Hunt for investing hotelier

Dec 5 2007 by Tony McDonough, Liverpool Daily Post

DEVELOPER Property Regeneration is looking for an operator to take on the running of the boutique hotel it is creating in an historic Liverpool building.

The company has planning permission to transform the former headquarters of the Vestey family – famous for Liverpool’s Blue Star Line – into a boutique hotel to be known as The Alexander.

The Grade II listed building in Victoria Street, will become a hotel with up to 40 en-suite bedrooms, a restaurant, residents’ bar and a meeting room.

The company is now aiming to secure a joint venture partnership to ensure The Alexander is completed towards the end of 2008.

Gavin Raw, managing director for Property Regeneration, said: “Work will begin on-site in January, 2008, and we’re confident the proposal will attract a high- calibre hotelier keen to invest in the latest addition to the city’s popular breed of boutique hotels.

“Next year’s culture celebrations are expected to attract up to 2m new visitors to the city, and with bedrooms in the city centre not yet at capacity, boutique hotels are sure to be in great demand.”

The Alexander will retain several original features including a specially commissioned mural showing scenes from the original company’s tea plantations in China.

Mr Raw added: “The location is first rate – the Metquarter, in particular, has given this area of the city a revived retailing status, while there are several commercial and residential developments in the pipeline close by.”

PROPERTY Regeneration also said this week the redevelopment of Chester’s tallest building, the Shot Tower, will begin this month.

Plans include 33 apart-ments, 27,000 sq ft of commer- cial space, car parking, and affordable housing.

tonymcdonough