In recent years, the formerly gritty, working class port city of Liverpool, England, has transformed to become a popular tourist destination, with an attractive, walkable waterfront, a wide selection of museums and many golf courses. But for fans of The Beatles, Liverpool will always be the home of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison — and these fans can “twist and shout” as they “come together” for a stay at the city’s Hard Days Night Hotel.
Hard Days Night Hotel is filled from top to bottom with memorabilia and art depicting the band as well as, of course, an all-Beatles musical soundtrack. Opened in 2008, the property was constructed within a former office building that dates to 1884. Spanning five stories are 110 rooms, including the lavish Lennon and McCartney suites. A suit of armor in the McCartney suite honors McCartney’s knighthood, while the Lennon suite features a white grand piano of “Imagine” fame.
The balcony of the hotel’s Lennon suite
Credit: 2019 Hard Days Night Hotel
Hard Days Night Hotel’s ground level hosts events and meeting space, with the Two of Us wedding chapel highlighting framed pictures of The Beatles and their significant others on the walls. Hari’s Bar, a special-event space and lounge, pays homage to The Beatles’ India sojourn, and the setting is hip enough to summon back Harrison’s spirit for a cocktail.
“It’s so nice to see peoples’ faces light up when they first walk into the hotel,” said Jan Morris, the hotel’s sales manager. “We get fans from all over the world coming here, and they’re just delighted.”
Hari’s Bar is a tribute to The Beatles’ time in India.
Credit: 2019 Hard Days Night HotelWhile the band’s soundtrack in the lobby and bar is always on, and photos and art featuring The Beatles are everywhere, the hotel still isn’t over-the-top with kitsch — nothing cringe-worthy like costumed singing staff or Yellow Submarine-themed bathroom fixtures.
In a touch of modern-day Beatlemania, Justin Bieber stayed here in 2011, and police had to close nearby streets as he waved to screaming fans from his balcony. I enjoyed a similar balcony during my stay — minus the groupies — with a nice view over Liverpool’s historic skyline. My Ringo Starr-themed room also had a couple of photos and a painting of the drummer, in addition to a book about The Beatles, but otherwise it was a standard room.
On the ground floor, the lobby lounge and bar serves up food and cocktails (including a tasty “Strawberry Field with Pepper” concoction with puree and pepper vodka), while the adjacent Bar Four has comfy leather seats and live music Friday through Sunday. Blake’s Restaurant, also on the hotel’s ground floor, is an ode to the pop artist who created the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band’s album cover. Blake’s menu features a standard British breakfast buffet with baked beans, sausage and eggs, while fish and chips and marinated lamb shank are on offer during dinnertime.
Guests can listen to live music at Bar Four.
Credit: 2019 Hard Days Night HotelBut it’s all about the music. Top off a day of Liverpool exploration with a visit to The Cavern Club, a re-creation of the underground bar and concert venue where The Beatles got their start. At the venue just around the corner from the hotel, I descended two stories and about 50 years into the beginning of the Beatlemania to rock out with fellow fans to a lively cover band.
The Details
Hard Days Night Hotel
www.harddaysnighthotel.com
