Celebrating Art Deco icons at The Inn Collection Group

Design aficionados the world over are marking International Art Deco Day on April 28th, with The Inn Collection Group joining and celebrating two of its properties that embrace the celebrated design from the 1920s and 30s. 

Characterised by bold, streamlined geometric shapes, Art Deco first appeared in Europe and flourished internationally between the two World Wars. 

Drawing from several artistic movements including Cubism, Viennese Secessionism, the Bauhaus and Constructivism, Art Deco takes its name from the 1925 Paris Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes. 

Spanning two decades the style evolved throughout its popularity, with the Midland Hotel and The Tynemouth Castle Inn both harking back to the Streamline Moderne period which expressed movement, speed, and efficiency over the highly ornamented examples of the 1920s 

 Internationally renowned, The Midland was built by the London Midland & Scottish Railway and was designed by architect Oliver Hill to compliment the curve of the promenade on Morecambe Bay.  

Costing £70,000 to construct and a haunt of celebrities such as Coco Chanel, Sir Laurence Olivier and Noel Coward, The Midland was purchased by The Inn Collection Group in December 2022, taking on custodianship from previous owners, Lancaster Foundation. 

With a total of 44 bedrooms available, many offer guests staying at The Midland the chance to relax by enjoying magnificent views over the sprawling sands and over the bay towards the fells of the Lake District. 

Balconies are available in 13 of The Midland’s standard rooms and a further six superior rooms and suites on the top floor, allowing these commanding views can be enjoyed whilst taking in plenty of fresh sea air. 

Whilst the rooms were renovated to offer a more modern experience when The Midland was restored in the early 2000s, the restoration of the ground floor areas was much more in keeping with The Midland’s art deco origins. 

Stepping through the front doors like a time machine, there are a number of historically important art installations still in situ including a mosaic seahorse designed by American textile designer Marion Dorn. 

The influence of Dorn’s motif is felt throughout the hotel with 49 in total across the building, including two imposing examples carved from Portland stone and standing guard over the main entrance, atop the circular tower that sits at The Midland’s core. 

Continuing towards the coast side of the hotel, The Sun Terrace restaurant offers a superb fine-dining experience in which to soak up The Midland’s splendour, whilst the Ravilious Rotunda Bar is where a more relaxed offering can be experienced. 

Named in honour of renowned watercolourist Eric Ravilious, the Rotunda was where a mural he produced was originally installed. Lost to the ravages of time, the striking mural that is now in place was painted in 2013 by Jonquil Cook and is a homage to the original. 

Renowned the world over and with its own fan club, The Friends of The Midland, this iconic site celebrates its 90th birthday in July, an occasion The Inn Collection Group are already gearing up to mark. 

On the north east coast, work continues apace to return Tynemouth’s art deco marvel to its place of prominence as a local landmark overlooking Longsands beach. 

Designed and built by local architect J.R. Wallace and was completed in 1939. The Art Deco style of the hotel has made it a prominent feature of the Tynemouth coastline. 

Originally built with 30 bedrooms and as The Park Hotel, it was regarded as one of the most modern establishments of its kind anywhere in the country. 

Acquired by the group in April 2021, works at the iconic site are breathing new life into the 84-year-old venue, including the extensive remodelling of the current bar and dining areas and existing rooms. 

A two-storey extension is under construction in place of a previously underused function and events area to create additional bedroom space for guests, while a further single-storey construction is adding a new fish and chip takeaway and ice cream parlour. 

New external seating areas and terraces are being added to maximise the venue’s 180-degree sea views of the famous coastline and in keeping with The Inn Collection Group’s family-friendly ethos, the venue will welcome families and be dog and outdoor enthusiasts friendly. 

The Tynemouth Castle Inn is due to open later in 2023.

With both sites enjoying illustrious status in their local communities and a fond affection from the people that they serve, The Midland Hotel and The Tynemouth Castle Inn are flagship venues that The Inn Collection Group is proud to have as part of its 33 property strong estate which under their stewardship are set for the next exciting chapters in their histories.