There will be a plaque on the wall in reception at the new Bridewell Hotel which opens shortly in Liverpool stating “Please do not ask for bail because a refusal often offends”. The reason - Liverpool's Bridewell Hotel was formerly a prison. It is set to be transformed into a boutique hotel.

The building was originally designed as a police station and courts complex for the Corporation of Liverpool and it was used as a Liverpool prison for more than 130 years, up until 1997.

Since then various uses have been mooted for the building from apartments to student accommodation. However the developers, Stay Central, began work on the new hotel project 18 months ago.

A quadrangle of former cells will be transformed into 85 modern rooms complete with a hi-spec en-suite bathroom and an LED Smart television. The exercise yard, once open to the elements, has been converted into a glass covered indoor lounge space for leisure as well as business meetings.

Stay Central’s Bridewell Hotel will open this spring. It is located in Cheapside in the heart of Liverpool city centre.

The hospitality industry has form when it comes to converting prisons into hotels. The charge sheet includes the former Oxford prison which closed in 1996 and was converted a few years ago into what is now the Malmaison Oxford. Whilst in London, Great Marlborough Street Magistrate’s Court has been transformed into the five-star Courthouse Hotel.

Details:  www.staycentral.com