The Navigator, issue 16

THE

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VIGATOR AP R – J UN 2022

DIS C OV E R T H E B EST O F LI VERPO O L

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ISSUE # 016

WHAT'S ON Your spring program guide

10 MINUTES WITH The Wombats

PRETTIEST PARKS Kick off a beautiful sunny spring

10 PLACES TO WATCH LIVE SPORT Don't miss a minute of the action this season

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Car rental that gives you freedom.

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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 Titanic Hotel, the city of Liverpool and surrounding areas have to offer.

Why not book for Easter Sunday Lunch or a Choc-tastic Afternoon Tea, the perfect place for a relaxed family gathering Titanic style.

Liverpool has so much for visitors and everyone lucky enough to live here, to see and do. We have all of Liverpool’s culture, events and leisure on our doorstep and want to show you the varied and vast offering, so that you can make the most of your stay.

Spring is a wonderful time with plenty of celebrations, including new and exciting changes around the hotel.

With a new spring à la carte menu in Stanley’s Bar & Grill, which has been expertly created by our talented team of chefs to ensure it’s packed with seasonal produce and fresh colourful dishes that are bursting with flavour.

If you want to explore the city centre, it’s our pleasure to provide any information we can to help you decide what you’d like to do whilst you’re in Liverpool. From the Grand National festival to local shows, concerts, must-visit eateries and bars, there’s something for everyone and The Navigator is here to tell you all about them.

Please enjoy this issue of The Navigator, we really hope it makes experiencing our beautiful city even more special.

B N RIA CONOR

Feature Pages

04 07 08 12 What's On Your spring program guide

10 Minutes with...

Legendary Liverpool band, The Wombats

Liverpool's Prettiest Parks Kick off a beautiful sunny spring.

10 Places to Watch Live Sport Don't miss a minute of the action this season

RECEPTION

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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 Apr 2022. The information contained is owned, supplied and approved by listed individual or firm.

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What’'s on...

April NISH KUMAR

May PETER HOOK AND THE LIGHT – JOY DIVISION: A CELEBRATION

CRAIG REVEL HORWOOD: THE ALL BALLS AND GLITTER TOUR

April 17 • O2 Academy

May 05 • Liverpool Playhouse

He’s a regular on TV from the Mash Report and shows like Live at the Apollo, Taskmaster and QI, and now comedian Nish Kumar is back out doing stand-up on his new tour, Your Power, Your Control. Named as one of the top 50 comedians of the 21st century, he’ll be taking a personal view on politics and the pandemic amongst other things.

Fans of Joy Division, New Order or better still both shouldn’t miss a very special evening at the 02 where Peter Hook and The Light will be playing Unknown Pleasures and Closer in full, along with an opening set of New Order material to commemorate the massive musical influence of more than four decades of Joy Division and Ian Curtis.

Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood isn’t one to hold back when it comes to scathing reviews of the dancers on the show, but he’s stepping out from behind the judges desk for his debut solo tour. He’ll be talking about his life, dishing some backstage gossip and performing some of the music which has been the soundtrack to his career.

SIX

LIVERPOOL DISCO FESTIVAL WEEKENDER

SEB FONTAINE

April 08 • M&S Bank Arena

April 12-16 • Liverpool Empire

May 14 • Invisible Wind Factory

April 30 • Camp and Furnace, Baltic Triangle This is girl power with a Tudor reboot as the six wives of Henry VIII tell their own unique stories in an 80-minute musical history lesson with a difference. This multiaward winning stage musical has been a huge hit from the West End to Broadway and now it’s on tour and coming to Liverpool with a powerful message and a storming soundtrack.

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Liverpool Disco Festival is back for number 9 in full festival format again, headlined by disco and jazz-funk legends Incognito who are celebrating 40 years of incredible music including collabs with artists like Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan and Jocelyn Brown. A packed 2pm to 2am line-up also has Dimitri from Paris and a live PA from Kings of Tomorrow featuring Julie McKnight.

