Former Signature hotel primed for £12.5m sale

Liverpool’s 30 James Street, a 63-bedroom facility, has been brought to market by Savills, following the consultancy’s appointment as fixed charge receiver last year.

Savills is seeking offers in excess of £12.5m for the hotel, which was launched by Signature in 2014.

Known for its history as the former headquarters of the White Star shipping line, the grade two-listed hotel is home to the Carpathia champagne bar and restaurant on the seventh floor, and an outdoor terrace.

The hotel also houses a hall providing conference and banqueting facilities, as well as a spa and pool.

Various Signature Living businesses entered administration in a tumultuous spell in spring 2020. The group has since opened the Rainhill Hall hotel and looked to reshape its project at Kingsway House in Liverpool city centre.

Savills said that during the first Covid-19 lockdown, the property underwent an extensive refurbishment to overhaul the entire property, “creating a standout, newly designed hotel, allowing the business to recover strongly upon reopening”.

Tom Cunningham, hotels director at the firm’s Manchester office, said: “This sale offers a rare chance to acquire a prime city centre hotel and historic landmark, in one of the UK’s most popular destinations.

“The history of the building, the quality of its provisions and the standout location have together created a fantastic opportunity for potential investors and we expect to see good levels of interest.”

The hotel is currently being operated by leisure group Legacy Hotels, being listed on the company’s website along with Liverpool’s Pullman Hotel and the upcoming Novotel at Paddington Village.