The Navigator, issue 15

THE

N

VIGATOR JAN – MAR 2022

D ISCOV E R TH E B EST O F LI V ER PO O L

|

ISSUE # 015

WHAT'S ON Your New Year program guide

AN INTERVIEW WITH Kitchen Disco diva Sophie Ellis-Bextor

THEATRE GUIDE Where to see the best shows in Liverpool

ROMANTIC IDEAS 10 romantic things to do in Liverpool

Page 4

Page 7

Page 8

Page 12

Lerpwl The Nest Wildshore

The Tate

Lost Soles

Rough Hand Made

albertdock.com

Contents

A MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER

Welcome to Titanic Hotel Liverpool’s newspaper The Navigator, which has been created to guide our guests around the best of what the city of Liverpool, surrounding areas and Titanic Hotel have to offer.

couples to experience not only our hotel but our venues, Rum Warehouse and West Bay. All of our guests love sightseeing in the city, and it’s our pleasure to introduce even those who come here regularly to somewhere they’ve never been before.

We are looking forward to 2022 at Titanic Hotel , we have a full events diary and would be delighted to help you celebrate a special occasion or event.

Stanley’s Bar and Grill is a wonderful place for a romantic dinner for two or a family get together, why not book for Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day and celebrate Titanic style?

The Navigator is here to help you make the most of your stay whether you’re looking for a different restaurant to try, a shopping trip or even luxury pampering suggestions. There’s always something happening in Liverpool!

Titanic Hotel will be hosting a bespoke wedding show on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th February, 11am till 3pm. This is a great opportunity for

Please enjoy this issue of The Navigator, we really hope it makes your time in Liverpool even more special.

BRIAN CONNOR

Feature Pages

04 07 08 12 What's On Your New Year program guide

Sophie Ellis-Bextor An interview with the Kitchen Disco diva

Theatre Guide Where to catch the best shows in Liverpool

Romantic Ideas 10 romantic things to do in Liverpool

RECEPTION

0

CONCIERGE

556

ROOM SERVICE

525

RUM BAR

711

MAYA BLUE WELLNESS

707

STANLEY'S BAR AND GRILL

714

+44 (0)151 559 1444

/TitanicHotelLiverpool

@TitanicHotelLiv

Titanic hotel Liverpool, Stanley Dock, Regent Rd, Liverpool L3 0AN

titanichotelliverpool.com

@titanichotelliverpool

thenavigator.news

@news_navigator @navigator_news

The Navigator, designed and published by Think Publicity Ltd. The Navigator and it's affiliates assume no liability for any inaccurate information with all content exact at time of press Jan 2022. The information contained is owned, supplied and approved by listed individual or firm. All imagery has been supplied or approved by each individual or firm.

3

What’'s on...

January

February

LES MISÉRABLES

CAST

NINA CONTI: THE DATING SHOW

January 05 - 22 • Liverpool Empire

January 14 • O2 Academy

February 02 • Liverpool Playhouse

There aren’t too more powerful, or more enduring, musicals than Les Mis – over 120 million people have already seen it worldwide - and every production is spectacular. It’s back for a three-week run at the Empire with a new staging, so prepare to man the barricades for a storming show with songs including One Day More, Master of the House and Bring Him Home.

More legends back out on the road with an anniversary, this time it’s Liverpool band Cast and frontman John Power who are marking 25 years since their debut album All Change. They’ll be performing the record in its entirety, followed by a set of greatest hits in a gig that was originally scheduled for October then May 2020, so hopefully it’ll be third time lucky.

British Comedy Award winner and voice-throwing queen Nina Conti is back on tour with a pioneering new dating show. She’ll be like Cilla Black with added masks, so less Blind Date and more a re-voiced one. There’s no promise that anyone will end up finding their true love, and there’ll definitely be no lip action, but laughs are pretty much guaranteed.

