Our long planned trip to Liverpool for the Genesis concert at the Liverpool Arena took place last week. We’d originally planned to drive up and stay in an Airbnb apartment next to the Albert Docks but, as I reviewed earlier this year, due to the pandemic and problems with the booking we decided to book a cheap hotel for myself and husband fairly nearby that had parking and my son booked the Jurys Inn Hotel which is adjacent to the Liverpool Arena. Then the petrol shortage happened and we were frightened that even if we could get to Liverpool we might not manage to get petrol to drive home so at the eleventh hour we decided to go by train; therefore we didn’t need a hotel with parking and as were able to cancel at short notice that is what we did. I’d stayed at the Days Inn, a budget hotel in James Street about 4 years ago and really liked the location so I looked for that again, but it is no longer there, the building is now the 3-star Heeton Concept Hotel. We tried to book directly with the hotel but were unable to access the promotions that were advertised so instead telephoned the hotel and were told by reception that they would get someone to ring us back. However, as time was short I booked through Booking.com instead – 3 nights for the two of us for £180 in a twin bedded room. The photographs of the rooms show quirky, modern designs on the bedroom walls, not particularly to my taste, but I told my husband that the location was the most important thing with this hotel. I didn’t make an requests regarding our room on this occasion, however when I stayed there in 2017 (when it was a Days Inn) my friend and I each had a good double room next to each other at the front of the hotel and from the window I could see the big wheel at Albert Docks; I think these rooms are now M1 and M2 and
It took us about 15 minutes to walk from Liverpool Lime Street station to the hotel; it would have been quicker but there are roadworks being carried out in the vicinity of the station which made it difficult to get across the roads there. We quickly signed in at the hotel and were told that the lift was out of order but an engineer was working on it; there are two lifts but they obviously work (or don’t) in tandem, so we had to struggle up to the 2nd floor with our bags. Our room was at the back of the hotel so the view from the windows was of a car park. We hadn’t made any specific requests when booking however our room was quite large and we didn’t have a quirkily decorated wall, everything being white or grey, so I don’t think the redecorations had reached our floor of the hotel. The bathroom was probably newly fitted and had a walk in shower. There was a small tv on the wall but we rarely watch television when we’re away. There was free wifi. We only had one pillow each but didn’t bother to ask for another. There were only 2 teabags so when we’d used them I went down to reception to ask for some more and the receptionist gave me quite a few more plus more coffee and milks. i’ve only given 3 stars for the hotel due to the broken lift and other small niggles, plus no breakfast service at present and our room being somewhat in need of t.l.c. Hopefully the whole hotel will soon be redecorated. Reception staff were friendly and housekeeping staff we passed in the corridors greeted us.
We were told that breakfasts were not available but that didn’t matter as just opposite the hotel is a Wetherspoons so we went there for breakfast each day and the prices are very reasonable. The bar, which is normally used for breakfasts was supposedly open in the evening but we didn’t use it; there was a limited menu of pizza or a few other simple things. I took a photo of the bar early in the evening before anyone was using it; it’s rather more suited to breakfasts as it has easily cleaned surfaces but is not cosy or characterful. Apparently if staying for 3 days or less there would be no housekeeping/change of towels etc. but anyone requiring this service would be charged £12.
The best thing about this hotel is the location – at the bottom end of James Street, next to Hotel 30 and above the James Street Metro station. It’s about a five-minute walk to the Three Graces, Pier Head or Museum of Liverpool, ten minutes to Albert Dock shops/restaurants and Tate Liverpool and in the opposite direction it is less than five minutes to Liverpool One, about twelve minutes to the Walker Gallery and Central Library, twenty minutes to the Anglican Cathedral and twenty three minutes to the Catholic Cathedral.
“More information”:http://www.heetonconcepthotels.com/liverpool
