Hard Days Night Hotel

It could have gone so wrong. In less capable hands a Beatles-themed hotel, right around the corner from the Cavern Club, could easily have resulted in a nightmare of kitsch. But the Hard Days Night, against the odds, doesn’t try to coast on theme alone — were it not for the portraits and the memorabilia (which, granted, are central to its appeal, but anyway) this place would still be big news on the Liverpool hotel scene.

In fact it’s stylish and plush enough, in that very British boutique sub-luxury sort of way, that even Beatles agnostics would be hard pressed to find a better option in town. And fans, needless to say, will be over the moon, especially in the McCartney and the Lennon suites, the latter of which comes complete with a white grand piano. Even the humblest rooms are still worth it, however; besides custom Fab Four wall art and suitably mod design cues, each features a Hypnos bed with oversize headboard and an interactive LCD flatscreen.

More than a meeting place for Beatles die-hards, the food and beverage outlets rightfully attract the city’s in-crowd with an ethos that goes easy on the kitsch and heavy on the authentic Liverpool history. Blakes in particular — that’s Sir Peter Blake of the legendary Sergeant Pepper’s sleeve — does an outstanding job at rehabilitating certain myths about British cuisine. And yes, there is live music to be had, including many a Beatles cover, on Friday and Saturday evenings in the lounge, not to mention a hefty menu of themed cocktails. All told, Hard Days Night is one of the anchors of a long-overdue Liverpudlian dining and entertainment renaissance — despite the obvious nostalgia, there’s something oddly forward-looking about it.