Britannia Adelphi Hotel (Liverpool)

Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool
Front of hotel in 2011
Location within Merseyside
General information
Location	Ranelagh Place, Liverpool, England
Coordinates	53°24′20″N 2°58′39″W / 53.40549°N 2.97740°W / 53.40549; -2.97740Coordinates: 53°24′20″N 2°58′39″W / 53.40549°N 2.97740°W / 53.40549; -2.97740
Opening	1914
Owner	Britannia Hotels
Technical details
Floor count	6
Design and construction
Architect	Frank Atkinson
Other information
Number of rooms	402 Bedrooms
Number of restaurants	3
Website
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The Britannia Adelphi Hotel is in Ranelagh Place, Liverpool city centre, Merseyside, England. The present building is the third hotel on the site, and is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building. The building is owned and managed by Britannia Hotels. It contains 402 en-suite bedrooms, conference and dining facilities, and a gymnasium. Food hygiene standards continue to be described by official inspectors as "very bad", and a court case for breaches of food regulations has started.

The first hotel on the site was built in 1826 for the hotelier James Radley by the conversion of two 18th Century town houses. It was built on the site of the former Ranelagh Gardens, the first open space for public recreation in Liverpool.

This hotel was replaced by another hotel in 1876, which was bought in 1892 by the Midland Railway, being renamed the Midland Adelphi. A feature was a basement set of heated tanks to keep live turtles for turtle soup which was not only served, but the basis of a significant business being sent to banquets etc. around the country and beyond. The railway company replaced it between 1911 and 1914 with the present building, designed by Frank Atkinson. When opened, it was "regarded as the most luxurious hotel outside London".

Due to Liverpool being a major arrival and departure point for ocean liners during the early 20th century, the Adelphi served as the most popular hotel in the city for wealthy passengers before they embarked on their journey to North America. The RMS Titanic was registered in Liverpool (though it never visited the port), and the Sefton Suite is said to be an exact replica of the ill-fated liner's First Class Smoking Lounge. However, it is unclear why this claim is made as the room bears no resemblance to Titanic's First Class Smoking Room or the First Class Lounge.