The Midland Bank, King Street...

One of Manchester's best architectural treasures is the former Midland Bank on King Street. It was designed by Edwin Lutyen's in the 1930s. It was him who designed the Cenotaphs in Manchester and London, New Delhi as the capital of British India and a slew of comfortable country houses across the leafier counties of England. It's a great Portland stone ziggurat of a building with a stunning Art Deco interior. It remained a bank when the HSBC took over the Midland. It closed to banking a few years ago with the bank moving to Spinningfields and other sites in the city. The public banking hall, with all the Art Deco detailing intact, has been converted into the dining room of Jamie Oliver's Manchester restaurant. It's a beautiful space to eat in. The upper floors are to be converted into a new hotel, The Gotham....