May feels like it’s a bit early for summer stuff, but it can’t be because DJ Seb Fontaine is bringing his Prototype show to Liverpool for a huge Summer Party rescheduled from an original Boxing Night date. The line-up features Tilt, Jon Pleased Wimmin, Justin Robertson, Smokin Jo, Jonathan Ulysses, Jon Carter, Paul Bleasdale, Phonix, Stuart Hodson, Samuel Lamont and Sonrisa DJs.

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

June THE RISE AND FALL OF LITTLE VOICE

NILE RODGERS AND CHIC

AFRICA OYÉ

May 16 - 21 • Liverpool Playhouse

June 10 • Aintree Racecourse

It became a massive film starring Jane Horrocks, and Olivier Award-winning comedy drama, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, is back on stage with a UK tour and fabulous cast, including Shobna Gulati, Ian Kelsey and Christina Bianco as Little Voice; the girl with a thousand voices who has big dreams of Hollywood and Broadway in her North of England bedroom.

Combine an evening of racing at the world’s most famous course, with a masterclass from the legend that is Nile Rodgers, one of the greatest of all time. He’ll be performing hits from an unbelievable four-decade career including Le Freak, Good Times and collabs like Diana Ross’s I’m Coming Out, David Bowie’s Let’s Dance and the Sister Sledge classic We Are Family.

After a two-year pandemic-induced break, one of Liverpool’s best-loved festivals is back in Sefton Park to celebrate its 30th anniversary and put the spotlight on the culture of Africa and the Caribbean. There’ll be two days of free live music, DJs and dance, as well as workshops in the Active Zone, food stalls and a range of traders in the Oyé Village.

PATRICK KIELTY

CRAFT BEER EXPO

ABC

May 21 • Epstein Theatre

June 16 - 18 • Black Lodge Brewing, Kings Dock Street

June 27 • Liverpool Philharmonic

He lived in LA for over a decade with wife Cat Deeley, but comedian Patrick Kielty grew up in Northern Ireland close to the border and this new stand-up show sees him delving into his own history for a look at national identity in post-Brexit times. Sounds like heavy stuff, but it’s actually been described as bittersweet and laugh out loud funny.

Craft beer enthusiasts can make the most of a weekend dedicated to its many styles at the Craft Beer Expo which takes over Black Lodge Brewery and Sub Rosa in the Baltic Triangle. There’ll be amazing beers, obviously, as well as food, live music and cocktails for non-beer lovers, evening sessions on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and an afternoon one on Saturday.

Anyone who has The Lexicon of Love in their album collection is going to love a night of pure music nostalgia at the Phil courtesy of ABC and frontman Martin Fry. To mark 40 years since its release, the band will perform it in its entirety, including hits The Look of Love, Poison Arrow and All of My Heart with Southbank Sinfonia.

June 18 & 19 • Sefton Park

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Rum Warehouse 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.

From us to you.. Rum Warehouse Flash Sale £10,000 inc. VAT* • • • • • •

Hire of Rum Warehouse Arrival glass of Prosecco / bottle of beer 3 course set menu (Menu A) ½ bottle of house wine per person Toast glass of Prosecco Wedding buffet

• • • • • •

Stage & Dance floor Use of cake knife Red carpet Black or White linen table cloths & napkins Complimentary Superior room for couple Bar until 1am

* Quote RWH10 to book this offer before 31st July 2022.

Minimum numbers 100 wedding breakfast and 180 evening reception.

Valid on selected dates until November 2023. Subject to availability.

For more information, call our wedding coordinators on 0151 482 5783 or email weddings@titanichotelliverpool.com Images provided by Sarah Glynn Photography.

0151 559 1444

TitanicHotelLiverpool

titanichotelliverpool.com

Stanley Dock, Regent Road, Liverpool, L3 0AN

10 MINUTES WITH

The Wombats T

hey’re one of the biggest bands to come out of Liverpool in the past couple of decades and after almost 20 years together The Wombats are still touted as one of the hardest working.

