Doing Business
There are no hard and fast business rules to Liverpool that differentiate it from elsewhere – other than perhaps a ready appreciation of the famed local wit – but you’ll certainly find no shortage of suitable spots to meet. Merseyside actually boasts more MIA-accredited venues than anywhere in the country. On the hotel front, The Crowne Plaza deserves particular mention for its plum location next to The Liver Building.

Cool Hotel
Newly opened in January this year, the Malmaison Liverpool is the latest addition to the chain’s rainbow assortment of fresh and funky properties. The £14m hotel, situated close to the heart of the city in Princes Dock, has been designed to bring a touch of ‘Manhattan style’ to Merseyside, and its bold exterior and 131 rooms and suites fit the billing effectively. There are five contemporary meeting rooms on site, all with natural daylight, and wireless internet connection is available in the lobby and bar. The cookery and wine at the brasserie are highlights.
See: www.malmaison.co.uk 

Hip Restaurant
Lauded by everyone from The Sunday Times to the local footie WAGs, 60 Hope Street’s reputation precedes it. The restaurant is in the city’s creative arts quarter and has doubled as a gallery for the likes of Damien Hirst and Francis Bacon, but the real attraction is the food and drink itself. The menu draws on largely local produce to concoct creative ’modern European’ dishes, while the bar offers a wide range of wines and cocktails.    

Happening Bar
Babycream is an offshoot from nightclub titans Cream, and it has all the kudos and quirky features that you’d expect that to entail. Part bar, part club, part restaurant, it’s one of a number of trendy drinking spots in Albert Dock. The ladies-only Powder Room is often cited as a highlight, but both sexes will be able to enjoy the ever-changing screens at the Virtual World Bar and the consoles allowing drinkers to choose their own music.   

Must-see Sights
If you’ve already gorged yourself on all the Beatles-based treats that Liverpool offers, a top attraction is the recently refurbished and expanded World Museum (formerly the Liverpool Museum). The scope of the galleries and exhibits is immense, from coral reef displays and Native American artefacts to giant animatronic insects and dance performances. The £35million invested in the venue has been impressively spent. And best of all, it’s free.

Getting Downtown

Liverpool Lime Street Station leaves rail arrivals in the heart of town. Liverpool John Lennon Airport sits about seven miles to the south, or a 20 minute taxi journey from the city centre (Liverpool has more hackney cabs than anywhere other than London). The Airlink 500 bus runs straight into town every 20 minutes on weekdays and costs £2 – avoid the Airlink 700 unless your destination is Manchester.

Getting There
Trains arrive frequently into Lime Street Station from major towns and cities around the country. The journey time from London Euston ranges from two-and-a-half to three hours. There are air links from Belfast, Dublin, Cork and the Isle of Man, as well as several key continental destinations. Manchester Airport, served by a huge number of national and international flights, is less than 90 minutes away by train.

INSIDER’S TIP
“Hope Street Hotel is a very modern and stylish boutique property with sumptuous rooms and an award-winning restaurant. The environment is welcoming, the staff are friendly and it's a short distance from the restaurants and bars in the city centre.

A visit to Liverpool Football Club at Anfield, meanwhile, isn't exactly sumptuous in the league of the Hope Street, but it is an equally unique experience“
Helen Scott, Capita Business Travel

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