renovation and was transferred to QHotels, formerly Quintessential Hotels, Paramount's sister company. The hotel was sold in 2018 to a partnership of the Swedish firm Pandox and the Israeli firm Fattal Hotels. The new owners undertook a £14m renovation. the Midland Hotel was operated by the Fattal Jurys Operation as a Leonardo Royal Hotel. Hotel The hotel is close to Manchester Central exhibition and conference centre on the site of the former railway station, the Bridgewater Hall and Manchester Central Library. The hotel has 312 en-suite bedrooms and 14 suites, a health club and two restaurants – The French and Mr. Cooper's House & Garden. Restaurants The French, once described by The Good Food Guide as "Manchester's finest dining room", was one of Britain’s first Michelin-starred restaurants – awarded in 1974 in the first guide. It re-opened in March 2013 and chef Simon Rogan who stated his desire is to re-establish it to its former opulence and was rated the 12th best restaurant nationally in its first year of opening and awarded the best New Entry award by the Good Food Guide. The French was awarded three Rosettes – the maximum permitted in the first year of opening. The Colony was named after the cotton traders who sold raw cotton to mill owners and referred to themselves as the Old Colony Club. It closed for refurbishment in 2013 and re-opened in the September as Mr. Cooper's House & Garden in tribute to Thomas Cooper, whose house and gardens occupied the hotel site in 1819. The family were coach-makers and their garden was famous for its strawberries, gooseberries, apples and flowers. Following a complete makeover the restaurant is now called Mount Street Restaurant and Bar. See also Grade II* listed buildings in Greater Manchester Listed buildings in Manchester-M60 References Citations Bibliography External links The Midland Manchester official website "Flickr | Frank Wightman (1985) Manchester Archives+ Grade II* listed buildings in Manchester Hotels in Manchester Railway hotels in England Charles Trubshaw buildings Hotels established in 1903 Hotel buildings completed in 1903 1903 establishments in England