Emerging from various lockdowns with a fifth album, Fix Yourself, Not the World, the three former LIPA mates – Matthew ‘Murph’ Murphy, Dan Haggis and Tord Øverland Knudsen – are about to head out on a headline UK tour for 2022.

They’ll be fitting in three dates at Liverpool’s Mountford Hall from April 2123, so Navigator caught up with them to find out more about what they’ve been up to …

How have the past couple of years been for The Wombats?

It was pretty tough, as for everyone, having our normal life taken away.

Myself, Murph and Tord all live in different countries – I was in London, Murph was out in LA and Tord was in Oslo - so we couldn’t actually be in the same room making music together for most of it. When you start a band you do it because you want to play music with your friends in the same room, but we all tried to embrace it and we filled our time being really creative. Myself and Tord have a side project called Sunship Balloon which we wrote a whole second album for and we’d already done half of The Wombats album so we did some Zoom sessions, kept writing and sending over ideas, and we’d work on things individually.

How difficult was it to do things virtually?

How did the first live gigs back after lockdown feel?

There’s a tiny bit too much latency on Zoom to jam together, but we’d start messing around with something, one of us would have an idea – maybe a chord sequence or a melody line – we’d record it, send it over, add some drums or put some bass down, send it back.

Then we’d all listen to it again and take it from there. It was just a very different process. As much to keep us sane as anything, we said ‘right, even if there’s a lockdown, we’re recording the album in November/December.’ We hired a studio in LA and just prepared extra hard to make sure we knew what each of us had to do. Fortunately, we had really good producers working with us, who made sure all the files were in the right place and we were all playing the same song! Tord made it over from Norway in a little window where travel was allowed then the UK went back into lockdown so we ended up recording together for five weeks.

The first gigs were Reading and Leeds, and the Neighbourhood Weekender in Warrington in the summer, and we literally had goosebumps when we practiced. We’ve been in bands since we were 14 or 15, not just The Wombats, and none of us had ever gone two years before without doing a gig so it was emotional getting on stage again and there were definitely some tears in the crowd, people were just smiling and hugging their mates.

What’s the new album like?

It will forever be a reminder of these last couple of years of madness. I suppose in some ways it feels different to the others but once you’re in a studio recording you almost forget about everything else. You might have a bit more frustration so you put that into your playing but it was really just a joy to be making music again.

Can you believe you’ve been together almost 20 years?

It’s mad, I don’t know whether doing music and playing in a band with the same people you were at uni with maybe keeps you feeling young but we just feel we’ve got as much energy as we did when we started. The body definitely feels it a bit more though.

Have the crowds at your gigs grown older with you, or is there a mix of ages?

We joke that the front row of our gigs must be vampires because they seem to stay the same 16 to 20-year-olds, with a smattering of other random ages. We meet people after gigs and we keep hearing the same thing – teenagers tell us they’ve been listening to us since they were 9 or 10, their older brother or dad or someone introduced them, and now they’re old enough to come to gigs.

Image by Tom Oxley Streaming has been amazing for us too because now kids have just got all this music at their fingertips so people all over the world can discover your music.

We had a song on TikTok that suddenly went viral, it was just mad, it was a remix of Greek Tragedy that Oliver Nelson did. An influencer in America found this version and posted a video of herself lip synching to it and it just kicked off, because half a million other people thought they should do the same thing. Music’s a lottery anyway, but with this one we didn’t even know our ball was in the draw, it just popped up and it was amazing.

You’re coming back to Liverpool for three gigs, are home ones still special?

