H is for .....

Hotel.

There are LOADS of hotels in Manchester.
There are horrid modern ones, horrid towerblock ones, buildings converted into hotels, luxury expensive hotels and The Midland Hotel.

The Midland was built by the Midland Railway Co opposite what was then, Central Station. It took five years to build an opened in 1903.
There was a covered walkway into the station which was demolished just after the second world war.

This is just one corner.
It is HUGE with 312 rooms and 14 suites. This makes it difficult to get a photo of it all and still retain a sense of the awsome detail that makes it one of my favourite buildings in the whole city.

The Midland is built of red brick and terracotta, clad in parts in polished granite.
It was regularly used by Ameriacan Cotton Traders selling raw cotton in Manchester.

Nowadays it is still used by the rich and famous on their visits to the city.
The Beatles were once refused entry to the Midland French Restaurant for being "inappropriately dressed"
(The Midland French is still very peretentious and ridiculously overpriced- but very nice all the same - so I am told)

more manchester blips

While typing this #2boy has just come in from playing football with D.
Announced they are going to the Lake District.
Emptied the chicken chasseur I was going to freeze into the largest tupperware I possess, with rice and all the veggies. "Hey D, this will do for something to eat when we get there"
Grabbed some clothes and a toothbrush and stood at the door in shorts, ripped T shirt and baseball cap saying. "Come on Mum give us a kiss, we're off, see you tomorrow"
I was offered the cheek and then they jumped in the car and off they went!!!

I shall have dry toast for supper!