The Aloft Liverpool Hotel, formerly the Royal Insurance Building, is a historic building located at 1-9 North John Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It was built as the head office of the Royal Insurance company.

History

The building was constructed between 1896 and 1903 as the head office of the Royal Insurance Company (since 1996 part of the RSA Insurance Group). The design was the result of a competition won by James F. Doyle in 1895. The assessor for the competition was Norman Shaw, who was retained as an advisory architect for the project, but it is uncertain what part he played in it. The building is constructed around a steel frame and is the earliest example of this type of construction in the United Kingdom. It ceased to be used by the late 1980s, and its condition deteriorated so much that it was placed on the Buildings at Risk Register of English Heritage.

In 2013 its freehold was bought by Liverpool City Council, and it was converted into a hotel. It opened as the Aloft Liverpool Hotel on 29 October 2014. At the 20 years of the register, the renovation of the Royal Insurance Building was named as one of the successful rescues.

In 2021 Fragrance Group, a Singapore-based property business, bought the property together with the freehold title and continued to operate the hotel as Aloft Hotel by Marriott.

Architecture

thumb|upright=1.35|left|Perspective drawing of the building.

Constructed around a steel frame, the building is in Portland stone, with a granite basement and ground floor.

See also

  • Architecture of Liverpool
  • Grade II* listed buildings in Liverpool – City Centre
  • Grade II* listed buildings in Merseyside

References

  • Official website
  • Official chain website
  • Liverpool Architecture