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Hidden tunnels and ghosts: The secrets of Manchester’s iconic The Midland hotel
Have you stayed at this iconic hotel?
As you walk through the streets of Manchester city centre, you’ll be impressed by both its old and new architecture, particularly the historic hotel The Midland.
We visited one of the city’s proudest landmarks to discover the secrets and stories it’s built upon, that make it more than just bricks and mortar.
This magnificent Grade II listed building was designed by architect Charles Trubshaw in an Edwardian Baroque style and opened by the Midland Railway Company in 1903.
It was first used to accommodate wealthy rail travellers using Manchester Central railway station – which was later called the G-Mex but more recently renamed Manchester Central once again – to commute from London.
Visitors would enjoy the hotel’s luxurious features including an ornate Gentleman’s Concert Hall and theatre, a reading room and a billiards room.
But in 1922, the concert hall was converted into more bedrooms, which are the hotel’s modern-day hotel suites.
In the years gone by, the hotel has welcomed a number of A-list guests including Sir Winston Churchill, Frank Sinatra, Pavarotti, the Queen Mother and The Beatles.
But most famously, it’s the place where Charles Rolls met Henry Royce in 1904, which is marked with a blue plaque and a Rolls Royce car positioned on the steps to the hotel.
Our team went down to explore the many layers that make up this iconic landmark, guided by the hotel’s human resources manager, Alex.
Starting with the foundations of this magnificent historic building, we began our journey in the basement as we made our way through its underground passages including the hotel’s very own moat.
These secret tiled underpasses would have once been used by the rich upper classes, perhaps so as not to mix with the general population or to avoid any attention.
Alex tells of how the basement on the gentlemen’s side of the hotel once housed an underground casino, a barbers and a post office – before it underwent a refurbishment in the ‘80s.
Also in the basement lies the old laundry rooms which are no longer in use. This is where the maids would wash the linen for over 300 rooms with the steam being seen from the pavement above on Lower Mosley Street.
As you can imagine, the hotel has a few ghost stories. As we headed up the stairs and looked over the Octagon bar, we discovered the tales of wandering ghosts along the hotel’s corridors.
The ghostly spirits, though rarely seen, include a barber who has been heard cutting hair in the space that was once the barbershop, a child and the Lady in Grey – who it’s assumed was once a permanent guest in the hotel and now walks the corridors she once called home.
We then headed up to the rooftop via the grand old staircase and unlocked the doors to step foot above the building.
The roof terrace was once an elaborate Winter Garden where guests could enjoy afternoon tea and admire the views across what Manchester would have once looked like.
However, the smoke and soot from chimneys and fires at the time hampered the views and likely made it unpleasant for guests to breathe. The rooftop gardens closed in 1910.
But these days the skies look much clearer and a view of the city’s skyline from the top of the Midland reminds you just how impressive a city Manchester really is.
This hotel also offers top notch food where guests can indulge in some fine dining at chef Adam Reid’s The French.
If you’re looking for a luxury city break or even just a luxurious self-indulgent staycation, head to The Midland hotel.
You can book yourself a room HERE.
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Hawksmoor creates ultimate steak sandwich for huge Manchester barbecue event
Can’t wait for this!
Live From The Grill is returning in 2024 for a third year, bringing with it next level barbecue food, drinks, live music and DJs.
Deansgate Square will once again host a weekend of BBQs from some of Manchester’s best restaurants, including Hawksmoor, who will be serving up the ultimate steak sandwich.
Also serving up some top scran will be Knight’s Caribbean BBQ, Japanese robata by Kitten, Food Sorcery Cookery School, and Chit ‘n’ Chaat with Indian street food.
Manchester’s Finest Group
Plus, there’s £3.50 pints all day and other drinks deals exclusively for Manchester’s Finest subscribers – so make sure you get signed up.
The free event is taking place on Saturday August 31st and Sunday September 1st, down at one of the city centre’s most exciting new neighbourhoods, New Jackson.
Both Saturday and Sunday’s day-long parties are free to attend with tickets. Saturday will feature Rinse.FM residents Habitat, DJ G2 & Friends, soulful drum and bass from Rare Groove, and Manchester’s longest-running club night, Funkademia.
Manchester’s Finest Group
Sunday is curated by Gigpig and is all about the bands, including rising jazz superstar Kemani Anderson, electro-soul singer Yemi Bolatiwa, 60s and 70s-inspired blues duo Corduroy Moustache, singer-songwriters Ruby J and Grace Kelly, as well as a set from DJ Lenny.
Live From The Grill 2024 is happening at Deansgate Square, New Jackson, M15 4TN, from 12pm till 8pm both days.
Tickets are free, grab them here.
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Manchester’s biggest after work drinks with FREE pints happening this week
Get yourself down!
What promises to be Manchester’s biggest after work drinks is happening this week, and you can head down for a pint on us.
Manchester’s Finest is serving up complimentary drinks at a secret location in town, and you’re invited to enjoy an after work drink on the house.
This is in collaboration with the new ChinChin app, which helps you organise nights out with your mates.
Manchester’s Finest Group
The massive after work social is happening this week, on Thursday August 15th.
Simply head to the secret location from 5.30pm to enjoy one of 400 pints being given away – choose from Amstel, Inch’s cider or a soft drink.
The fastest and easiest way to make plans with friends, download the ChinChin app to find out where to head and join in the fun.
Manchester’s Finest Group
To secure your invite (and free pint), create your ChinChin account, click the link to let us know you’re coming, and head to the secret spot – which will be revealed on the app.
And if that’s not enough, ChinChin will also throw in £5 Uber credit for attendees to safely get home too – redeem it when you first check-in on ChinChin.
Please drink responsibly.
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The North’s best street food is coming to Manchester this weekend
The best street food is coming to Manchester
The British Street Food Awards Northern heats are coming to Freight Island this weekend, bringing with it some of the region’s best street food.
Part of the largest street food competition in the world, the free event arrives in the city this summer this weekend, August 17th and 18th.
The Northern champion will be selected by a panel of judges: Matty White, known for his work on Manchester’s Finest and Steph’s Packed Lunch, Luke Payne, chef at The Pack Horse in Hayfield, and British Street Food Awards founder and food journalist Richard Johnson.
Hello Oriental
The participating traders have now been released, along with their taster dishes which are all available at £6.50, as well as an additional ‘killer dish’.
You can sample Caribbean food from Back-a-yard Jamaican, Baldy’s artisan pies, Burgerism, Colombo Street’s Sri Lankan street food, and Asian fusion from Fuku, and Hello Oriental.
There’s Greek classics from Mega Gyros, Mia’s Arepas, Pattersons fried chicken, Indian street food from Payal, Rio-Mex’s fusion of Brazilian and Mexican street food, and BBQ from Smoking Coal.
British Street Food Awards
Don’t miss traditional Malaysian cuisine from Syiok-Lah, That Ziki’s Greek street food with a modern twist, and Zapp, who are bringing traditional Polish street food.
Past winners of the prestigious award include MEATliquor, Wingmans and BAO. The winner of this year’s competition will head to London for the UK finals in September.
And in even better news, you can head down yourself and try all of the North’s best street food over the weekend.
Colombo Street
You can also have your say in the People’s Choice award, with the winners of both announced on August 18th.
The awards coincide with Freight’s summer of top tier – and free – music programming too, with Alexis Taylor from Hot Chip headlining Sunday’s line-up, alongside the Body Heat DJs.
Grab your free tickets here.
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Hawksmoor creates ultimate steak sandwich for huge Manchester barbecue event
Manchester’s biggest after work drinks with FREE pints happening this week
The North’s best street food is coming to Manchester this weekend
