The Midland, originally built in 1841 with the coming of the newly opened LMS railway, is one of the few railway hotels in the UK to have maintained its 19th century style and grandeur. One of Derby’s landmark buildings, the hotel has played an important part in the City’s social and economic history - most notably being the venue for Rolls Royce AGM meetings during the company’s halcyon years of the 1920’s and 30’s, as well as a favourite haunt of the late great Brian Clough, one of Derby’s most famous luminaries and where he regularly entertained guests and negotiated several important transfer deals.

Today the Midland is a highly regarded member of the Best Western group of hotels with an extremely positive AA rating. Facilities include 100 en suite letting bedrooms, a renowned restaurant and conference facilities for up to 150, plus extensive car parking.

Also included in the transaction is the Midland’s sister hotel the European Hotel. A contemporary building this ‘Lodge’ style operation has 88 en suite letting bedrooms with reception, breakfast room and dedicated car parking.

The hotels, operating as CHD Ltd, have been sold by way of company share transfer to the expanding Hallmark Hotel group. The total consideration paid was circa £15 million. Hallmark, who already own the successful Belfry House Hotel in Manchester, are planning to invest considerable sums into both hotels with the intention of repositioning the business to cater for the ever changing demands of the modern hotel consumer.

Jonathan Wren from the selling agents Colliers Robert Barry commented “This major transaction highlights the fact that despite all the doom and gloom of the economic slowdown and the implications on the market from the ‘credit crunch’, the demand for quality hotels remains high. Where hotels have a proven and sustained track record going back over many years both buyers and more importantly financiers are still prepared to back their instincts.”