The Midland Hotel in Morecambe remains an art deco icon on the bay

There are few hotels in the North West with a silhouette as recognisable as The Midland. Curving along the seafront in Morecambe, its clean white lines and art deco styling have made it a landmark of the Lancashire coast for more than nine decades.

The hotel first opened in 1933, built in the golden age of seaside travel when Morecambe was one of the busiest resorts in the north. Like many grand seaside buildings, it later went through a long period of decline and closure, and for a time its future looked uncertain.

That changed when the regeneration specialists Urban Splash took on the building. After an extensive restoration, The Midland reopened in 2008, its period features brought back to life for a new generation of guests. The reopening was widely seen as a turning point for the town's seafront.

Today the hotel is run by The Inn Collection Group, the Newcastle-based hospitality business that bought it from its previous owner, English Lakes Hotels, in 2022. When the deal completed, the company kept the existing team of staff on, a reassuring sign of continuity for a building so many locals feel attached to.

Leadership has also moved on. James Eccles was appointed general manager, taking over from Andy Lemm, who moved to another role within the group. Local radio station Beyond Radio caught up with the new manager to hear about his plans for the hotel.

Part of the excitement around The Midland comes from what is happening right beside it. The hotel sits next to the site of the planned Eden Project Morecambe, the ambitious attraction intended to draw visitors from far and wide to the bay. The hotel's owners have welcomed the funding boost behind the project, and its arrival promises to bring fresh attention to this stretch of coast.

Even before Eden opens its doors, the setting is reason enough to visit. Morecambe Bay is famous for its wide skies and memorable sunsets, and few places frame them as elegantly as The Midland's sweeping seafront facade.

Rooms, dining and events can be booked through the hotel's official website. Whether you are staying overnight or simply calling in to admire the architecture, it is a fine excuse for a day by the sea in Morecambe.