PLANNING | Liverpool set to greenlight floating restaurant, hotel
A decommissioned ferry boat-turned-restaurant and the conversion of the former Cavern Walks shopping centre into a hotel are both expected to be approved by the city council on Tuesday.
The Daffodil, Canning Dock
Application number: 22F/1399
Liverpool City Council are set to approve former Brookside actor Philip Olivier’s plans to revamp the Royal Daffodil, a former Mersey crossing ferry moored at Canning Dock. Proposals seek to convert the boat into “the region’s premier floating food and drink destination”.
Olivier’s company Liverpool City Ships submitted the plans for a seafood restaurant, mini heritage museum, and 13-bedroom boutique hotel to be featured on the 10,000 sq ft boat.
Up top, the boat’s promenade deck would feature a 1,900 sq ft bar and 2,300 sq ft outdoor drinking space, while visitors would find a 126-capacity seafood and grill restaurant below on the ship’s main deck.
Travelling further downstairs, a 400 sq ft heritage museum on the bridge deck would showcase the historic significance of the vessel and of the River Mersey.
The Royal Daffodil’s lower deck boasts 3,000 sq ft of space, which could be used for a 13-bedroom hotel or a multi-function event space under these proposals.
CP Hood is mechanical engineer for the scheme. Also on the project team is noise consultant CSG Acoustics and electrical engineer PN Daly.
Buxton Water is advising on drainage.
Liverpool City Ships originally submitted proposals for the floating leisure destination in 2020. Post-pandemic plans remain largely unchanged.
Cavern Walks, Mathew Street
Application number: 22F/3012
Approval would see the seven upper floors of the former Cavern Walks shopping centre converted into a hotel.
Footprint Design designed the project, which would feature 150 suites ranging from one- to six-beds.
Out of the 150 suites, 15 suites would be completely accessible.
Guests would also have access to a total of 13,900 sq ft of entertainment and function space spread across the upper ground, mezzanine, and first floor.
There would be no car parking spaces provided, however eight cycle spaces would be available.
JMP is the scheme’s planning consultant. Also on the project team is transport consultant SCP and noise consultant ADC Acoustics.
Work has already began on the redevelopment of the shopping centre into a hotel under previous planning permission granted in September 2019.
The previously approved application was for 125 rooms and did not include the newly-proposed first floor function suite.
The floating restaurant would be a great idea but I feel the could void the little museum and use the space for more rooms or to allow for bigger rooms
By Bless
The floating restaurant idea will go a little way in making up for the appalling shortfall in eateries overlooking the Liverpool waterfront and quaysides.
Any other city with such views would be rammed with restaurants eg the Princes dock being a prime contender, somewhere such as Marseille knocks spots off Liverpool.
By Anonymous