The Shankly Hotel: Does it do its Namesake Justice?
Bill Shankly once said that there were two teams in the city: Liverpool and Liverpool Reserves. That was one of countless witty lines that the Scottish manager came up with during his time at Anfield, few of which endeared him to the Evertonians based on Merseyside.
That was in spite of the fact that, towards the end of his career, Shankly actually spent time at Goodison Park as he wanted to keep his hand in football but didn’t want to step on Bob Paisley’s toes.
Nowadays, there is a hotel in Liverpool city centre named in his honour, but what’s it all about and is it worth a visit?
The Venue as a Hotel
As the name suggests, the main reason for the existence of the Shankly Hotel is to give people a place to stay in the centre of the city that is themed after one of Liverpool Football Club’s most important figures. There are 83 rooms and suites at the Shankly Hotel, giving people the chance to stay somewhere that is as much about being an experience as it is a place to sleep.
The rooms are inspired by the man himself, promising the likes of iconic quotes around the place as well as Scottish theming, such as thanks to tartan-coloured lampshades and other such things.
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Liverpool is, of course, a city that often sees large groups turning up and looking to enjoy themselves. Sometimes, this is because of a football match taking place at Anfield or the Hill Dickinson Stadium, whilst other times it is owing to stag dos and hen parties hitting the pubs and clubs nearby.
If you find yourself in that category, then you might want to take advantage of one of the group rooms, which are intentionally laid out in order to have enough room for numerous different people to stay together and therefore manage to keep the costs down as much as possible.
Dining & Shankly Memorabilia
If staying at the hotel isn’t something that you really want to do for whatever reason, yet you’re still determined to get along and pay your respects to the founding father of modern-day Liverpool FC, one of the things that you might consider doing instead is heading along for a bite to eat.
The Bastion Bar & Restaurant promises a unique experience, where you can sit and enjoy a delicious bit of food as well as some top-class service, surrounded by memorabilia about the famous Scottish manager. There are numerous different options open to you if that’s what appeals.
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You could, for example, head along for Sunday lunch, which is prepared to perfection by the chefs on-site and includes vegetarian and vegan options. If you want to spoil someone, you might consider taking them to the Shankly Hotel for an afternoon tea, which sees a selection of sandwiches bolstered by cakes, scones and other sweet treats.
What is on offer will depend on when it is that you’re going along, with the following being a selection of the options that you can get at the Shankly Hotel:
- Cocktail Masterclass
- Sunday Lunch
- Bottomless Brunch
- A la Carte Menu
- Kids’ Menu
- Afternoon Tea
Events at the Shankly Hotel
It goes without saying that the Shankly Hotel puts football at the forefront of what it offers, which means live matches shown whenever they are being broadcast by the likes of Sky Sports or Amazon Prime Video. That becomes even more the case on the occasions when Liverpool are involved in a big game, whether that be a cup final or big game in the Premier League.
On such occasions, you will find that the Shankly Hotel offers ticketed experiences, so you will need to make sure that your name is on the list if you’re hoping to find yourself in a decent spec for the match.
There is a rooftop at the Shankly Hotel, which offers excellent views around the city, as well as a place to watch a match alongside a crowd of fellow Liverpool supporters, thanks to the fact that a big screen is erected up there. You can hold a wedding at the hotel, or a conference for up to 300 delegates.
Whatever it is you’re hoping to do, there is a team at the hotel that is ready and waiting to put together a tailor-made package just for you. The venue’s location in the heart of the city centre makes it the ideal place to head to before going on a night out that promises you a great time.
More than anything else, though, the hotel is an homage to one of the most influential figures in the history of British football. That makes it a place for every Liverpool fan to visit.
