The Alicia Hotel

This hotel had been recommended by some family friends, however the hotel did no where near meet expectations. My Mum and I checked into the twin room 34 in the newer section towards the rear of the hotel. I was reminded of a prison cell when I opened the door. It was a very small rectangular room the width of a single bed with a wardrobe squeezed in at the foot of the bed. Due to the space constraints there was barely enough room to access the second bed by the window on foot! Again the space constraints of the room length left very minimal spacing between the two beds as well- overall the room had a very claustrophobic feel. The bedroom was fairly clean but it had a slight air of neglect, aided by some cigarette burns in the bed linen and decor that was starting to look a bit shabby. The ensuite was also small and poorly cleaned with hair and dirt evident in the corners of the room. There were several cracked tiles around the bath which had acquired mildew along with the blackened tile sealant. It was not a bath you would want to relax in! The walls were obviously very thin too - we could hear the lady in the bathroom next door running her bath and singing to herself. When we complained to the front desk we were offered another room (number 25). This room was in the older section of the hotel. As such the ceilings were higher and the room was much larger. The design of the room was rather strange as you enter into a narrow corridor before you get to the main bedroom, but overall the room was an improvement. The bathroom was still not maintained to the standards I would expect but it was better than our previous room. The Gilchrest and Soames bath/shower gels etc were a nice touch. I was feelng much happier about our room until I got into bed that evening. I could feel every hexagonal spring structure in the entire mattress, and needless to say had a very poor nights sleep. Breakfast the next day was nice with a range of pastries/cereals and hot food. Overall both my Mum and I were very disappointed with this hotel. Perhaps we were unlucky with our rooms given that a friend recommended it to us, but I believe this hotel is starting to show the signs of poor maintenance. Further there is no way that the small rooms in the rear of the hotel justify the price tag they allocate to it. The hotel makes much of the awards and accolades they have been given, I however would take these with a pinch of salt, they appear to be riding on the coat tails of past successes. I really don't believe this hotel is a true 3 star, the rooms are very cramped, even by European standards and the hotel does not seem to be receiving the investment it requires. We will be writing to Best Western to complain as this hotel falls far from their usual standards.

Plenty to recommend this hotel - not least its location. Just a few minutes drive from the centre, but a whole lot nicer being right next to Sefton Park - one of the greatest city parks in the country. MUCH nicer than staying in the centre. Our room was large with a double bed, a single bed and enough room for another if required. The hotel clearly has rooms of different sizes however! Breakfast was very good quality - really great in fact, in the conservatory at the front of the hotel overlooking the park. Kettle with coffee / tea / biscuits in room. Plenty of complimentary toiletries in room. Loads of pillows, towels etc. Good quality furnishings in the room - the only improvement that I can think of for the hotel is that these could be even better - and certainly with larger double beds! This would give a more luxurious stay. Minor grumble only - don't let it put you off!

I satyed at the Best Western Alicia Hotel Over the Christmas and New Year period. All i can say is what a say we had. The welcome we received by the Management upon our arrival with bucks fizz was was great and that level of professionalism mixed with a relaxed freindly atmosphere continued throughout our stay. The food in the hotel was top-notch - hearty portions and at no point did we feel rushed. The location of the hotel was ecellent too....after our festivities both my wife and i took strolls in the magnificent Sefton Park - and upon our return to the hotel it was back to the festivities. This was our first visit to Liverpool and we are coming again!!! So if your at the Alicia in March 2005 - make sure you say "hello".