Oh yeah, we’ve got loads of mates in Liverpool and it’s thanks to Liverpool and fans there that we got signed. We were an unsigned band and we sold out the upstairs at the O2 Academy, labels came along and were like ‘what the hell’s going on here?’ It was all because of this community that Liverpool’s got, everyone supports each other and there’s such a great music scene, loads of little local venues and if we hadn’t had that we’d no way we where we are today. Every time we come back, it’s like a total trip down memory lane, seeing friends and family, and even some of the fans that come to the gigs, we remember them from 17, 18 years ago and they’re still there. It’s always a really special one for us.

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L

iverpool doesn’t just have some amazing architecture, and obviously our world-famous waterfront, we’re really lucky to be surrounded by parks and green spaces too.

When spring arrives and hopefully kicks off a beautiful sunny summer, there’s no better time to get out, explore and enjoy them while they’re in full bloom.

Liverpool boasts more than 2,500 acres of parkland, many Grade I and II listed and most within easy reach of the centre either by car or a quick hop on the train to the suburbs. They’re the perfect spot for a long lazy afternoon picnic, a walk, run or cycle and they offer a fabulous natural chill-out from the pace of the city centre.

Discover all the colours of spring and early summer at Navigator’s favourite prettiest parks…

SEFTON PARK

CALDERSTONES PARK

GREENBANK PARK

Anyone looking to spend a whole day surrounded by nature can’t go wrong with Sefton Park because its size – and proximity to the busy Lark Lane with its indie restaurants and shops – make it an ideal choice.

It’s always busy, but somehow never feels crowded because there are plenty of tucked away spots. It’s got tennis courts and a children’s play area, as well as the Fairy Glen and stepping stones to discover. Sefton Park is often used for outdoor festivals, including the two-day Africa Oye in June, which is one of the UK’s biggest free celebrations of African music and culture.

The glass domed Victorian Grade II listed Palm House in the park is an oasis of exotic plants which has its own café, and when it’s closed for a private event, there’s Sefton Perk in the grounds.

Just a few miles out of the centre, in the south Liverpool suburb of Allerton, Calderstones Park – with its stunning Botanical and Japanese Gardens - is a particularly good choice for families. Little ones will love feeding the ducks and geese on the lake and there are outdoor adventure areas for young and older children and The Storybarn play space. Nestled in the centre of the park, the Grade II listed Mansion House hosts regular events including touring theatre productions, an exhibition telling the history of the ancient Calder Stones, and a book and gift shop. It also houses the social enterprise Reader Café, for breakfast, lunch and drinks until 4pm, and the Ice Cream Parlour which also sells dog ice cream.

Another beautiful Victorian park in south Liverpool, this time just off Smithdown Road running from the city centre, tranquil Greenbank Park is smaller and not so well known as its near neighbour Sefton Park but that’s just how those who go there like it. It has its own lake with swans and ducks, which is a popular fishing spot, and it’s equally loved by the squirrels who are happy to make friends, especially with anyone carrying nuts! A must-try for visitors to Greenbank Park is The Watering Can, winner of the Hidden Gem at this year’s Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards.

Overlooking the walled garden, it’s a great place for coffee and homemade cake, lunch, Sunday roasts or cocktails – and it’s dog-friendly too.

FESTIVAL GARDENS

PRINCES PARK

CHAVASSE PARK

Set right next to the waterfront, heading out towards Aigburth in south Liverpool, the Festival Gardens were originally created for Liverpool’s International Garden Festival back in 1984. The funfair and roller rink are long gone, but the green open space has survived and is now a free admission parkland that’s a great place for relaxing woodland walks, a bike ride or a picnic. Enjoy the restored Oriental gardens with its two pagodas, a Moon Wall, lakes, waterways and waterfalls and a pedestrianised walkway which links to Otterspool promenade along the river where there’s a pop-up coffee truck in case you fancy a snack.

