SINCE opening in 2003, Liverpool’s Hope Street Hotel has played host to a string of high-profile guests, including former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, cult film director Quentin Tarantino, and Sex and the City star Kim Cattrall.

Now, following a multi-million pound expansion, the trendy boutique hotel is hoping it can attract even more star names through its doors.

The £4.5m makeover has seen the hotel take over and convert a neighbouring former police station.

This has created a new glass and limestone exterior on Hope Street itself, along with a new reception area.

Two rooftop function rooms afford panoramic views across the city, the River Mersey and Welsh mountains beyond.

And for those with truly deep pockets, there are two duplex penthouses available at around £600 a night.

The hotel’s owner, property developer Dave Brewitt, said the decision not to knock down but to convert and build six storeys on top of the old police station had made it a challenging project.

He said: “We knew it was important to build on our established style and identity and also make a strong architectural statement.

“Hope Street is bookended by the magnificent cathedrals and renowned as a unique environment full of architectural gems.”

He added: “The old police station was a horrible 1970s building. We demolished the frontage to create a completely new facade.

“This is the first major addition to Hope Street in probably 30 years.

“I hope this new building will become part of the architectural fabric of the street for years to come and join the ranks of the other classic designs of their day.

“From Blackburne House, which in 1790 was a mansion house perched on a hill, to the Georgian terrace to the art nouveau Philharmonic Pub, the art deco Philharmonic Hall to Hope Street Hotel in 2009.”