Revelling in the urban experience

Jan 10 2008 by Debbie Johnson, Liverpool Daily Post

For Jay Hynd, life doesn’t get much better than when it’s spent high in the sky in one of Liverpool’s iconic new buildings. Debbie Johnson reports

THE convenience of city-centre living is something that many urbanites talk about – but few appreciate it as much as Jay Hynd, a man whose working life includes unsociable hours, living on his nerves, and dealing with the unpredictability of live radio.

Jay, 26, is a producer on the Pete Price Show, on Radio City – on hand behind-the-scenes to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Or at least he attempts to.

He says: “I do my best but it’s impossible to control, which is one of the things that makes it such good fun, both to work on and listen to. You never know quite what is coming next. One minute you’re having a laugh, and the next someone is threatening to kill themselves.”

The show also runs until 2am, which means a lot of late nights for Jay.

Luckily, he lives in the city centre’s striking Unity Building, which is not only just a short walk away, but also comes with a gym, 24-hour concierge and top-notch security.

He says: “I loved the building when I first saw it, it was just very quirky and different. The security swung it for me as well. When you are coming home late, it is nice that there is always someone around. I think I’d feel a bit exposed living in a house now, to be honest. You feel a bit like you are living in a nice cocoon at the Unity.”

He moved in to the two-bedroomed apartment in May last year, and says he is loving every minute of it.

The flat is decorated along a black and red theme – a departure from the usual neutrals and whites found in many apartments. He says: “I wanted something a bit different, a bit cool. The colours work well together and it gives the place a very stylish but homely feel.”

The open-plan living room and kitchen area also has a balcony with stunning river views, filling the room with natural light.

Two walls have black wallpaper, and there is a large L-shaped red sofa.

The floors throughout are wooden, apart from the bedroom and bathroom. Jay says: “The floor, the tiles, everything about the place is great. The finish is just unbelievable. Even though I have been here since May, I sometimes still feel like I am in a 5-star hotel, it is that luxurious.”

Jay’s bedroom is decorated in black and beige, with a large padded headboard that runs from floor to ceiling, again in black and beige. The bed has large red cushions and there are grey curtains: “Black-out curtains so I can sleep in the morning,” he says.

Jay started his career as a volunteer at Radio City, making tea and running errands, before landing his job with Pete four years ago. He will join the show when it moves over to the new City Talk 105.9FM station at the end of the month.

He says: “It’s an exciting time at the Tower, there’s a lot going on. It’s great to have this place to come home to – safe and sheltered and totally perfect for my lifestyle. It’s also close to shops, and great bars and restaurants like Newz Bar, Living Room, and the docks.”

Jay also loves the views from his apartment, which he enjoys from his balcony, and the fact that the location puts him right at the heart of the action.

He says: “I used to live down at the docks and that was fine, but I was delighted when I moved here. I usually go in to work for a few hours in the afternoon to do some preparation work, then come home until it’s time to go back for the show at night. So I stroll home through the city, call in at Sainsbury’s for something for my dinner, it’s perfect. And on the nights I go out and socialise with friends when I’m not working, the places where I like eating and drinking are close to hand.”

* DO YOU live in a city centre apartment? Are you proud of how it looks and would like to show it off on the pages of Style City? If so email Debbie Johnson at debbiemjohnson@hotmail.com and she could be popping round soon.