IBIZA CLASSICS LIVE

RONAN KEATING

LIVERPOOL BEER FESTIVAL

January 28 • Hangar 34

January 31 • Philharmonic Hall

February 10 - 12 • Lutyens Crypt, Metropolitan Cathedral

January in Liverpool is probably as far away from the gorgeous sunsets of Ibiza as you can be, but you can at least get a taste of it with a night of feelgood Ibiza Classics performed by a live orchestra and vocalists.

Expect a mix of the most iconic Ibiza dance anthems, DJs, dancers and performers to take you back to the White Isle.

It’s been 20 years since he released his first solo album away from Boyzone but Ronan Keating is still going strong and he’s got an album and a tour to celebrate.

Titled Twenty Twenty, he describes it as a greatest hits of brand new music but there’ll also be classics like Life is a Rollercoaster and Lovin’ Each Day when he gets out live.

With more than 200 real ales and ciders, Liverpool Beer Festival returns to the Lutyens Crypt of the Metropolitan Cathedral with the theme of ‘Cask is Back’. Hosted

by CAMRA, it’s on Thursday to Saturday for day and evening sessions, and the focus will be all on the drinks so there’ll be no entertainment just plenty of tasting and great food.

4

From concerts to comedy tours, Liverpool is home to a bursting selection of events over the next three months.

Check out our top picks of what's on so you can start 2022 with a bang...

March Echo & The Bunnymen

SOUL II SOUL – CLUB CLASSICS

THE CORAL

February 14 • Philharmonic Hall

March 04 • The Olympia

March 25 - 26 • Invisible Wind Factory

They’ve got to be one of the most influential bands ever to have come out of Liverpool (not counting the obvious) and they’ve got a massive following all over the world and especially at home. Always amazing live, this gig will cram in as many as possible from 20 top 20 hits, plus tracks from classic albums like Crocodiles and Ocean Rain.

After racking up 10 million album sales worldwide, and an OBE and Ivor Novello Award for Inspiration for frontman Jazzie B, Soul II Soul are taking their acclaimed Club Classics tour back on the road, paying tribute to their legendary debut album Club Classics Vol 1 and playing a set full of hits like Keep on Movin’ and Back to Life.

Even more local heroes with an anniversary date – this time it’s much-loved indie lads The Coral who have made it to 20 years in the business which definitely deserves a couple of nights at IWF. For diehard fans there’s also a remastered The Coral album with two previously unreleased tracks, She’s The Girl for Me and Tumble Graves, from the original album sessions.

RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE UK ON TOUR

JOHN BISHOP

MARTIN KEMP – BACK TO THE 80S

February 20 • Liverpool Empire

March 04 - 05 • M&S Bank Arena

March 26 • Camp and Furnace

Fans of the fabulous RuPaul’s Drag Race UK should sashay to the Empire for the UK’s biggest ever RuPaul tour. Drag royalty will be glittering on stage in a spectacular show featuring UK Season 2 winner Lawrence Chaney alongside A’Whora, Asttina Mandella, Bimini BonBoulash, Cherry Valentine, Ellie Diamond, Ginny Lemon, Joe Black, Sister Sister, Tayce, Tia Kofi and Veronica Green.

No John Bishop world tour would be complete without a couple of city dates, so the comedian’s back for two nights at the Arena this March. He’s out on the road across the UK, Europe and the US with a brand-new stand-up show Right Here Right Now, but there’s no crowd quite like a Liverpool one so there’ll be no banter shortage here.

This is always one of the biggest nights at Camp and Furnace and if you love a bit of 80s nostalgia then it’s a fantastic party. Get your double denim and Ray-Bans on for a night of floor-filling hits with the ex-Spandau star on the decks. It’s non-stop throwback tunes from the likes of Blondie, George Michael and Madonna.

5

T H E PERF ECT SE T T ING

VALENT INE'S DAY ON T H E DOC K

Treat your loved one this Valentine’s Day at Titanic Hotel Liverpool.

VALENTINE’S DAY DINNER

£40 per person 3 course dinner and glass of Bottega Rose Gold in our theatre style restaurant Stanley Bar & Grill.

Book your table today call 0151 559 1444. To secure your booking we will require a £10 per person non-refundable deposit.

