Oliver House

Situated on Bold Street within Liverpool’s historic Ropewalks district, a vibrant conservation area and popular destination, was originally operated as a 38-room short-stay student hostel from 2012 until 2018. Over time, as standards within Liverpool’s hospitality and student accommodation markets improved, Oliver House struggled to remain competitive. Increasing maintenance and operational costs, coupled with the building’s age, prompted the owners to explore a sale.

Plans were initiated to transform the hostel into a boutique hospitality offering, aligning with the city’s broader regeneration efforts. This extensive consolidation project involved intricate negotiations and considerable legal complexity. Furthermore, just as initial refurbishment works were underway, the COVID-19 pandemic created significant disruption, forcing delays to the planned opening date and severely impacting projected revenues. The uncertainty caused by travel restrictions introduced further financial and operational challenges.

Through strategic management and operational resilience, VOYA successfully delivered the refurbishment and transformation of Oliver House into the boutique hotel Hotel 105, which officially opened its doors to guests in November 2021. The hotel quickly established itself as a desirable destination, reflecting strong market positioning and attracting consistently positive feedback.

The successful redevelopment of Oliver House, achieved amidst the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrates VOYA’s exceptional capability in property consolidation, strategic planning, and redevelopment. This strategic acquisition, combined with VOYA’s proactive and experienced approach, created an asset with a strong market presence and long-term growth potential. In February 2024, the hotel was successfully sold to an experienced hotel operator, marking a well-executed exit and reaffirming the strength of VOYA’s development and investment strategy.

The project not only enhanced VOYA’s profile but also reinforced our reputation with Liverpool City Council, key stakeholders, and the wider community as a reliable and forward-thinking developer, recognised locally as “one of our developers that delivers.”