A gamble that paid off, Traveling half way across the country in search off a hotel that was once britain's most modern holiday destination. Built for the LMS Railway Company The Midland Hotel Opened in 1933 Designed by the architect Oliver Hill with interior furnishings Sculptures and murals by Marion Dorn, Eric Gill, Edward Dowden and Eric Ravilious, Described by Architectural News as "something quite new as far as this country is concerned" "It rises like a great white ship, gracefully curved" After being sold of during the nationalization of the railways the hotel gradually fell into decline two of the last guests - Footballers George Best and Eric Marsh checking out in 1995. After closure the hotel passed through the hand of a number of developers - all going bankrupt. Now in 2005 the hotel is in the hands of Urban Splash a redevelopment firm who own numerous pieces of derelict real-estate including birmingham's 1960's Iconic Office Tower The "Rotunda" |
