The sinking of the Titanic continues to be a source of fascination, and a new hotel in Belfast is set to honour this famous ship and the work of Harland & Wolff.
Respectful commemoration
According to the Express, the grandest ship to ever sail the oceans sank on 15 April, 1912, killing approximately 1,500 people. To respectfully commemorate this tragic event, a new £28 million hotel, dubbed Titanic Hotel Belfast, is due to open in the former Harland & Wolff headquarters and Drawing Offices.
Building and restoration
The hotel will be every bit as luxurious as the famous ship itself. Work is currently being completed, and the building restored, thanks to Heritage Lottery Fund investment. Around 230 people have been involved in the building and restoration process, and once the hotel opens its doors to the public, it’s expected to generate 75 new jobs.
The hotel is already fully booked for the first week of opening, and visitors are expected to flock from far and wide to immerse themselves in the ship’s history and heritage.
The finer details
Attention to detail has been at the heart of the building and restoration process of the hotel. Parquet floors, similar to those from parquet flooring in Ireland suppliers http://www.wilsonsyard.com/products/wooden-flooring.html, will feature, as will carefully painted wall panelling. Reclamation has been a key theme in the restoration process, with original tiles featuring in the main bar, identical to those used on the Titanic’s swimming pool. Unique features of the Drawing Offices have been kept intact, and the original moulding crafted by Titanic builders has been restored.
Titanic Hotel Belfast will feature 119 luxury rooms, including seven suites, all with imposing views that showcase Belfast’s key role in shipbuilding. The hotel will also boast heritage rooms and seven private event spaces, once owned by key figures involved in the design of the Titanic.
More than just a hotel
Aside from the luxury rooms, fine dining and enviable views, the hotel will set out to tell a story that is steeped in the heritage of the Titanic, its headquarters and the people who built it. In some ways it will resemble a museum. Public tours of the Drawing Offices and an exhibition will feature at the hotel, where artefacts and information relating to the restoration will be made available for public viewing.