GIRL pop trio the Sugababes helped to push the button on the official launch of the £55m Hilton Liverpool hotel last night.

The 215-room hotel opened its doors to guests in November, but last night the stars were out in force at one of the city’s glitziest parties in years.

Stars including ex-Liverpool striker Emile Heskey, Hollyoaks actresses and footballers’ wives Alex Curran, Coleen Rooney and Claudine Keane attended to eat, drink and merrily watch the Sugababes perform a 45-minute concert.

One of the highlights of the night was a Cricket fashion show, showcasing the spring and summer collection designs from labels including Lanvin, Stella and Roberto Cavalli.

There were ice sculptures throughout the venue and plenty of fizz for the VIPs.

Two of the most important guests, though, were not from the celebrity or culinary worlds, but were key players in the hotel’s development.

Andreas Panayiotou, chairman of hotel owner The Ability Group, and Simon Vincent, president of Hilton Europe, were there to ensure everything ran smoothly and to celebrate the hard work that helped build the hotel.

Both also expressed their wish to explore further opportunities in the city on the back of how well they belive this development has gone.

Ability bought the hotel in 2007, which was its first foray into hotels.

It has since added hotels in Portugal, Sicily and France, as well as Hilton hotels in Cambridge, Dunblane and Luton. Ability is also to develop a number of other Hilton brands in the UK and Europe, with the intention of amassing a portfolio of over 40 hotel properties by 2012.