ESPA COUPLES MASSAGE

£160 per couple 55 minutes ESPA couples massage in our dual treatment room plus one hour access to our tranquil thermal suite.

Call 0151 482 5767 to book your appointment. Pre booking is required and subject to availability.

0151 559 1444

TitanicHotelLiverpool

titanichotelliverpool.com

Stanley Dock, Regent Road, Liverpool, L3 0AN 6

Computer generated images intended for illustrative purposes only and should be treated as general guidance only.

AN INTERVIEW WITH

Sophie Ellis-Bextor T

he music industry can be notoriously unpredictable, but even the shrewdest pop pundit would have struggled to see Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s phenomenal second-time-around success coming.

After the huge hit of her debut album Read My Lips back in 2001, she’d been busy getting on with the balancing act of motherhood, recording and gigs for best part of a couple of decades.

But then the pandemic happened and Sophie suddenly became the glitterball saviour of lockdown.

She started her Kitchen Discos, getting her glam on every week for live disco sessions at home joined by her husband – bass player Richard Jones – and their five boys.

They soon won a devoted audience of fans who tuned in to have their spirits lifted by her singing in her stilettos surrounded by the mayhem of family life.

She went on to start her podcast Spinning Plates in the summer of 2020, followed in October 2021 by an autobiography titled Spinning Plates: Music, Men, Motherhood and Me. Add to that a touring schedule which saw her headlining and supporting Steps on their arena dates, a Songs from the Kitchen Disco album, and her 24-hour Children In Need Danceathon which raised over £1million and it’s been an incredibly busy couple of years for 42-year-old Sophie.

In 2022 she’s bringing her Kitchen Disco tour out on the road again, around the UK and Europe.

Navigator spent 10 minutes discovering how the

plate juggling’s going now and what this year has lined-up for disco queen Sophie …

used it as a place to put our stress and just jump away the tension.

The Kitchen Discos have made such a huge impression on people, what made you start them?

This was half an hour where they could dress up, jump on the sofa, we’d always have quite a fun Friday night supper, they’d stay up a bit late afterwards.

Our kitchen has always been home to a disco ball and some decks for as long as I can remember.

It was kind of really instinctive. It wasn’t my idea, it was my husband’s. I think we both felt that we missed people and we missed the normal things we get up to, but the times were quite relentless really; with the heaviness of the news and adjusting to the kids all being off school and that sort of thing. So he said, why don’t we do these as a gig online? And I thought it was absolute insanity really, with a baby crying and all that but then I thought sod it. What’s the worst that could happen?

That was only half an hour on a Friday and the rest of the week was pretty domestic and mundane and quite Groundhog Day-ish.

The Kitchen Disco tour is going to be a big part of your 2022, what have you got planned?

I would have toured this year anyway but I think the Kitchen Disco tour is just bringing it into venues to try to make people keep being a part of what we were doing. I think it’s just going to be magical.

I was a bit worried that people might think that I had gone a little bit insane but then I thought that things are already a bit barky – let’s do something fun.

You finished the Children In Need danceathon with your hits Murder on the Dancefloor and Take Me Home – after so many years, do you still love them?

And actually we got such a lovely, warm response, it made us feel better. It was a way to connect with our family and our friends as well as other people so then it became just what we did every Friday and it actually took on a whole life.

With Murder on the Dancefloor, if I’m performing it then I’m on very good terms with it but if you’re out and about and you hear it, it’s definitely a little bit cringy when it’s your own song.

Did your own boys enjoy it as much as the rest of the country seemed to?

My husband and I would plan, and I’d get an idea in my head of what songs I wanted to do, but I didn’t really talk to the kids about it a lot because it was more in the moment. All of us

I have a rule that if I’m on a dancefloor and one of my songs comes on, I have to stay on the dancefloor and if I’m not on the dancefloor and it comes on, I have to stay off. I think if your song comes on and you make your way to the dancefloor, that is not a good look, and if you’re on there and your song comes on and you walk off, that is also not a good look!

7

Some of the biggest name actors to star on TV and film have started their careers treading the boards in Liverpool’s theatres.

