The Sefton Hotel offered a throwback to the golden age of Isle of Man hospitality last Friday (7th August) when it unveiled its new set of suites at an informal gathering for shareholders.
The nine suites, which are situated adjacent to the main hotel building, on the site of the former Britannia and Irwell hotels, have been designed to offer the ultimate in comfort, style and luxury.
Individually themed to give each a distinct character, a number of the suites have been designed to pay homage to illustrious figures, and key periods, in the Isle of Man's history.
Guests can choose from Regency elegance, stylish Art Deco surroundings, Edwardian grandeur or contemporary urban chic, depending on their tastes.
What all the rooms have in common, however, is an attention to detail and quality which will make them irresistible to anyone seeking a cut-above hotel experience.
The suites first became available in TT Week and have been fully booked ever since, with the exception of the ground floor 'Speakers' Room', which has only been recently been completed.
Shaping the look and feel of each suite was no small challenge for interior designer Geraldine Ugland, not least because she only received her brief in February this year!
"Each room had to have its own unique character but the project had to 'hang together' as a whole as you work your way through the building," says Geraldine.
"There needed to be a cohesive feel and identity which was in keeping with the Sefton's elegant, classic style.
"I had to work with the buildings' period features - the high ceilings and cornice work, for instance - but enjoyed contrasting these with bold colours and textures, and the rooms' modern facilities".
With two suites named the 'William Hillary' and the 'William Hoggatt', Geraldine also found herself becoming acquainted with the deeds of some of the Island's more prominent historical ambassadors.
This, like the whole project, she found an enjoyable experience: "Researching these famous lives, I got out and about and met some wonderful people.
"I'm happy to have worked with the Sefton on such a rewarding project".
With negotiable rates starting from ?250 per night, the suites are far from standard accommodation. However, as Chief Operating Officer Mark Lewin explains, the pricing reflects the quality.
"Although we are a 4 Star hotel, we call the suites a 5 Star proposition in terms of the overall experience. Within yards of these rooms, you have three restaurants, a gym and spa, and a meeting room with state of the art conferencing facilities".
The meeting room, which has been named the 'Savoy Room' - and even boasts furniture purchased from the Savoy in London - is equipped with 'telepresence' video conferencing facilities; alongside Manx Telecom, the Sefton Hotel is currently one of only two organisations on the Island to make this technology available to clients.
The Savoy Room, which is also being offered as a private dining room, makes the Sefton Hotel a particularly attractive contender for corporate clientele.