Having found this website I felt compelled to write and give a big thumbs up for the Alicia Hotel. We have just returned from Liverpool taking a tour group of 16 boys aged 15 and 12 adult supporters and stayed at the Alicia. From the moment we arrived until the day we left I could only say that the all of the staff at the hotel bent over backwards to assist us. We arrived at 8.30am Saturday 03/01/2004 (after a 30 hour flight from Australia). Through no fault of the Alicia Hotel (mix up through tour coordinator) we had been allocated rooms of 3 lads to room which in some instances turned out to be a little congested. The staff reacted promptly to our requests and were able to allocate an extra 2 rooms to accomodate us. Having booked such a large group into the Alicia I can confirm that there is a variation available in room sizes at the Hotel but the Alicia does have enough rooms to accomodate all styles, please request what you want when booking. As part of our tour all meals were included and again I could only but praise the Hotel and staff for the quality and quantity provided. Breakfast consisted of cereal, hot buffett (eggs, sausage, mushroom, baked beans, bacon, tomatoe), toast, pastries, tea, coffee and orange juice. it was available between 7.30am and 9.30am but even when I arrived earlier there was always an attentive staff member about to see if I would like coffee. Being on a football tour packed lunch was simple but effective and nutritious; ham, cheese or egg rolls, juice, fruit, chocolate bar and crisps. This was packed in a paper bag and ready for us to collect every morning as we left. The evening meals probably the main complaint here was the quantity, the plates were always filled to the maximum and you felt guilty to refuse. Meals did contain a lack of vegetables on our first days but after requesting this they did arrive with vegetables, again it was only a matter of asking the staff and they were prepared to accomodate. Of the 10 nights we spent at the Hotel all meals were found to be quite filling and of enough variety to satisfy even the 16 lads! Only problems I encountered was the long wait (about 5 minutes) to get hot water to the shower of a morning and the small shower rose and on some occassions slow bar service. Both of these were easily overcome, turn the tap on and go back to bed until steam comes out the bathroom and the easy accessability to a couple of nice pubs around the corner. All in all I could strongly recommend the Alicia Hotel to couples looking for a weekend away or as in our case a large touring party. At all times I found all of the staff cooperative and the location of the Alicia Hotel is so accessible to Liverpool without being in the centre of the city. Sefton Park is a glorious place to stroll around and I don't know when but one day I will be back to stay here. Congratulations and thank you from the Aussie tourists!!!!!

I thought that when my husband and I stayed at the Alicia Hotel it was absolutely superb. We had stayed there before of course and when we recieved an invitation from our niece informing us her wedding was to be held there we were rather excited to be honest. We thourghly enjoyed our last visit there that we decided to stay for 2 nights. The room allocated was just splendid. It was room 9 with a huge 4 poster bed and decorated in red and gold. On the first morning we had our breakfast in the 'glass house' which was very tranquill. It was a very relaxing looking out at the joggers and the peaceful surroundings of the park while eating our breakfast, which was without any arguements, very nice, not excellent. The waiter, Gordon, was very attentive and made the breakfast experiance seem nicer than it actually was. Nothing was too much trouble for him. When we came back to the room it had already been cleaned by the maid and it smelt lovely and with clean fresh towels and the tea and coffee tray arranged back to the way it was. As we were leaving to go to the wedding two maids (Helen and Carly) commented on how nice I looked which was extremely nice of them. Carly also asked if we were enjoying our stay, to which we replied we were and the room was much nicer than the one that we stayed in last time. She said that she was pleased as the room that we were staying in is one of the nicest and we noticed that she had recognised us from our last stay as she then asked us about our daughters' wedding (we told her she was getting married last time). We were quite suprised that this maid had remembered us when she must see dozens of people a day. This certainly made the day seem a lot nicer. 'A small comment can make you feel good but recognition makes your day.' We will certainly be staying at the Alcia Hotel again soon and we have recommended it to our friends that have travelled to Liverpool. Keep up the good work and you will go far. Congratulations on Hotel of the Year!!!!!!

On the 3rd June 2003, I wrote to the Hotel asking for a brochure and tariff. Today is the 30th June, I am still waiting for a reply. I note from their website that single rooms are from £35.00. They are actually from £54.00. Very misleading. I wrote to the Manager on the 18th June outlining these problems but of course I have not had a reply. Obviously, this Hotel is doing so well that they dont need any more business.

I must say after reading a previous poor review on this sight about the Alicia Hotel that it was with great anxiety that my wife @ I booked into the hotel for two weeks in September 2002. We were in Liverpool from Australia to visit our son who is working there @ lives just around the corner.We decided to stay at the hotel because it was convenient, position wise. I should have known that everything would be ok before I left because the lovely Sarah(the receptionist)emailed me several times attending to all the fine details @ information on costs(they gave us a great deal), helped us to get football tickets,etc. The room was really cosy with a great view overlooking Sefton Park. All the things advertised on their webpage were provided with TV, Pay chanels,sterio radio nice deep bath @ shower. It was really a home away from home.They have a great little bar @ balcony-a good place to finish each day. The atmosphere of the place was the thing that impressed us most.It was like a small family place where we were made to feel special. Much more comfortable than staying in a big uptown, high priced,uncaring hotel. Each day we had breakfast in the dining room and we are amazed that anyone could complain about the quality or quantity of the food or service.. The breakfast had a large selection that would satisfy any person seeking a good English breakfast. We tried out the evening meal a couple of times . They were very good,probably too big a serve for us . The wines were great-maybe they should have more Australian Wines(theyre fantastic) Our trip to England was exciting and made all the more enjoyable by the friendly @ caring people at the Alicia(especially Sarah). A place we would highly reccommend to anyone Gary @ Yvonne Hudak

