Liverpool's eagerly awaited Malmaison hotel will have a stand-alone cocktail bar, Caterer can exclusively reveal.
With its own street entrance, the 50-seat cocktail lounge will replace the traditional bar with an opaque glass box in the centre of the room inside which staff will make and dispense drinks.
Malmaison's chief executive Robert Cook said: "It's all about the mystique - guests will just see shadows inside the box."
Cook added: "This will be a Malmaison for Liverpool, not just a generic Malmaison. Liverpool has always been an edgy, rock'n'roll-type city, and the hotel will reflect that. A stay at Liverpool's Mal will be 'a hard day's night'."
The hotel, which will also have three private rooms - the Wine Room, Dining Room and Kitchen Room - is due to open in November.