Aloft Liverpool

The building

The Royal Insurance Building was built between 1896 and 1903 as the head office of the Royal Insurance Company, to designs by James F. Doyle. It is notable as one of the earliest steel-framed buildings in Britain, and outside you can spot the octagonal cupola with its gilded dome and a sculpted frieze by C. J. Allen on insurance themes. Liverpool City Council bought the freehold in 2013 to bring the empty building back into use, and in 2021 it changed hands again while continuing to trade as Aloft. Its style has been called sumptuous Neo-Baroque, and it is worth standing back on Dale Street to take in the whole facade.

Staying here

Aloft is Marriott's modern, design-led brand, so expect contemporary rooms inside the historic shell. The hotel is listed as pet-friendly. Its location is the big draw: Mathew Street and the Cavern Club are a few minutes' walk away, and Castle Street's restaurants are on the doorstep.

Around the hotel

Walk west and you reach the Pier Head and the Three Graces in about ten minutes. Liverpool ONE is close for shopping, and The Ivy Liverpool on Castle Street is nearby for a sit-down dinner. Lucy in the Sky coffee shop is a handy breakfast alternative.

Highlights

• Inside the Grade II* Royal Insurance Building
• Gilded dome and sculpted frieze
• Opened as a hotel in 2014
• Close to the Cavern Club and Castle Street
• Pet-friendly

Good to know

• The building is Grade II* listed and dates from 1896–1903.
• The Cavern Club and Mathew Street are a short walk away.
• Check pet policy and fees directly before booking.

Frequently asked questions