Further to the review from W. Kaye I would like to point out what an absolutely fantastic stay the we had at the Alicia Hotel. My wife and I arrived at the hotel late on a Thursday evening after most places would be closed we were greeted by a friendly young Scot's man who asked us if we had a pleasant journey and if we would require anything to eat.After a long tiring drive this was most welcome. Steak sandwich and chips no less!! We went up to our bedroom which was most pleasant and comfortable with very relaxing views over a park. Following morning a newspaper was outside our door and my wife and I went downstairs to breakfast at about 9.40am.Having had a lie in we did not relaise that breakfast finished at 9.30 but the young lady on duty said that it would not be a problem and produced quite wonderful kippers and a full breakfast, proffesionally served and with piping hot toast. We were attending a wedding in the hotel that day and I must comment that the food, service and whole general atmosphere of the hotel were second to none. Breakfast the following day was in the larger room. Not once did I even see a breakfast chef. The food was brought out buffet style with all young friendly members of staff serving it. On a final note, we too walked through what looked like a building site but this did not bother us as we were told exactly what was happening to the hotel and having recently had a conservatory built on my property I can wholly understand the work that is required. I would have no reservations about recommending the Alicia as I found the whole trip an enjoyable and comfortable on. Any future visits to Liverpool and I will most certainly stay here!! Dr E. Shaw

