Stunning images have been revealed for the first time of the new £10million football themed luxury hotel that is being built in tribute to one of the greatest goal-scorers of all time, Everton and England legend Dixie Dean.
The CGI images - which have been released by Signature Living and the family of Dixie Dean - reveal an opulent 100 bedroom designer hotel that will sit yards across the road from its iconic sister hotel The Shankly, on Liverpool's Victoria Street.
The Dixie Dean hotel's restaurant and bar launch is scheduled for May, with the hotel rooms being completed and opened in July 2019.
The 160 cover restaurant and bar - named “No 9” after the iconic number worn by Everton legend Dean - showcases a very modern boutique style hotel which embraces the iconic past and grandeur of the Grade II listed Gothic Jerome and Carlisle building.
The hotel is a partnership between Lawrence and Katie Kenwright’s Signature Living Hotel Group, Barbara Dean and Melanie Prentice, the daughter and grand-daughter respectively of Dixie Dean.
The 100 bedroom hotel will offer restaurants, bars and an events space for weddings, as well as a museum of memorabilia and history dedicated to the footballing legend and his career.
Dixie’s daughter Barbara Dean will also attend special events at the hotel to talk about her father and his phenomenal footballing career.
The Hotel's Guest Relations Director and hotel co-owner, Melanie Prentice, said: "It’s very exciting to see the images of how the restaurant and bar will look and take shape for the new Dixie Dean hotel.
"My Grandad would really approve of the interior design and a hotel celebrating his life. If he were here now he would take a seat in the corner with a trusty pint of Guinness and have a laugh and a chat with the customers and fans coming to the hotel named in his honour.
"This is a really exciting time for all of us, my mum Barbara, Dixie’s daughter is absolutely thrilled as we all are to see this idea become a reality.
"Working with Lawrence and Katie Kenwright and Chris Carline - Bill Shankly’s Grandson - has been a real pleasure and we are so excited for the future. Without their help and support we wouldn’t have been able to make this a reality.”
Signature Living Chairman Lawrence Kenwright said: “Our goal was always to build two iconic hotels that would represent the two greatest football teams in English football and to leave a lasting legacy to Everton and Liverpool football clubs.
"What made this even more unique - was not only the locations of each hotel being across the road from each other - but that we had the full support and blessing of Dixie’s family, without that we would not have been able to do justice to the project.
"There is no better person to have than Melanie as our Guest Relations Director. She adds real gravitas to the hotel, she is passionate about Everton and passionate about continuing the legacy of her Grandfather.”
The hotels will become the landmark feature of the football quarter with a tree lined boulevard and golden statues in tribute to players from both Liverpool and Everton.
The original full length windows of the Jerome and Carlisle building have been retained to ensure optimum light and air into the building.
The bar and restaurant areas have a rustic industrial feel with original beams, wooden panelling and brickwork retained in a nod to the building's Gothic architecture.
Vibrant colours - including Everton FC Royal and aqua blue - feature throughout the interior with deep luxurious upholstered chairs, sofas and fabrics.