The Grade II-listed hydraulic pumphouse and accumulator tower at Liverpool's Stanley Dock is being transformed into a new restaurant, with owners announcing the venue's name on October 5. The restaurant, scheduled to open this winter after a £1.5m transformation, will be called 1848 Stanley Dock in a nod to the date of the dock's opening by Jesse Hartley.
Venue details and design
The 120-seater pizzeria, operated by Titanic Hotel Liverpool and owned by Harcourt Developments, will occupy a 4,400 sqft space and bring a new dining destination to the waterfront. The design combines the character of the original Victorian pumphouse with contemporary elements, featuring a glass-walled extension with 18.5ft tall ceilings overlooking the dock, and glazed doors opening onto a waterfront dining terrace.
A 23ft high atrium will connect the glazed extension with the original brick boiler room, which will host a central dining space and a cocktail bar. A new galleried mezzanine will provide further seating, with feature brick walls on lower levels and a more intimate private dining experience above.
Historic background and regeneration
Titanic Hotel Liverpool's general manager, Brian Connor, said: "1848 is an exciting addition to Stanley Dock and provides a opportunity to give another one of the site's historic buildings a new lease of life." He added: "The venue has such a distinctive character, and as with Titanic Hotel, retaining its original features while creating a contemporary space has been a key priority throughout the redevelopment."
While Stanley Dock originally opened in 1848, the Victorian pumphouse was added seven years later in 1855. It housed the hydraulic pumping systems that powered the dock gates, capstans, cargo cranes and tobacco presses across both the North and South warehouses for decades.
Future opening
Stanley Dock closed for business in 1985 following the sharp decline in Liverpool's maritime trade, but after Harcourt Developments bought the site in 2010, the dock has seen renewed activity. 1848 Stanley Dock forms the latest stage of the ongoing £250m regeneration of the area and will open for business later this year.
