Leonardo Hotels acquires Manchester’s Midland Hotel

Manchester’s iconic Midland Hotel has been acquired by Leonardo Hotels, the European arm of Israeli company Fattal Hotels.

Previously part of the Q Hotels group, the hotel was opened in 1903 by Midland Railway, and is now one of the most iconic and historic hotels in Manchester. The ornate, four-star building features 312 bedrooms including 7 suites, the award winning 4 AA rosette restaurant Adam Reid at The French and 2 AA rosette Mr Cooper’s.

Those to have stayed and dined in the hotel include Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, and Sir Winston Churchill. However, The Beatles were famously refused entry to one of its restaurants for being “inappropriately dressed”.

It’s where Charles Rolls was introduced to Henry Royce, leading to the formation of the luxury car business in 1904 – although there is some debate about this.

There is also a sophisticated tea room and newly refurbished bar serving food all day. The hotel has 14 meeting and function rooms suitable for weddings, award ceremonies, gala dinners and AGMs for up to 700 people. The luxurious Spa at The Midland offers a wide range of treatments and experiences.

Fattal Hotels Group owns more than 80 hotels in over 40 locations including the 230-bedroom Leonardo Hotel London Heathrow Airport and the 282-bedroom Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh.

Together with Swedish hotel investment company Pandox, it recently acquired a portfolio of 36 Jurys Inn hotels from US private equity company Lone Star Funds for £800m.