The city’s known for its broad variety of venues and productions, from in-house rep to big scale touring shows direct from the West End, so there’s always something to suit anyone who loves the experience of live theatre.

Audiences here do love a standing ovation so whether you prefer a more intimate studio space where you almost feel like you’re part of the action or a larger wow factor auditorium, here’s The Navigator’s guide to Liverpool theatres…

8

LIVERPOOL EMPIRE

THE ROYAL COURT

EVERYMAN

Opposite the beautiful historic St George’s Hall and next to Lime Street station, the Empire’s got an impressive history all of its own. Almost a century of shows in the current building have seen it welcoming legends including The Beatles, Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra as well as hosting a couple of Royal Command Performances.

After starting out as a theatre, just before WWII, in its 1980s and 1990s life the Royal Court was one of the city’s biggest music venues, on the tour lists of stars such as David Bowie, George Michael, U2, and REM.

A landmark on Hope Street, neighbouring the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Everyman has been a big hitter in the theatre world since it opened back in the ‘60s thanks to alumni including Julie Walters, Stephen Graham, Antony Sher and Bill Nighy. It’s carried on its tradition of groundbreaking productions and in-house rep, plus one of the best youth theatres in the country, Young Everyman Playhouse.

Seating over 2,000 in an ornate Louis XVI-style two-tier auditorium, it’s now part of the Ambassador Theatre Group and touring productions in 2022 include Mamma Mia!, School of Rock and The Book of Mormon. For interval drinks, the Piano Bar with its huge curved glass frontage has fabulous views over St George’s Plateau.

A Grade II listed building, seating just over a thousand, it now proudly produces eight plays every year, mostly comedies and musicals, with a Liverpool theme and largely Liverpool cast and crew.

Sets are built in the city and rehearsals happen in the theatre so the Royal Court is a real all-Scouse experience. Shows for 2022 include Mam! Am Ere and YNWA – Let’s Talk About Six.

After closing for a rebuild, with David Morrissey in Macbeth, it reopened in 2014 and straight away picked up its first award as RIBA’s Best British Building of the Year. A ground-level Street Cafe serves drinks and food, and there’s events in the basement Bistro.

www.atgtickets.com/venues/liverpool-empire/

www.liverpoolsroyalcourt.com

www.everymanplayhouse.com

THE EPSTEIN

LIVERPOOL PLAYHOUSE

THE UNITY

Another much-loved Liverpool venue which began as a music hall above Crane Brothers music shop then moved on to become a city favourite, seating just under 400 and known for comedy – Steve Coogan filmed for the BBC there - amateur dramatic productions and family shows, especially its TV celeb-starring pantos.

Sister theatre to the Everyman, the Playhouse is about a mile away, standing in the shadow of the iconic Radio City Tower, aka St John’s Beacon. Another venue with an incredible history, it started out as a music hall in the mid-1800s before becoming a rep theatre. In Williamson Square, it’s unmissable for its combination of historic frontage and newer concrete and glass cylinder extension which houses the Circle Bar.

Up on Hope Place, just off Hope Street, The Unity proves that small really can be beautiful because it’s a little gem in Liverpool’s theatre offering. A relative newbie, around for the past few decades in its current home, it’s got a reputation for creating innovative theatre, working closely with the local community and giving a showcase to Liverpool writers, performers and creatives.

In 2022, the Playhouse has touring productions coming including family show The Tiger Who Came to Tea, Craig Revel Horwood’s All The Balls and Glitter Tour and Northern Broadsides’ 30th anniversary production of Shakespeare’s As You Like It.

