Liverpool is a misunderstood city

Liverpool is a city that has been misunderstood in the past but its image has received a boost since it was made the European Capital of Culture for 2008 and exciting development projects continue to impress visitors.

The Staybridge Suites hotel is one of the new developments built on the Keel Wharf site - somewhere that is so new my chauffeur (ok, the taxi driver) was momentarily puzzled when I told him where I wanted to go.

This is the first Staybridge Suites extended stay concept hotel to be launched by InterContinental Hotels outside of North America.

Speaking at the opening event, chief executive Andrew Cosslett said: "Liverpool has been very much in the international spotlight this year as the European Capital of Culture and it is therefore a fitting destination for us to introduce our very first Staybridge Suites extended-stay hotel, outside the Americas."

Staybridge is aiming to meet the gap between conventional hotels and serviced apartments with a combination of homely environment and traditional hotel services.

It does look a little bit bleak at the moment as you wheel up to it, but it is a new site so a bit of leeway should be given.
Ostensibly, it has been set up both for short stays - with easy access to the new Echo Arena venue - and as a medium- to long-term proposition for business customers who prefer a more homely environment rather than the standard hotel room.

It works too - well, at least it did for me. The rooms might not be the biggest but each room is effectively a well-presented bedsit, which fits with the medium-stay plan.

Those staying in a Staybridge Suite are not reliant on potentially expensive hotel or restaurant meals, with the option to buy food at a local supermarket or store and prepare meals themselves ... although I found the microwave was difficult to get working.

If you do want to venture into the main hotel for some grub, Staybridge is designed to appear 'like home'. The setup is as much for business customers as for recreational ones - indeed the business plan is for 80 per cent business and 20 per cent recreational customers.

The hotel is within reasonably easy walking distance of the centre - 20 minutes or so - but most importantly for those interested in culture, it is right next door to the Tate Liverpool Museum and the Albert Docks.

The Tate is currently hosting a prestigious exhibition of paintings by the Austrian artist Gustav Klimt (until August 31st).
Also in the vicinity is the International Slavery Museum and the Maritime Museum, for those of a more historical bent. Of course, there are many other areas of Liverpool to visit - the areas related to the Beatles and the two famous football clubs, for example.

So there is plenty to see and do in a city that many ignorantly write off. The Staybridge Suites hotel is a good place to base yourself if you want to see the sights of Liverpool, attend an event or do some business.

For a more comprehensive list of what there is to see and do in Liverpool, see the Staybridge Suites website or read travelbite.co.uk's tips for a cultural city break in Liverpool this summer.