Liverpool is now firmly on the map as one of the UK’s most cosmopolitan cities and of course also hosting Eurovision 2023 on Saturday 13th May! Offering a huge choice of trendy cafes, bars and restaurants on Albert Dock, this part of the city is constantly busy and vibrant. So, it seems totally fitting that Pullman Liverpool Monarch Quay should be built right here in the middle of it all – a tranquil haven of cool just a stone’s throw away from the Wheel of Liverpool and all the hustle and bustle of the waterfront.
A stunning reception area greets you on arrival at The Pullman Liverpool. The kind that looks like it belongs in the glossy pages of a luxury interior design magazine. Check in is simple and the welcoming staff have your key card ready on arrival, although you might want to hang out in the beautiful lobby a little longer as there are plenty of cosy booths to chill out in.
Up to our room, we discovered a deluxe, spacious and modern corner room with an amazing view of the wheel and dock and an abundance of natural light courtesy of the multiple floor to ceiling windows. With tea and coffee making facilities, fluffy robes and slippers, bathroom shower gels and shampoos, a flat screen TV and minibar and a really stylish, contemporary design, we were really pleased with the room we’d been given. We took a few moments to just take in the breath taking views of The Dock which at around 5pm when we arrived, provided beautiful tones of musky blues as the sun began to set and in company of this stunning view we put together a plan for the evening courtesy of the hotel’s free high speed wifi.
Having made an 8 o’clock dinner reservation, we made our way down to The Pullman Liverpool’s restaurant – Dukes, which we were surprised to see was quite quiet. Apparently that’s really very rare because the Pullman’s super close proximity to the Liverpool Arena & Convention Centre and the Exhibition Centre Liverpool, make it a top choice for dinner on the night of a show – likewise the hotel is almost always at full capacity. Grateful for the chilled out vibe and the really amazing staff (Leah was simply the best), we perused the menu and took in the calming effects of the restaurant’s design. Grey and blue hues punctuated with shades of orange, stunning fresh purple flowers and pretty, delicate drop lighting against contrasting modern metal partitions. It really is a beautiful brasserie.
The menu sounded delicious, and quite fancy by a hotel’s standards (surprising too, to find this is classed a four star hotel when it could easily be a five star). Consisting of classic British cuisine, the food all came out so well presented, that I had to take three or four photos of every single dish! It’s the kind of presentation you’d expect from a Michelin starred restaurant as plate after plate came out from the open cookline, each as impressive as the last. We asked the lovely Leah for a recommendation on the starter to which she advised the Beef Carpaccio was a must try – the perfect mix of sweet and savoury, sweet from the roasted walnuts perfectly complimented by the melt in your mouth beef, parmesan, and egg yolk. The Pressed Ham was a fantastic size portion to start with the ham and pickle making for a palatable appetiser. For mains we went for the Rib Eye Steak and the Breast of Chicken. Served alongside chips of your choice, the rib eye was juicy and succulent, accompanied by a flavourful béarnaise sauce. The chicken was presented alongside mouth-watering chorizo croquette, luscious leeks, and an aromatic jus.
Although bursting at the seams it would have been rude not to try one, or two of Dukes desserts. We went for the Sticky Toffee Pudding and the Lemon Posset. If you are a lover of a zesty dish, the creamy lemon posset is for you. Full of citrussy goodness alongside sweet raspberries, this dish did not dissatisfy. The sticky toffee was everything you would need and more within this classic dessert, sweet toffee sauce, soft sponge and vanilla ice-cream, the perfect trio!
Although we were stuffed and could easily have slipped into the big cosy bed in our room, it was rude not to take Leah up on her recommendation of a cocktail bar situated in Concert Square which was around a ten-minute walk from The Pullman. We ended our night drinking and dancing the night away enjoying what nightlife Liverpool had to offer which was a fantastic night. Once back at the Pullman, although it was quite some time before we finally got to sleep, because the stunning views from our room (now in the dark with the Wheel all lit up!) were just far too good to ignore, but once we put our heads down on to the memory foam pillows we were out like a light!
What an enjoyable stay. Book your stay at Pullman Liverpool here.
