White Star Line Hotel

The beds were hard and uncomfortable, one with a ridge down the middle that left you leaning to one side. Our room was cold, with only a small oil heater, and the shower stayed lukewarm even after five minutes. The basin tap was barely warm too. Only one of the four wall lights worked. The room itself felt tired, with dated decor and overdone wallpaper and velvet walls. The big bathroom wasted space, with one small glass shelf already cluttered, leaving nowhere for toiletry bags except the floor. Tea and coffee were tucked away in the wardrobe, there were no biscuits, and we found just one coat hanger. We paid for breakfast but skipped it and went to Wetherspoons instead, where we had a lovely end to the trip. We never commented at reception because we were worried about losing the £100 deposit, even though we'd been told about the pre-authorisation by email. The rooftop bar was closed at 8:30pm, despite the booking email saying it was open from noon till late Thursday to Sunday. Reception said there was no demand and it was dead, though they also said the hotel was nearly full. We didn't see anyone else during our stay. That's ridiculous, and very disappointing. We also went to the Titanic exhibition, which was okay, but we've seen better; glad we didn't pay more. The building looked nice from outside and the welcome was friendly. Reception explained check-in and checkout, breakfast times, and the £100 hold. Would we recommend it? Only after a lot of changes. Would we like a refund? Yes.

The afternoon tea was a highlight, especially the chef explaining the sandwiches, and I loved the Titanic model at reception. Reception staff were exceptional, and the rooftop bar was exquisite. We also had a good night's sleep in a large, lovely room, though there were several faults: the kitchen tap stem was broken, the bathroom tap was loose, the AC was broken, and the wall and bed lights didn't work. The wall bathroom light wouldn't come on either. There was no sink plug, so I had to leave the tap running to shave. The room was cold, with only an oil filled radiator. We had booked the Titanic exhibition, breakfast, and afternoon tea for the next day, as it was for my birthday on the 30th. Breakfast was disappointing: the toast was underdone, and everything except the egg and hash browns was badly overcooked. It looked reheated from the night before; the sausage and mushroom were very dark, and the bacon was so crisp you could snap it. When I mentioned it at reception, they said they were trying someone new. The exhibition was so-so. The hotel's history is part of the stay and should be kept in mind.

A bit dated, and the rooms could use some TLC, though I believe the new owners plan to sort that out. You can see how upmarket this place must have been in its heyday. It’s in a great spot in Liverpool and good value, so we’d probably stay again if we visit.

The exhibition was very good and well worth visiting. Having it in the White Star hotel added to the experience. Afterwards, we went up to the Quarterdeck for a drink and sat by the balcony to take in the view. Drinks were reasonably priced, and the staff were polite.