Princes Park in Toxteth, just a couple of miles outside the centre, is huge, stretching out over 110 acres. It was Liverpool’s first public park, dating back to the mid-19th century, and its serpent lake and the circular former carriage drive are still there today, providing a route for walkers, joggers and cyclists. The Grade II listed Princes Park was inspiration for nearby Sefton Park and for Birkenhead Park in Wirral. Known for its golden sunburst gates at the end of the newly-restored Princes Boulevard, the park was chosen as the location for a Nelson Mandela memorial, with a Freedom Bridge across the lake, a pavilion and stoneworks inscribed with Mandela's quotes.

Not so big and grand as the others, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in location – right opposite the Royal Albert Dock and adjoining Liverpool ONE with all its shops, restaurants and bars. Chavasse Park, which was recreated as part of the Liverpool ONE development, is a lovely green space to take a break and find some calm among all the hustle and bustle of the city centre. Set over a couple of levels, it has water features and plenty of green space to settle down for a picnic in the landscaped gardens, grab one of the deckchairs or benches and listen to the buskers.

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Easter At Titanic

Sunday 17th April, 12:30-5:00pm

Step outside the city and join us with your family and friends on Easter Sunday for a delicious Sunday Lunch or Choc-tastic afternoon tea.

Sunday Lunch

Choc-tastic Afternoon Tea

3 Courses £35 Adult £17.50 Children (Half Portion of Adults Menu)

£13 per person (Children under 12) £26 per person for Afternoon Tea £30 per person for Prosecco Afternoon Tea

2 Courses £28.50 Adult £14.25 Children (Half Portion of Adults Menu) Book Now! Call 0151 482 5783. Pre booking is required and subject to availability. To secure your booking we will require a £10 per person non-refundable deposit.

0151 482 5783 10

TitanicHotelLiverpool

titanichotelliverpool.com

Stanley Dock, Regent Road, Liverpool, L3 0AN

Titanic Hotel Liverpool is proud to say it’s now officially the region’s Hotel of the Year We were thrilled to receive the top accolade at the prestigious Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards for 2022.

The black tie awards, held this year in the stunning surroundings of Liverpool Cathedral – which was a winner itself in the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year category – celebrate outstanding achievement by businesses contributing to the tourism and hospitality economy.

Titanic’s team was presented with Hotel of the Year by the ceremony’s host, popular BBC broadcaster Owain Wyn Evans.

After an exceptionally high number of entries this year, we were delighted to be selected by judges against strong competition from three other shortlisted hotels: Hope Street Hotel, Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa and the Pullman Liverpool.

The annual awards are delivered by Growth Platform – Liverpool City Region Growth Company – and Hotel of the Year was sponsored

by Liverpool BID Company.

Other categories receiving recognition included Restaurant of the Year, Pub of the Year, Unsung Hero, Hidden Gem, Best Independent and New Tourism Business, Resilience and Innovation, and Outstanding Contribution.

Commenting on the success, Brian Connor, General Manager of Titanic Hotel Liverpool, said: “Titanic Hotel offers unique accommodation paired with its extraordinary historic setting on Stanley Dock, and we’re thrilled to win this award. It is a reflection not only of the outstanding hotel, but also of our passionate and hard-working team, who consistently deliver exceptional customer service and make the hotel what it is today.

“The past two years have shown our resilience against unprecedented challenges, and I’m delighted we’re able to celebrate along with the rest of the hospitality industry who have helped the city to recover.”

Congratulating all the winners, Liverpool BID Company CEO Bill Addy said: “Tourism is a major economic driver in Liverpool City Region, but it also reflects its heart. From music to attractions, culture to food, we love to welcome visitors, as much as we love to be tourists in our own backyard.

“These awards celebrated success but also strength and tenacity.

It was a great opportunity to say thank you and to raise a glass to those who have put their soul into the city as it recovers.”

S

ports fans in Liverpool will tell you that the city is the epicentre of excellence, especially as we’re home to two of the world’s biggest football clubs and the world’s most famous steeplechase. April sees the Grand National festival coming to Aintree for three spectacular days of racing and fashion, then in May all eyes will be on the FA Cup, Premier League title race and the Champions League Final.

