It's been a Hard Days sight

Aug 25 2006 Exclusive By Catherine Jones, Liverpool Echo

Each floor will be linked by a New York-style cage lift, with a glass wall revealing the story of The Beatles in images around the grand, granitepillared sandstone stairwell.

One in 10 of the rooms will be fully accessible for disabled visitors.

Guests will enter the hotel through a marble entrance hall and past full-size statues of John, Paul, George and Ringo in the niches on the outside.

John's, on the corner of Mathew Street, will face in the direction of New York.

It will have two restaurants,a cock-tail bar, lounge, souvenir shop, gallery and three rooms for private entertaining or conferences.

There will be a Yellow Submarine-shaped jukebox, one of only a small number in existence.

The hotel will also be licensed for weddings.

Jonathan Davies, director of developer Bowdena, said: "Nothing else exists like this in the world and the fact it's in Liverpool, which was where The Beatles started, makes it even more special.

"The website is currently under construction and we have a holding page with an information request form on it.

"At present we're receiving high volumes of requests from around the world. Not only is this good for the hotel but also for Liverpool.

"When people walk into the hotel they'll get a unique experience.

"I recently heard someone say The Beatles were no ordinary group and this hotel won't be an ordinary hotel."

* See tomorrow's ECHO for more images.