Manchester hotel where Rolls and Royce began their journey to change hands

The Midland Hotel has a sculpture commemorating the 1904 meeting that led to the founding of Rolls-Royce
The Midland Hotel has a sculpture commemorating the 1904 meeting that led to the founding of Rolls-Royce
ALAMY

The hotel in Manchester where Mr Rolls met Mr Royce is set to change hands in a deal valuing the 115-year-old property at £115 million.

The Midland Hotel, a grade II listed building next to the former Manchester Central station, is being bought by Pandox, the Swedish hotel investor that acquired the Jurys Inn chain last year for £800 million.

The hotel’s entrance has a sculpture commemorating the 1904 meeting that led to the founding of Rolls-Royce. The Beatles were refused entry to one of its restaurants for being “inappropriately dressed”.

Pandox will buy the hotel from Aprirose, a property investment firm. It is acting in tandem with Fattal Hotels Group, its partner in the Jurys acquisition, which will lease the Midland and run it