Liverpool: Check out ... Hilton Liverpool

The lowdown The £55m new-build Hilton bridges the space between the giant Liverpool One retail development and the Albert Dock, home to the burgeoning ACC Liverpool. It's a 20-minute transfer to John Lennon and 45 minutes to Manchester airports, respectively, while a short taxi ride to Liverpool Lime Street station opens up a network of rail connections.

First impressions It makes for a striking approach with the all-glass facade emerging from the shopping centre but, inside the door, it looks predictably (reassuringly for some, perhaps) like a Hilton. The maritime motif to the decor is a nod to the local heritage, but the Footballers' Wives feel of the bar is more kitsch than glitz. Plus there's the usual fumble with the key card to get the lift to work after check in.

Sleep tight The hotel offers 215 rooms, including six executive suites, five junior suites and one presidential suite. The rooms may be shiny and new, but they're recognisably Hilton from the standard-issue clock radio by the bed to La Source toiletries in the bathroom. Guests on the executive floor have access to a lounge with panoramic city views. Room rack-rates exclude breakfast, which will add £8 to the bill.

Meetings menu The Grace Suite is the principal event space with capacity for 300 delegates for dinners or 400 theatre-style. The boardoom offers 14 red leather chairs, and there is long corridor of eight syndicate rooms. However, the view of the bus station from back-facing rooms is hardly likely to inspire blue-sky thinking.

Extras Additional elements include a business centre, AV equipment, concierge service and gym. The dearth of free wi-fi is a bugbear - expect to add £15 to expenses for 24 hours of access. Breakfast follows the familiar Hilton format in the Exchange Restaurant but the Pima bar lacks the 'wow' factor of, say, the Cloud 23 sky bar at the Hilton Manchester Deansgate.

Delegate rack rate £55pp per day, including three servings of refreshments, room hire and equipment.

Contact Jeanette Gill, conference and events sales manager; 0151 708 4200; jeanette.gill@hilton.com; www.hilton.co.uk/liverpool

THE PRINGLES TEST
With each review we look at four commonly priced items
Pringles From the mini bar £1.95
Club sandwich From room service £10
Gin & tonic Hotel bar £5.95
Taxi To Lime Street Station £5