals would also allow the Royal Daffodil to be rented out for corporate events, weddings, live music events, conferences and more.
Liverpool City Ship is working closely with its agent Warrington-based IF Building Consultancy on the scheme. The project team also includes mechanical engineer CP Hood, noise consultant CSG Acoustics, drainage advisor Buxton Water, and electrical engineer PN Daly.
You can learn more about the project by searching reference number 22F/1399 on the Liverpool City Council planning portal.
If Mick Johnson and Sinbad are on the door, I’m there.
By TSB
Once again a pretty woeful, and moribund planning agenda with little evidence of Liverpool emerging from it’s development drought. Surely you don’t need to convene a full meeting to discuss such an ordinary looking and low profile selection of applications.
By Anonymous
Let’s just hope the thickness and integrity of the hull are considered!!
By Piermaster
Good for him. I’m pleased he’s making something out of the old boat and it’s a bonus it’s a restaurant. Hope it’s a very successful.
By Michelle
Liverpool’s tourism economy is the strongest in the north. There is nowhere else can provide such a strong offer of history, culture, heritage, entertainment, seaside, and good fun!
By Liverpool Bay
Tourism…yeah ..ok that’ll have to do for now.
By Anonymous
Unfortunately Liverpool Bay, Liverpool has fallen significantly behind in terms of tourism.
Once a force to be reckoned with, it’s visitor figures are now even lower than… Birmingham.
Hopefully Eurovision has managed to convince some to visit again and pass the word but personally I feel as though everything is starting to fizzle out again. If we can’t bounce back our tourism and development after hosting one of the biggest music competitions in the world, it tells you a lot about the state of the city.
Depopulation and brain drain is certainly happening. Delusion doesn’t help.
By X
So pleased the Royal Daffodil has been rescued and will become beautiful once again. Broke my heart to see it rotting away. Thank you.
By Gill
Sounds great what a good Idea 💡 👏 👌 👍 😊
By Darren Williams
Re…X…
And remember Liverpool is third largest city in UK. Check that out.
By Anon3
@X, to be fair Birmingham’s visitor numbers are massively distorted by the NEC. Not decrying Brum – a fine city, with friendly folk – but if you took that single, edge-of-city asset out of the equation, where would its figures be? And would they point to it having the same varied appeal that Liverpool enjoys? I suspect not.
By Sceptical
@X not true at all when looking at Leisure tourism, obviously Birmingham had a huge specific boost in 2022 with the Commonwealth games, but the leisure tourism sector in Liverpool holds strong and still sits in the top 5 in the UK, with a consistent cruise schedule, Radisson Red and Munciple hotels just opened, Maldron in construction that speaks of the longer term confidence too. What it does lack is business tourism from overnight stays etc which has been well spoken about how the city needs to up its game in attracting new businesses and office space. Both of the cities football clubs are having significant stadia works done which will hopefully also allow for outdoor gigs and festivals too. Hopefully we will start to see more schemes bubbling up in the planning agendas soon.
By John
Fabulous
By Elizabeth sparks
What about the poor old royal iris?
By Marty
Wow that’s great brining the Royal Daffodil back to restoration and making it a thing of beauty again. Great idea to have passengers to stay aboard.
By Anonymous
I am so pleased to hear the ferry is being brought back to life with vision to encourage the city of liverpool to thrive as a vibrant city and encourage visitors to contribute towards the city’s economy
By Jo
Good luck with your new project
By Chris Marshall
Great idea .I used to travel on this ferry every day to seacomb for work back when I was a teenager .some fond memories. Good luck with the project .I will certainly be wanting to experience the new conversion .
By Ian stuart
Top man….I work for this guy…
He’s sound..Transformed my life…And he’ll put Liverpool on the map
By Craig charlton