Voyagers restaurant inside the Halyard hotel (Image: Halyard)
A new hotel is adding a dash of serious luxury to a historic area of one of the UK’s most iconic cities — but one design feature of the rooms has me perplexed.
The Halyard on Duke Street is nestled in Liverpool’s historic Ropewalks district, named after the rope-making industry that thrived during the city’s heyday as a crucial port in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Duke Street, along with other streets in the area, is very long, as it needed to run between the warehouses of old. This design was intentional, allowing manufacturers to lay out the lengthy ropes during production.
The Halyard pays tribute to the history of the Ropewalks area through both its name and design. The term ‘Halyard’ refers to a type of rope knot, a subtle nod to the hotel’s location, reports .
Voyagers restaurant and bar within the Halyard (Image: Halyard)
The Halyard’s historical location is reflected in its grand design aesthetic, inspired by the refined tastes of the mercantile classes, but with all the modern conveniences and USB charging points included. The hotel is part of IHG Hotels and Resorts’ Vignette Collection, with Liverpool being the first UK city to host one of these unique hotels.
Other locations include Lisbon, Porto, Bangkok and Brisbane.
Upon entering The Halyard from Duke Street, it’s clear this is a hotel that exudes class. The lobby is chic, light and contemporary, tastefully blending with the building’s industrial elements.
The Halyard hotel on Duke Street opened in February 2024 (Image: Colin Lane)
Hanging plants and a patterned tiled floor add character to the space.
The hotel’s 200-seater restaurant and bar, Voyagers, is named after the poem ‘A Voyager’s Dream of Land’ by Felicia Hemans, who was born at 118 Duke Street. The menu features small plates inspired by Liverpool’s cultural influences.
In addition to its 133 luxury rooms, The Halyard offers an on-site gym, conference facilities and a rooftop terrace. The jewel in the crown is the seventh-floor suite, boasting a wrap-around rooftop terrace with stunning views of Liverpool Cathedral and the waterfront.
We had the good fortune of spending two nights on the seventh floor, initially in a King Suite room and then in a larger suite the following night. The King Suite is elegantly appointed, featuring a separate living area for entertaining guests.
The room comes equipped with a coffee machine offering six complimentary pods, a kettle, a mini fridge, and an assortment of cups and glasses, all contributing to a homely feel. There are even two televisions, perfect for both entertainment and work, as they can easily be connected to personal devices to stream content.
A convenient desk area and chair near the entrance cater to those needing to put in a few hours of laptop work.
The separate living room area of the king suite (Image: MEN)
The suite boasts sophisticated decorative touches throughout, including a beautifully tiled bathroom and a spacious walk-in shower area, which is hands down the best I’ve ever experienced in any hotel stay. Two different shower heads can be activated at the push of a button, one being a large power shower that delivers a heavenly warm downpour, and the other a more traditional flexible shower head positioned lower for those who wish to keep their hair dry.
It’s a thoughtful detail. The suite also features tasteful lighting, large mirrors, and ample storage space, all thoughtfully designed. The larger suite we occupied on the subsequent Friday night offered all this and more.
Inside the larger balcony suite with the bathroom area at the far end of the room (Image: MEN)
The larger terrace suite immediately impresses as you enter the room. It’s a multi-functional space, serving as a bedroom, kitchen and even a bathroom all in one.
There’s even a deep ceramic bath by the window, allowing guests to soak while enjoying the stunning waterfront views – if they dare.
For those who prefer privacy, black out curtains and netting are available. This is not just a luxury, but a necessity.
The luxury suite on the seventh floor of The Halyard comes with a bath in the main living room/bedroom (Image: MEN)
The wrap-around terrace is undoubtedly a highlight of the hotel. The spacious seventh-floor suite comes equipped with two chairs, a sofa and a table – perfect for enjoying your morning coffee or evening drink in style.
However, the view that spans from the magnificent Anglican Cathedral at one end of the city, across the waterfront to the ferry terminal and Liver Buildings at the other, attracts many photo and video enthusiasts. The only barrier preventing them from wandering outside and peering into your suite is a couple of large planters with enough space to squeeze past.
So, it’s something to consider when preparing for a bath.
The views from the seventh floor terrace over Liverpool are truly spectacular (Image: MEN)
In the larger suite, a bathroom area with a sink is integrated into the main room. This might be acceptable for some, but for those who prefer privacy while brushing their teeth, it could pose an issue.
This is where another design feature of the suite left my girlfriend and I puzzled.
The shower room and toilet are situated right next to the bed, separated only by a thin sliding screen. You can imagine why this could be problematic.
The wraparound terrace accessible from the larger seventh floor suite with furniture and planters (Image: MEN)
To put it mildly, you’ll become very familiar with your room companion.
Without being too indelicate, this is when the volume control on the TV remote becomes your best ally. Alternatively, you could try to synchronise any ‘activities’ with the sound of a passing cruise ship’s horn, assuming you have the terrace doors open.
When closed, these doors effectively block out the city’s sounds and vibrant nightlife, which is another point in the hotel’s favour.
The larger balcony suite with feature bath (Image: MEN)
The choice to use screen doors for the bathrooms is peculiar. It’s not as noticeable in the King Suite where the bathroom is further away, but it’s definitely a consideration in the larger, more luxurious suite where the toilet is adjacent to the bed.
This is perplexing given that the rooms are otherwise beautifully decorated, with a clear effort made to balance comfort and convenience for the guest’s experience.
We decided to have breakfast in the Voyagers restaurant the following morning, which proved to be another delightful treat. After a brief wait for a table, we selected our dishes from the menu – poached eggs and avocado on toasted sourdough with a fiery hint of chilli.
The bedroom in the king suite with terrace area outside (Image: MEN)
We requested coffee, while sparkling water, orange juice and apple juice were also readily accessible.
As we waited, we were invited to help ourselves to the central buffet, which boasted cereals, yoghurt, cheeses, fruits and an array of tempting pastries.
The luxurious bathroom in the King Suite (Image: MEN)
How much does a stay at The Halyard cost?
A stay in the King Suite with a balcony on the top floor, as we did on a Friday night, doesn’t come cheap, setting you back around £302 for the night. However, it’s worth noting that you can choose to stay in a more affordable Queen Deluxe room from approximately £122 per night, although breakfast isn’t included.
The larger suite featuring a bathtub in the living room and a wrap-around terrace will cost you around £369 for a Friday night stay. An additional £16 is required if you want breakfast included the next morning. All prices were accurate at the time of publication and were sourced from the hotel’s website.