There's no denying that the outside of the Midland Hotel is stunning - but then that's the way it was built. I can only guess that the inside was once as breathtaking, but from the 1970s influenced bars, the dreadful 'boutique' hotel bedrooms and the bland overall decor, guessing is all that is possible. Quite why the renovation didn't go the whole way and return the hotel to it's former glory internally is beyond me - looking up the original sweeping staircase gives a glimpse of what could have been possible. If you are expecting an art deco hotel you will be disappointed - unless you intend spending your entire weekend standing in the car park.

The Midland wasn't designed as a museum, and if you ever read the brief there was no hint at making it one. I think several local people over 70 (no offence) are shocked and stunned that its not the same hotel they walked into yesteryear! You need to understand the hotel was brought back from the dead to be state of the art. The outside pays tribute to the 30's art deco splendour of the time, the inside reminds us of the Eric Gil genius with the orignal artworks, but a that point similarity stops, and well it should. I don't want to walk into a hotel that is the same as it was 75 years ago, I want a modern business hotel for the modern Morecambe to carry forward and make a success of. Read the books, would you rather it were tackily decorated like the 70's, with banners hanging advertising the cheap rooms and meals, attracting budget campers, or perhaps Mr Lewis we should all be gravely dissapointed and request it be immediately bull-dozed as it was saved from, in order that you and others aren't upset when you don't see 30'2 decor inside. Alternatively we can embrace the new design, give it a chance, let them eek out the little teething problems and be happy and proud that someone spent near 10million on this town, on an idea, on the basis it can be a success. Mr Hemmnigway - don't be so bitter. It won't take your business away, and Urban Splash are a little above your station as a design and build organisation so I am sure you can co-exist.
But, again, it people would rather see the hotel in the chain driven, easily closed hands of the Hilton chain for example, then be my guest.
But please, please don't write in when it closes and gets levelled in favour of a carpark.