Work to start on £2.5m Daffodil transformation
The former Mersey ferry will soon be towed to Cammell Laird where it will be converted before returning to Liverpool as a “world class” drinking and dining destination.
The £2.5m MV Royal Daffodil project, which is being led by former Brookside actor Philip Olivier and Joshua Boyd, is due for completion in 2024.
Once reborn as Daffodil, the vessel will be based at Canning Dock. Liverpool City Council granted planning permission for the project last year.
The destination will have three outside sun decks across two levels – Promenade Deck, Daffodil Garden and Funnel Deck – totalling more than 66 covers. The upper deck features a space for a café and cocktail and wine bar, offering with all-day dining for 63 seated covers.
On the main deck there will be an 84-cover restaurant and the lower deck features the Engine Room event space, with capacity for 240 people. This will host live music and events.
In total, Daffodil could accommodate up to 560 guests at any one time.
The scheme has been in the works since 2019 when Boyd and Olivier, who rose to fame as Tim “Tinhead” O’Leary on the Liverpool-based soap opera Brookside, acquired the boat.
“This isn’t just a business investment for me, my father, and Josh. This has been a labour of love,” Olivier said.
“There has been a ferry across the Mersey for more than 800 years and they hold huge, historical significance to the region. The people of Merseyside have an emotional attachment to these vessels and there’s a lot of positivity around the future of this icon – we will be so proud to see it brought back to life.”
Olivier and Boyd are also seeking to secure funding to develop a mini-museum exhibit in the Wheelhouse of the ship, intended to honour the history of the Mersey ferries.
As part of a planned recruitment drive for the venture, the team are set to work with the Department for Work and Pensions and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority via back-to-work training and Skills Bootcamps.
Daffodil will partner with La Salle Hotel School, a not-for-profit charity and community interest company based in Croxteth, to develop apprenticeships and traineeships for young people; whilst supporting sustainable food growing and hospitality education, according to the developers.
“We are so excited about this re-launch,” Boyd said. “Daffodil will be yet another amazing asset to Liverpool’s world-class waterfront that’s rooted in strong local pride and impact.
“Liverpool City Region’s visitor economy grew to £5.18bn in 2022 with 55.84m people flocking here from across the world. They expect world-class attractions and that is exactly what Daffodil will be.”
A beautiful ferry and glad too see it saved, I welcome their vision and optimism and if they keep it a quality product they can succeed, these tourist centred docks in town need more ships and objects of interest.
By Anonymous
This could be a ferry, ferry good addition to Liverpool’s hospitality offering
By Ferry good
Shame the same can’t be done with the Royal Iris. it lies rotting on the Thames.
By Anonymous
Life goes on day after day
By G. Marsden
I totally agree with Anon 11.48am that ‘these tourist centred docks in town need more ships and objects of interest’. The Daffodil will be a great addition but we sadly lost the bar light ship ‘The Planet’ which has gone down south. Visitors to the city should be greeted by a mass of masts and funnels and maritime activities. I think that Liverpool is still the only major port in the country not to have a ‘significant vessel’ on show that the public can access and sadly I can never see that changing.
By Brendan R
Brilliant, perhaps sponsored apprentices in Cammell Lairds. If only some richity would save or rebuild the Royal Iris, it’s iconic. The fund never took off such a shame.
By Steve Penney