Football and horse racing play a huge part in our sporting calendar, but this year there are so many other big events to look forward to, showcasing the greatest in tennis, motor racing, cricket, boxing, golf and many more. If you can’t get there in person – and tickets can be like gold dust – there’s no need to miss out on the action as it happens because Liverpool has plenty of venues showing live sport on the big screen.

Here’s Navigator’s pick of 10 places to cheer on your favourites…

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SHIPPING FORECAST

BIERKELLER

The Shipping Forecast on Slater Street has got something for everyone - craft beer, great food, live music, sports, quizzes, art exhibitions, Sunday roasts and club nights. It’s also pretty big on live sport, so expect a diary stuffed with most of the Premier League football games involving Liverpool and Everton, Euro fixtures, boxing matches, rugby and all the major racing festivals to take a punt on.

Not only ones for fine steins and ice-cold brews, but Bierkeller located in Liverpool ONE's centre is also a top choice for live sports through the week. Home to Shooters Bar, the Bavarian-style haunt screens the biggest matches from boxing and football through to rugby and cricket.

THE LONG SHOT, ALBERT DOCK

RILEYS

Not a traditional sports bar, but definitely a bar showing sport where you can get a decent cocktail while you watch. It screens all live sports with a menu of monster sandwiches, including a couple of vegan options, draft beers, wines and cocktails like the classic Old Fashioned, Negroni or Espresso Martini and a few newbies. There are happy hours every day except Saturday too.

Rileys sports bar in Liverpool is not only great for a game of pool but also knows a thing or two about all the big fixtures. From boxing and rugby down to some of the biggest football games in the business, if there's any bar in the city that's mad on sport, it's this one.

THE ALBERT The Albert is a top-notch pub screening sport from the footie to rugby. This traditional boozer near Sefton Park comes decked out in plenty of HD screens for all your matchday needs, as well as a cool beer garden for sunning yourself between halves.

EINSTEIN BIER HAUS The old football rivalry between England and Germany might still be strong, but when it comes to beer we’ve got to admit they know a decent stein when they pour it. German bar Einstein Bier Haus is set over two floors in Concert Square, it’s particularly big on live football – followed by live music and DJs – and with 18 beers on tap there’s a party whoever wins.

PUNCH TARMEY'S Take a trip over to Cains Brewery Village where Punch Tarmey's is sorting all you sports fans out. Enjoy a menu filled with tasty burgers, a big selection of craft beers and 18 TV screens across the venue so you don't have to miss a moment of the match.

MCCOOLEYS

HOPE & ANCHOR

If you're in need of a sports bar on Concert Square in Liverpool then check out McCooleys. Consistently buzzing and providing sports fans with all the big matches, head on down for premium entertainment and some succulent burgers.

The Hope & Anchor is a great haunt for watching sports in Liverpool. Along with affordable pints and numerous HD screens showing Sky Sports and BT Sports, it's also got a great beer garden.

BREWDOG On Colquitt Street in the city centre, BrewDog is a craft beer bar specialising its own beers and guest brews – there are a whopping 28 taps on offer alongside massive burgers, buffalo hot wings, salads and bowls, and various plant-based vegan and vegetarian choices. They show lots of different live sports and you can book a table in advance online so you don’t have to take your chances.

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T I TA N I C B E L FA S T

THE COMPLETE TITANIC EXPERIENCE Stay and enjoy tickets to Titanic Belfast with complimentary parking and breakfast included. Check in to Titanic Hotel Belfast, located directly across to the World leading visitor attraction – Titanic Belfast. Stay in one of our nautical themed rooms and enjoy two complimentary tickets to Titanic Belfast, a Titanic sized breakfast the following morning, and complimentary car parking for 24 hours for one vehicle.

