Matt Redhead will be up at 5am, six hours before Morecambe's art deco jewel opens its doors to paying guests for the first time in 10 years.

"I'll need to make sure everything is ready to go and make sure my teams are in their areas," he says.

"I've been rushing around to make sure we've got enough towels.

"I hope I haven't forgotten anything but I'm sure there will be something!

"There's bound to be teething troubles but we will deal with them."

Matt plans to welcome the hotel's first guests with a drinks and canapes reception, and says they will receive a special tour of the hotel.

He has 50 staff working for him, 90% of whom are from the local area, and all have been recruited more for their sparkling personality rather than any prior experience in the hospitality industry.

"A lot of them have never been waiters, or housekeepers, or reception managers before," says Matt.

"We wanted to ensure these people were tuned into our way of thinking and let their personalities come out."

Matt previously worked as deputy general manager of a four-star hotel in his native Cornwall, then prior to that spent 10 years on the QE2 - starting out as a commis-waiter.

And he says the Midland actually reminds him of a cruise ship.

"The staircase is like a cruise ship's and the hotel has the same atmosphere and buzz," he says.

"The first day I stepped inside the hotel last October I had such a warm feeling and I still get that same feeling today.

"I can't wait for Sunday."