AN UP-MARKET Liverpool city centre hotel has been given the go-ahead for a rooftop terrace which local residents feared would become a noisy “beer garden in the sky”.

The Hope Street Hotel, in the city’s Georgian quarter, applied for permission to use two balconies on its fifth and six floors – currently used as access to fire escapes – for use by customers attending events at the plush boutique venue.

But the bid has angered residents who live in nearby Hope Place, and who claim the roof space intrusively overlooks their homes.

They said they feared the change of use would lead to noisy, drink-fuelled events which would make their lives a misery.

But the hotel insisted it was a good neighbour and that the two spaces would only be used either by the guests staying in the rooms on the sixth floor, or anyone attending what it claimed would be “boring” canapé-type events during the day.

A spokeswoman for hotel owner Dave Brewitt told yesterday’s planning committee that the hotel did its best to be a good neighbour.

The spokeswoman told the committee, which visited the site yesterday morning: “We love showing off that view and I’m sure as soon as you walked into that room you had a buzz.

“Those of you who have been to canapé events know they’re quite boring and only last an hour.

“For birthdays, it’s maybe up to 30 people sitting down having dinner, or wedding breakfasts are for about 50 people. We don’t sell it for dancing.”