BEST RATES GUARANTEED

NO BOOKING FEE

FREE CANCELLATION

FREE WIFI

From

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£179

Per Room

1 OLYMPIC WAY, QUEEN'S ROAD, TITANIC QUARTER, BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND BT3 9EP

+44 (0)28 9076 6386

Q&A WITH

Conal Harvey Director at Harcourt Developments & Deputy Chairman at Titanic Belfast

W

ith the 10th anniversary of Titanic Belfast coming up this year, The Nav sat down with Deputy Chairman, Conal Harvey, to find out how the museum has become one of Ireland’s leading visitor attractions since it opened its doors 10 years ago.

The story of the RMS Titanic is one that’s known around the world, fascinating generations with its romance, glamour and tragedy.

In the city where it was designed, built and launched, the real home of the Titanic, Titanic Belfast is an internationally-renowned attraction dedicated to the ill-fated luxury liner.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, Titanic Belfast has attracted millions of visitors keen to discover more about its history and walk the slipways where the ship began its journey to Southampton and then on to its maiden voyage.

The building has also become a landmark attraction in its own right – four giant hulls encased in aluminium shards, towering five storeys high above the former Harland & Wolff shipyard.

“I know the word iconic is over-used, but this truly is an iconic project and building and it’s one that is now regularly used as a backdrop to identify Belfast, that’s how far we’ve progressed,” explains Deputy Chairman at Titanic Belfast, Conal Harvey.

“People see it as a symbol of the modern

Belfast and, although it celebrates and commemorates the heritage of Belfast and the heritage of the shipyard and the whole Titanic story, it’s nonetheless a futuristic building.”

Now one of Ireland’s leading visitor attractions, Titanic Belfast has grown in parallel with the city’s renaissance and its rise in popularity as a city break destination thanks to short-hop flights from Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and other UK airports.

Standing adjacent to Titanic Hotel Belfast which occupies the beautifully restored HQ of Harland and Wolff, it contributed more than £300million to the local economy in its first seven years, far exceeding even the most optimistic pre-launch expectations.

“When Harcourt Developments took on the Titanic Quarter development rights in around 2005 we immediately started thinking about the Titanic project which had been a vague idea in Belfast for decades but never fulfilled,” says Conal.

“We felt something of this kind would be a significant centrepiece for Titanic Quarter and would give it international recognition so we set about a journey of defining what that meant, what sort of physical expression, content and business model it would have.

“We went through all of those stages, moving from being just an aspiration to becoming a plan when we were able to get financing for it and support from Government. That took us to mid-2009,

when we signed up for the construction of it, and set about delivering it for March 31 2012 to coincide with the centenary of the launch.

that was more like 40% so that’s grown significantly and travel being back is terribly important to us because that’s where we see a lot of our growth.

“A lot of dates in a project will inevitably move but of course the centenary date was never going to do that so there was quite a pressure to meet that deadline.

But we opened on time to an avalanche of interest from international visitors as well as from within the Ireland of Ireland and we’ve been building it from there.”

It was crucial, says Conal, that Titanic Belfast was something which the people of Belfast could be proud of.

“You can only get so much out of the island of Ireland because a lot of people have already been to Titanic Belfast so overseas visitors are vital to us from a footfall point of view. But it’s also about fulfilling the ambition of the city, that this would attract visitors from abroad, and it’s doing that in spades.

“That was very important to us and to the other stakeholders. We wanted this to be Belfast’s project; something which was forward-looking and would maybe give people a sense of a new identity even, having come through three decades of Troubles.

“We don’t own the building, it’s now owned by a trust on behalf of the people of Belfast, but we do see ourselves very much as the custodians of a precious piece of history. There are Titanic projects in different parts of the world, but we will always be the home of the Titanic.”

With Covid restrictions and travel restrictions now lifted, Conal says Titanic Belfast is able to look head to its next decade with considerable confidence.

“In 2019, before the pandemic hit, about 60% of our visitors were from outside the island of Ireland – when we opened

“Keeping any attraction evolving is always a challenge, especially when it is one that’s so rooted in historical fact and authenticity, but we are optimistic about the future for a number of reasons.

