The Vibe: The juxtaposition of heritage and contemporary, plus a stylish restaurant, lends an air of assured confidence.

The Area: At the heart of Liverpool’s Dale Street district, a 10-minute walk brings you to the sweep of the Unesco-listed waterfront for museums and cultural attractions.

The DNA: Aloft Hotels, created by Marriott’s gobbled-upped Starwood chain, was conceived as a more affordable sister to the company’s famous W brand. Marketing talk like “celebrate your style”, “easy-breezy access”, “meet & mingle with friends at the WXYZ Bar”, “grab a sweet or healthy snack from re:fuel by Aloft”, and “play in our re:mix lounge” cover the Aloft chain’s standardized facilities. Newer outposts are often a depart from the prototype new builds, like the Aloft Liverpool, set in the iconic heritage listed Royal Insurance Building, and offering a restaurant recommended by Michelin.

Suite-Me-Up: There are no suites, but guest can opt for the slightly larger “Savvy” rooms, some with nice city views and original wood panelling.

✅ free Wi-Fi • size matters: 116 rooms (19m2) (205 sq ft) • hotel opened: 2014 • off-site parking nearby (charged) ✅ pet-friendly, no charges • 24-hour front desk • wheelchair accessible