Liverpool has been confirmed as the second site for Starboard Hotels' upscale hostel brand, Smart City.

Following the launch of the trailblazer in Edinburgh, the company has said it will actively look for expansion opportunities in the luxury hostel market, as well as the entry level hotel market.

The concept offers en suite dorms, high levels of guest amenities and fully licensed food and beverage operations.

The Liverpool site will be in the seven-storey former Kansas Buildings in the Cavern Quarter, which were previously retail premises. Quintain, Davis Coffer Lyons and Ockleston Bailey completed the sale.

Associate director at Davis Coffer Lyons, Kate Taylor, says: “Starboard Hotels has already carved out a niche for purchasing distressed commercial assets and implementing a change of use development. This site has great positioning within Liverpool city centre, opposite the Met Quarter retail scheme and close to Liverpool One shopping centre.”

The hostel will open in the first quarter of 2013. A central London site will also open next year.

Launched in 2006, Starboard has a number of established chains, including Holiday Inn Express and Days Inn.