“We are planning to embark on a significant upgrade of the galleries early next year, which will give people something fresh to come to, and advocacy is more important than ever in the world of social media so we’re confident that our extremely high satisfaction rating will translate into more people coming.”

And then there’s the Titanic backstory itself, of course, which shows no signs of losing its enduring appeal. “The story is such a compelling one, you almost couldn’t make it up for fiction,” agrees Conal. “It does have authentic historic anchorage and we’re very careful to respect that, but then there’s also the romance and I think that combination is what continues to make it so incredibly interesting for people.”

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

Take a look inside stunning warehouse homes within Stanley Dock's landmark Tobacco Warehouse Located opposite the Titanic Hotel, the new waterfront neighbourhood features New York loft-style apartments ranging from 900 to 2,700 sq ft with up to three bedrooms.

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GRADE II LISTED TOBACCO WAREHOUSE, built in Liverpool in 1901 as “the biggest warehouse the world had ever seen”, is being converted as part of the Stanley Dock regeneration. Phase One of the project is complete and the warehouse apartment homes have loft-style features such as exposed brick walls, cast-iron columns and double-height spaces. They are just across the dock from the Titanic Hotel and close to several hip cafes and creative businesses in the fashionable Ten Streets district.

Developers have released new images from inside the finished show apartments being marketed

by Logic Estates. The four large dressed show apartments in the landmark building provide a homage to The Beatles, Liverpool’s most famous rock band, with different rooms featuring speciallycurated limited edition Beatles artwork. Tobacco Warehouse is being transformed into the city’s most exclusive new residential address providing 550 exceptionally spacious and airy one, two and three bedroom Manhattan loft style apartments, including penthouses, complete with 100,000 square feet of dock level commercial space and lifestyle amenities.

In dressing the four show apartments the developers envisaged that each could provide a funky Manhattan style pad for one of the “Fab Four” (John Lennon actually lived in New York). This creative inspiration has resulted in a series of visually striking, highly individual, dressed apartments that are rich in character and colours and combine iconic Beatles artwork with Art Deco style furniture, sculptural light fittings and vintage and contemporary accessories.

With apartments now available for immediate occupation and prices starting from £235,000 viewings can be arranged with Logic Estates, 0151 920 2404

In order to dress the Tobacco Warehouse show apartments with Beatles artwork Stanley Dock Properties purchased many of the limited edition pieces at ‘Double Fantasy – John & Yoko’, a 2019 Beatles Exhibition that was held at the Museum of Liverpool. This exhibition drew on artwork from Yoko Ono’s own private collection, some of which had never been displayed before.

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CHRISTMAS PARTY NIGHTS 2022 Titanic Hotel Liverpool presents Fire & Ice, a spectacular Christmas party extravaganza!

Indulge in an extraordinary festive affair! Red carpet arrival, stunning Fire & Ice décor, enchanting entertainers and sumptuous gala dinner. After dinner The Toni James Band will get the party started with live music followed by our resident DJ until 1am.

Price: £70 per person Dates available: Friday 2nd, 9th, 16th December • Saturday 3rd, 10th, 17th December

NEW YEAR’S EVE GALA DINNER 2022 Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Rum Warehouse, Titanic Hotel Liverpool.

Our Fire & Ice Gala Dinner will be a spectacular evening to welcome in the New Year.

Join us for prosecco and canapés on arrival, stunning Fire & Ice décor, enchanting entertainers and a delicious four course gala dinner, followed by an amazing night of live music from The Toni James Band and dancing.

Just before the clock strikes 12, join us on our breathtaking dockside with a glass of Champagne and a beautiful firework display to toast the New Year.

Gala Dinner: £100 - Adults only (over 18s)

Book Now! Call 0151 482 5783 Or email Christmas@ titanichotelliverpool.com