Revised plans to turn a former River Mersey ferry into the region’s “premier food and drink destination” look set for the green light.

Originally known as MV Overchurch, the Royal Daffodil was in regular service for more than 60 years before it was decommissioned by Mersey Ferries in 2012.

In 2019, it was announced that the ferry had been purchased by local firm Liverpool City Sights Ltd, with a view to turning the vessel into a new leisure attraction.

Plans to transform the Royal Daffodil were first revealed in 2019 but updated proposals are now expected to be approved during a meeting of Liverpool City Council’s planning committee next Tuesday (25 April).

According to planning documents submitted by its owners, Liverpool City Ship Ltd, the vessel is currently being refurbished at a Liverpool dock having fallen into a dilapidated condition.

The reimagined Royal Dafodill will be sited at Canning Dock and will feature a mixed-use restaurant, bar and event space, as well as a potential 13-room boutique hotel on the lower deck.

How the redeveloped Royal Daffodil would look moored at Canning Dock.

As part of the plans, the promenade deck will become home to a outdoor bar, with a seafood and grill restaurant located on the main deck capable of serving up to 126 people.

The brige deck will feature a “mini heritage meseum”, designed to showcase the historic significance of the vessel and both the Mersey Ferry and Mersey river crossing heritage of the Liverpool City Region.

The application’s design and access statement says: “The objective of Liverpool City Ship Ltd is to retain and restore the boat in line with the historic look and not to take away from its significant heritage.

“The external structure of the vessel will be restored, with minimal changes made to its physical appearance, to allow the boat to be in keeping with the character of the local surrounding.

“The project has been developed to create a sustainable future use for this historical asset, as well as underpinning the wider regeneration of the waterfront zone.

“The vision for the vessel is to create the region’s premier floating food and drink destination and to attract tourism for the area by providing a unique, iconic visitor attraction.”

Main Image © El Pollock, CC BY-SA 2.0

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