The Halyard at Ropewalks

Liverpool

Two new hotels under the same roof in Liverpool's historic Ropewalks district

Type

Vignette Collection and Holiday Inn Express

Client

Molo Hotels

Status

Completed

Our design brought together two individually branded hotels in the same building: The Halyard at Ropewalks, Vignette Collection – the first Vignette Collection to open in the UK, and Holiday Inn Express to the historic Ropewalks district in the heart of Liverpool.

Both hotels are interlinked and share the same structure, creating cohesion and synergy, however, they each benefit from a separate identity and have a distinctive offering for guests and walk-ins alike.

Evoking Liverpool’s docks history, the building is a modern interpretation of the region’s traditional river and railway vernacular. The design language brings together clean lines, a dual-skinned copper cladding system, bespoke modules, and a light-filled courtyard-style atrium, alongside a material palette of warm red brick tones and playful geometric shapes with complementary industrial accents. The Halyard at Ropewalks Vignette Collection’s entrance stands out with its illuminated copper mesh laminated glass – giving a nod to the nearby river and railway station, while the Holiday Inn Express one is more modest and understated.

Both hotels are interlinked and share the same structure, creating cohesion and synergy, however, they each benefit from a separate identity and have a distinctive offering for guests and walk-ins alike.

A melting pot of humble grandeur

The Halyard at Ropewalks, Vignette Collection’s interior takes inspiration from Liverpool, a melting pot of humble grandeur. The hotel is home to 133 thoughtfully designed guestrooms and offers a range of amenities and venues. A tea and cocktail lounge, a welcoming bar flowing into an open kitchen through the restaurant, which has its own Arcade entrance and a roof terrace with unrestricted views over the city. Guests also have the option to workout at the onsite gym. Each space presents itself in a style that melds Industrial Age inspiration with elegant and vibrant colours. The guestrooms evoke the riveted patterns that punctuated the city’s transatlantic transportation, the ropewalks and the development of techniques and structures that changed the way the world traded.

The hotel’s artwork offers many visual interpretations, with river-inspired accents and striking fabrics that impart a sense of oriental elegance. Stepping into the lobby, guests will be greeted with a grand bespoke textural artwork piece that plays on the history of the ropewalks, making the guest part of the story and setting the tone for the entire stay. Layers of inspirational wall art pieces taking inspiration from the nearby Chinatown and River Mersey, punctuate the spaces and tell the hotel’s individual story. The oriental influence continues throughout the hotel as pops of colour and intricate fabrics. In the bar, the eyes will be drawn to another custom-coloured acrylic tiles artwork piece which will be open for interpretation, sometimes presenting itself as a fishing net and other times as a mystical sea creature.

The overall feel of this dual-branded hotel complex is of a refined yet down-to-earth hub that shows great respect for Liverpool’s past, present and future.

A good night's sleep and a relaxed homely atmosphere

In contrast, The Holiday Inn Express focuses on offering a good night’s sleep and breakfast in a relaxed homely atmosphere. Although it’s interlinked with The Halyard at Ropewalks, it has a separate entrance on Duke Street and houses 125 guestrooms over seven levels, enveloping a light well. The hotel’s public areas include a buffet restaurant, bar, and a functional coffee station serving as a welcoming gathering spot on the ground floor.

The overall feel of this dual-branded hotel complex is of a refined yet down-to-earth hub that shows great respect for Liverpool’s past, present and future.