The recently revamped Unity Bar perfectly suits either a pre-show G&T or a Love Lane beer, a catch-up once the show’s over or just a relaxed daytime place to hot desk, have a meeting or study with a coffee and some great Georgian Quarter views.

www.everymanplayhouse.com

www.unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk

Previously the Neptune, it was renamed The Epstein in honour of The Beatles manager Brian Epstein. After ongoing struggles to stay open, it was taken over by a new management team at the end of 2021, launching a programme for 2022 with shows like Sam Avery: Role Model, Vincent Simone’s Tango Passion and Twopence to Cross the Mersey. www.epsteintheatre.co.uk

9

T O B A C C O WA R E H O U S E L I V E R P O O L

Luxury three-bedroom duplex apartment with views over the River Mersey 10

LOCATED INSIDE LIVERPOOL’S magnificent Tobacco

runs from the city centre to Stanley Dock. Former

Warehouse, described by Save Britain’s Heritage as

warehouses are being converted into premises for

“one of the most stupendous industrial buildings in

start-up business in the artistic, creative and digital

Britain”, this impressive 1,884ft apartment boasts dual-

fields, and the population is projected to significantly

aspect views over Stanley Dock and the River Mersey.

increase in the coming years.

The interior preserves the original architecture of the Grade II-listed building, with exposed brickwork,

For more information about this property, or to

cast-iron columns and carefully

book a viewing, contact Logic Estates on 0151 920

restored windows

combined with stunning contemporary finishes. A

2404 or email info@logicestates.co.uk

fully-fitted kitchen with integrated appliances on the mezzanine entrance level is linked to the spectacular double-height living room via an ornate steel staircase.

This sense of space continues in the three generously proportioned bedrooms – two of which have access to their own walk-in wardrobe and en suite bathroom.

These two en suites, and the main bathroom, come fully-fitted and tilted with geometric ceramics.

Situated 1.5km north of Liverpool city centre, Tobacco Warehouse and Stanley Dock are ideally positioned to benefit from the ongoing development of 148 acres of historic docklands known as the ‘Atlantic Corridor’.

Described as “a sleeping giant” by Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson, the ‘Atlantic Corridor’ encompasses Liverpool Waters and the ‘Ten Streets’ zone which 11

10 ROMANTIC THINGS TO DO IN LIVERPOOL Liverpool’s a naturally romantic kind of city thanks to the amazing architecture and views which make a gorgeous backdrop for any date day or night.

Add in plenty of cute couply things to do and it’s the perfect place to get all loved-up, either on an outdoor adventure together or an indoor treat for two.

Whether it’s for Valentine’s Day or just every day, here’s The Navigator’s guide to 10 romantic things to do in Liverpool …

A WATERFRONT WALK Stroll along the Royal Albert Dock and enjoy a romantic waterfront walk with beautiful views across the Mersey, and the largest collection of Grade I listed buildings in the UK, with plenty of options to pick up a hot toddy or homemade piece of cake from one of the independent cafes.

HOT CHOCOLATE AT THE PALM HOUSE

GIN TASTING AT LIVERPOOL GIN DISTILLERY

Liverpool’s answer to Kew Gardens, the beautiful Victorian glass-domed Palm House in Sefton Park is filled with exotic plants from around the world so it’s just the place for love to blossom. Grab a coffee or a hot chocolate from Sefton Perk and wander hand-inhand through the park like they do in the rom-coms.

Shared hobbies are what keeps couples together, so how about a shared love of gin? If that’s your passion then go to Castle Street and the Liverpool Gin Distillery where you can have a distillery tour and tasting session, or make a special memento by creating your own gin on the Gin Lab Experience.

12

OVERNIGHT STAY AND DINNER FOR

COCKTAILS AT PANORAMIC 34

TWO AT TITANIC

Liverpool’s waterfront is lovely from every angle, but Panoramic 34 on the 34th floor of the West Tower is the place to see the skyline from above. Wrapped in glass for 360-degree views, it has a fine dining restaurant on one side and bar on the other where you can sip cocktails while the sun sets.

For a really romantic getaway, go all-out with a stay at Titanic – maybe even book in as a surprise to the Presidential Suite, the ultimate unforgettable luxury mini break. Crack open some bubbly and enjoy stunning views of the dock from the room then head down to Stanley’s for an intimate dinner.

