I didn't think I'd get another opportunity to see inside here as security seemed to be all over it every time I walked past. Roll on a couple of weeks and I found myself inside this beauty again with far more time on my hands than my last visit. Most of the building is a building site now, anything that hasn't been completely stripped is covered with sheeting, that is except for some grand staircases and a few other odds and sods. Since my visit others have come face to face with security armed with a bar and a Stanley knife so be careful if you plan on visiting, maybe wear a go-pro in case things get a bit hairy, these guys don't play nice!
The former London headquarters of Midland Bank, a Grade I-listed property designed by Edwin Lutyens and John Alfred Gotch and built in 1925, is soon to be turned into a boutique hotel. The imposing building, in the heart of the Square Mile, was vacated six years ago by HSBC, which bought Midland in 1992. It has since operated as a branch of NatWest and as a filming location for Channel 4's game show The Bank Job. It's vaults also appeared in the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger. The sequence in which it appeared sees the Bond villain Oddjob meet his demise. The main hall was at one time the largest bank hall in Europe. The new hotel will be part of the Soho House group, which owns a string of private members' clubs (some with accommodation), restaurants and stand-alone boutique hotels. The large building will feature 255 rooms, as well as restaurants, bars, spa and gym facilities and a swimming pool.
The former London headquarters of Midland Bank, a Grade I-listed property designed by Edwin Lutyens and John Alfred Gotch and built in 1925, is soon to be turned into a boutique hotel. The imposing building, in the heart of the Square Mile, was vacated six years ago by HSBC, which bought Midland in 1992. It has since operated as a branch of NatWest and as a filming location for Channel 4's game show The Bank Job. It's vaults also appeared in the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger. The sequence in which it appeared sees the Bond villain Oddjob meet his demise. The main hall was at one time the largest bank hall in Europe. The new hotel will be part of the Soho House group, which owns a string of private members' clubs (some with accommodation), restaurants and stand-alone boutique hotels. The large building will feature 255 rooms, as well as restaurants, bars, spa and gym facilities and a swimming pool.
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4. This was the only floor that wasn't properly stripped
5. All the rooms had wooden panelled walls
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7. It's not a proper explore without a bit of dressing up
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13. This was what I was hoping to find, we nearly missed it altogether
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15. Aaaaanndd...a few vault pics, because it would be rude not to!
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Cheers for looking
2.
3.
4. This was the only floor that wasn't properly stripped
5. All the rooms had wooden panelled walls
6.
7. It's not a proper explore without a bit of dressing up
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13. This was what I was hoping to find, we nearly missed it altogether
14.
15. Aaaaanndd...a few vault pics, because it would be rude not to!
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19.
20.
Cheers for looking
