Iconic Royal Liver Building up for sale for £90 million

Bertie and Bella, the world-famous Liver Birds, may be getting new owners, after news that the Grade I listed Royal Liver Building is going on the market.

The 111-year-old property has a price of £90 million, according to real estate advisers CBRE and is being sold for the second time in its history.

The building was sold for the first time in 2017 on behalf of Royal London for £48m to a consortium led by Luxembourg-based real estate investment manager Corestate Capital Holding. The consortium included Everton owner Farhad Moshiri.

The property is multi-let to several major Liverpool-based companies including Princes Foods, HSBC, Mott MacDonald, Grant Thornton and Everton Football Club.

LiverpoolWorld understands the decision to sell the building will not affect Everton as the club is a tenant alongside other Liverpool companies.

Rich history of the Royal Liver Building

Royal Liver agree to build a new headquarters on the George’s Dock site at the Pier Head purchasing the freehold for £75,000. Building began in 1907.

Opened in 1911 as the headquarters to the Royal Liver Group and known as the tallest office building in Europe, the building remained the head office for Royal Liver Assurance until its merger with Royal London Group in 2011.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh also visited the building in its centenary year.

The building has undergone extensive renovations over the past five years and in 2019, a visitor attractions RLB 360 Tower Tour opened.

Visitors can go up to the 15^th floor and see panoramic views across Liverpool and explore the building’s significance to the city.

The iconic building also recently featured in newly-released blockbuster movie The Batman, along with a number of other iconic Liverpool landmarks.

The Liver Building can also be rented out on the first floor for weddings or corporate events.

Colin Thomasson, executive director, investment properties, CBRE said: “We are truly honoured to be mandated to sell the Royal Liver Building, the most recognisable office building in the North of England and an icon on the global stage.

“It is an exceptional investment opportunity which offers investors the chance to not only own a piece of history but also a property with considerable potential to add further value and continue the refurbishment programme the current owners have already executed.

“With Grade A office supply in Liverpool currently at an all time low and rising occupier demand, we anticipate strong demand amongst investors for the asset.”