APERITIVO TIME AT GINO’S No-one does romance quite like the Italians, so take a love lesson from celeb chef Gino d’Acampo and visit his Castle Street restaurant for an aperitivo, like a Pino Spritz or Negroni – usually enjoyed about 7pm - and add a sharing platter of cicchetti, little Venetian bar snacks that’ll get you dreaming of sunny holidays together.

PAMPER FOR TWO AT MAYA BLUE An afternoon spent at Titanic’s subterranean Maya Blue Wellness is the perfect way to unwind and just relax together under the hotel’s historic red brick arches. Loosen up or just indulge yourselves with one of the ESPA body massages, for men and women, then soak up the pure pleasure of the thermal suite.

SALSA SESSIONS AT REVOLUCION DE CUBA Getting up as a couple on the dancefloor is a surefire way to ignite some passion, you only have to see how many Strictly couples just can’t resist each other. Let the heat of the Cuban rhythms take you over at the Salsa Social on Thursdays at Revolucion de Cuba at the Albert Dock.

BOWLING AT PINS SOCIAL CLUB A little bit of healthy competition is good for a relationship, because isn’t everyone a winner in love?

That’s not really true of bowling, or shuffleboard, but it’s still fun to see who’s got the skills and then celebrate after the game with a drink, up on the rooftop bar if the weather’s nice enough.

BIKING BY THE RIVER You can’t beat getting into the fresh air for a cycle and along the river is a great spot to do it. No need for your own bike, you can hire a City Bike from one of lots of stations – either a pedal one or an electric – and just pay as you go via your phone.

13

Mother’s Day

Sunday 27th March

Make your mum feel special this Mother’s Day at Titanic Hotel Liverpool.

Stanley’s Bar & Grill, 12:30-5pm

Maya Blue Wellness

Treat your mum to the perfect Mother’s Day and enjoy a delicious Afternoon tea or 3 course Sunday lunch at Stanley’s Bar & Grill.

Time For Two £160 for two

Sunday Lunch Adults £30.00, Children £15.00 Under 3's complimentary

Treat yourself and your mum to an ESPA Personalised Express Facial and Back, neck & shoulder massage plus one hour access to our thermal suite, the perfect gift this Mother’s Day. Call 0151 482 5767 to book your appointment.

Pre booking is required and subject to availability.

Afternoon Tea £23 & £27 with Prosecco Book your table today call 0151 559 1444.

To secure your booking we will require a £10 per person non-refundable deposit.

0151 559 1444 14

TitanicHotelLiverpool

titanichotelliverpool.com

Stanley Dock, Regent Road, Liverpool, L3 0AN

Rum Warehouse

West Bay

Venues tailored to your special day Lovingly restored, this historic World Heritage site provides a fitting location to mark the start of your lives together. From your marriage ceremony to the evening’s celebrations, we would be honoured to host this wonderful occasion for you.

Titanic Hotel Liverpool can accommodate traditional, multi-cultural and small and intimate weddings. Our wedding venues Rum Warehouse and West Bay can be tailored to create your special day.

Come along to our wedding show Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th February 11am – 3pm You will have the chance to find out more about our venues and meet over 20 leading wedding specialists.

Entry is free, register your attendance today www.titanichotelliverpool.com, we would love to show you around!

For more information, call our wedding coordinators on 0151 482 5783 or email weddings@titanichotelliverpool.com

0151 559 1444

TitanicHotelLiverpool

titanichotelliverpool.com

Stanley Dock, Regent Road, Liverpool, L3 0AN

Sh ow on ap vi art ew m no ent w s

DREAM BIG Wake up to this view every day!

Tobacco Warehouse presents stylish, Titanic-sized apartments in an iconic building on Liverpool’s Stanley Dock.

• Duplex apartments with waterside & city views • Sizes from 980 - 2,700 sq ft (91 - 250 sq m) • Original architectural features • The ultimate in dockside living • Adjacent to the award-winning Titanic Hotel Visit our stunning Tobacco Warehouse show apartments to experience the ultimate in dockside living. To arrange a viewing, or for more information, contact our sole sales agent Logic Estates on +44 151 920 2404 or email info@logicestates.co.uk

www.TobaccoWarehouse.co.uk