I would like to point out the poor service and dissatisfaction my Husband and I felt when we stayed at the Alicia hotel on the nights of 3rd & 4th May 2002. We chose the Alicia Hotel as it was recommended to us by a family member (Selwyn Hyams) who lives close to Sefton Park and would, we felt, know a good hotel when it was on his doorstep. We arrived at the hotel and found that the forecourt was more like an abandoned building site than that shown on a website we were told about (and subsequently on their brochure). We noted from plans displayed near reception, that permission has been granted to build a conservatory to half of the front elevation.. It is our personal belief that any ‘professionally worked’ hotel, when in the process of major renovation work, should close it’s doors, complete the work and re-open rather than display a front driveway pitted with half filled in holes and with rubble and bricks strewn across it. The room allocated to us upon our arrival was room 33. We found it to be small and definitely not helped by the décor which although clean, had been given a colour scheme which accentuated it’s pokey-ness and made us feel rather claustrophobic and uncomfortable. We felt unable to stay in that particular room. After contacting Reception and explaining our dissatisfaction, we were offered another room. This took a while as the keys had been misplaced and another set had to be located. The second room offered was approached by a narrow landing which was reminiscent of the approach to ‘below stairs’ servant accommodation; not the kind of feeling you want when paying what we felt was a fairly expensive nightly rate. The bedroom door, when opened, was not able to open to even a 90 degree angle because a single bed blocked it opening further! This room was also unacceptable to us. The third room offered, was a little better and we felt we had to accept. The time was getting on and we believed we would not be offered further alternatives and did not wish to be without lodgings for the night. The room was decorated in a less depressing colour scheme, and was fractionally larger than the previous ones, but it was still very small- warranting just one ceiling light (with one dead bulb) and another in the bathroom.. The bathroom was also able to offer us some mould to study on the ceiling, had we a fancy to do so! Breakfast service however was in anyones observation, poor. Morning 1: Breakfast was served in a room next to the Reception area. During the week, breakfast service evidently starts from 7am and on weekends at 7.30am. We have no problem with that. We entered the room at just after 7.30am to find, milk and fruit juices in jugs on a long table and soup/cereal bowls with individual cereals boxes available….. but nothing else. The room was laid with cutlery, crockery, and jam portions but devoid of hot food or staff.. We helped ourselves to cereal and waited in vain for further service. Finally after about 15-20mins we had to speak to the reception desk to find out what was going on. A waitress finally turned up and took our breakfast order. A man in shirt and trousers, sporting a moustache and receding hair also appeared and said breakfast would be ready soon. We believe this man was actually the breakfast chef, though the usual head covering and ‘Chef’s apparel’ was missing! A plated breakfast was finally brought to our table, and pump containers of black tea and of coffee turned up almost as we were finishing!! Breakfast was not a pleasant experience and not available from 7.30am, but at 8.10AM!!. Morning 2 Again we arrived at the breakfast room at 7.30am and were a little surprised to find it completely empty .We had to ask where breakfast was being served and presumed that the greater number of guests who stayed over from the Saturday night to Sunday morning warranted a change of venue to a larger banqueting suite which we subsequently were informed it was to be the lower ground one. Here a larger number of tables had been laid up, and again cereal packs were available to help yourself to. The same waitress was on duty as was the same breakfast chef, (wearing the same/similar unprofessional apparel), and a third young man was there almost assisting(?). Even with three staff on duty and a compliment of 3–5 guests to feed, only cereal was available for the first half an hour. It took them until 8.35 am before all the food, tea and coffee finally appeared on the buffet table! We asked the waitress if there was a problem with any kitchen equipment. She said there was no problem with any equipment and that it was just not easy to prepare breakfast for 80 people (at this time the number of guests in the room had risen to about 8) She further evidenced that it takes them 2 hours to ‘set things up for breakfast’. Next came the obvious staff-customer training thoughts…… ‘Quality was better than quantity’ she loudly opined to us! We didn’t bother to explain to her that the ‘Quality’ was desperately poor, and, ‘Quantity’ also did not enter into the equation since there was no food available apart from the bowl of mushrooms’. We did not think it worthwhile nor necessary to enter into an argument with this member of staff and therefore did not continue the conversation. We know how long it takes to set up a room for a breakfast service. We also know that it is irrelevant what time a function using the room the night before finishes. (The waitress had further explained the function the night before had finished at 4am.) A well run banqueting suite will be cleared and set up for breakfast before the function staff leave for the night, or breakfast staff should get in early enough to do the job in time! It is implausible that this boastful management group does not know how this place is run… there are other substantial hotel hodings by them in Liverpool. We cannot believe that the poor quality service is accepted as a norm to people of Liverpool. It took three staff over half an hour before the first hot food container appeared on the buffet table and a further 35minutes for the rest to follow at different intervals. My goodness, it was not as though the food was difficult to produce. – Mushrooms, black pudding slices, hash browns, baked beans – products that just need heating up! The only ‘cooking’ necessary would have been to the eggs, bacon and sausages. There is simply no excuse for the poor quality of breakfast service received. If breakfast starts at 7.30am, then it should be ready for those guests who happen to rise early. They should not be kept waiting more than 2 or 3 minutes - if at all, let alone given some ridiculous excuse for poor service. For a professional set up, the breakfasts were of the lowest quality we have ever experienced! This opinion was compounded by the unprofessional attitude of the staff and dress code of the chef who would have been unlikely to have passed a health and safety check dressed in ‘ordinary’ clothes and not even to bothering to wearing any head covering. We had hoped to stay on for longer than the two days, but could not bear to face the prospect of paying what we thought was an excessive amount of money for the quality of room, for another night, nor the poor quality breakfast services and consequently we checked out immediately after breakfast on the 2nd day. The only good experience was had at this hotel was from the reception staff who were as friendly and helpful as they could be. Even they were not as efficient as might be expected. When a family member came to see us, they were put in touch with the occupants of room 33. When it became obvious this was a stranger, no one at reception knew where we were, nor indeed, if we were at the hotel at all! It was only the perseverance of the receptionist on duty, who eventually found us. Having read the Alicia Hotel’s brochure, we nearly fell off our chairs laughing, especially at the page headed ‘EXTRA LUXURIES A comfortable Stay.’ We believed that we were paying for a good quality room. A Standard or Executive rather than a Budget quality. But based on what we were shown and experienced, we now think we were definitely given ‘Budget’ or ‘bottom’ end of the quality range for some reason. Based on our experience of hotels at the’ business’ and ‘lower’ end of the market, (Travelodge, Premier Lodge, Campanille etc.) we can confirm that most of these hotels offer tea & coffee making facilities, satellite TV as ‘Standard’ and at rates lower that we were paying.. If the majority of the rooms at the Alicia were of ‘Executive standard’ (as per their brochure), we must have been shown only the ‘budget’ accommodation. – None had a CD Player or Playstation with free games! - We even had to ask for a hairdryer and only knew they were available because room 33 had one! You may like to note that when booking, we only enquired about availability and were not told of, nor given any indications that we might be put into ‘standard/budget’ (pokey little rooms) – if we had, we would have either found elsewhere to stay or delayed our visit entirely!!! The Alicia did not ‘ensure that you have everything you require and a little bit more, for a little bit less’ as stated in their brochure!!! Not one picture in the Alicia brochure indicates the look of the hotel as it was last weekend. On the brochure, the entrance looks clean, neat and welcoming, whilst in fact, you have to tread carefully over an uneven surface .The three pictures of the rooms are not indicative of any room offered to us. Those looked very nice, ours were not! What a disappointment. W. Kaye RSH CMA Mrs. S. Kaye