View from the Room: Atlantic (Mercure), Liverpool
A last-minute decision to go back to Liverpool. The bf is due to attend/work at the UK Drum show but we’ve struggled to find hotels under £200 for ONE NIGHT. Even all the locals I’ve chatted to are puzzled.
A few days before, on the account that the expenses would be paid for 50%, we found this, which tucked just under the £200 mark.
Wonderfully located looking with river views, it’s appropriately shaped like a hotel. Something we noticed when staying at the Malmaison over the road last year. The Mercure Atlantic provides a far superior service - although the Mal was one of the worst I’ve experienced - and just seemed that much nearer. Less than 15 minutes walk from John Lewis and not much further to the arena, where the event was. (I know that as a friend asked me to pop in and get an iron that was out of stock everywhere - a sign of the April 2022 times. It was out of stock by the time I got there).
Not that I needed to go to the Arena. My days were free to walk, write and have coffee while taking in the brilliant Liverpool landscape.
Room
The bed is huge and comfy although it’s that hotel classic of two beds pinned together with a distinct slightly uncomfortable mark down the middle. I would have put a smaller bed in and even put it along the short wall giving loads of extra walk around space and a view of the sunset from the bed.
Lighting is generally good with bedside lamps and reading lights - which are brighter than they look, plus one desk lamp on the cupboard.
I love the view through a wall-length window - hence would have been great to have the bed opposite.
Instead, the TV is exactly opposite the bed, where it should be.
Bathroom
Tissue box, sanitary bags, spare loo roll
Shower gel, shampoo and bar of soap with all that familiar branding - no hand cream/body lotion
Decent towels, 2 large, 2 extremely absorbent hand towels and a bath mat (no face towels)
Overhead shower and handheld although this was inoperable as the button was broken. This is the only area where the age of the hotel showed although the toilet seemed to have been upgraded, the bath taps are worn out. The loo roll holder was loose too but thankfully there was a spare roll in case this accidentally landed on the floor.
The bathroom is perfect for a tiny bathroom whereas I’ve seen larger bathrooms where there is just a walk-in shower. It can be done - we can have both!
There’s even a little storage around the sink and behind the toilet plus a towel rail.
There’s the all-important hook on the door plus a shaving/toothbrush charge point
Storage
2 coat hooks on the front door
Double wardrobe with 6 wooden hotel hangers (you know the ones I mean by now) and shelf above plus a light inside.
Cupboard with a safe, mugs/kettle tray and hairdryer - so plenty of additional storage space
Different sized bedside tables
Amenities
Hairdryer
Iron/board
Fold-out luggage rack - although no room to use it in reality
Aircon that works - seems a rarity these days.
I counted at least seven sockets including 2 at each bedside sitting alongside 2 USB ports
A full-length mirror in the hallway, close to two sockets
Steps to go into the hotel - I saw no other way other than the slow wheelchair lift
Service
Friendly although reluctant to check me in without payment but agreed as Accor member (bf wanted to pay on his Amex for Avios).
An altogether excellent one night experience and one that I am happy to repeat.
2/4/22
