On Thu, 03 Oct 2013 14:50:11 +0100, Recliner
wrote:
The St Pancras Renaissance Hotel opened in 2011 after a decade of
restoration of the former Midland Grand hotel, which had closed in
1935, after which the increasingly shabby and run-down building was
used by BR as offices until 1985. After a campaign to save it, the
restored building now has a new life. ...
Here's some ultra wide angle pics (18mm, in 35mm terms), for whose
who've not been able to see the hotel's sumptuous interiors:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/recline...7636148343593/

It looks good, but I must admit that I wish the booking hall was still in
use as such. I used it from time to time when I lived in Bedford, and I
did notice its magnificence.

Colin McKenzie

--
Cycling in the UK is about as safe as walking, and helmets don't make it
safer. Make an informed choice - visit www.cyclehelmets.org.

"Colin McKenzie" wrote:
On Thu, 03 Oct 2013 14:50:11 +0100, Recliner wrote:
The St Pancras Renaissance Hotel opened in 2011 after a decade of
restoration of the former Midland Grand hotel, which had closed in
1935, after which the increasingly shabby and run-down building was
used by BR as offices until 1985. After a campaign to save it, the
restored building now has a new life. ...
Here's some ultra wide angle pics (18mm, in 35mm terms), for whose
who've not been able to see the hotel's sumptuous interiors:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/recline...7636148343593/

It looks good, but I must admit that I wish the booking hall was still in
use as such. I used it from time to time when I lived in Bedford, and I
did notice its magnificence.

It's now at the wrong level of course: the new booking offices for E* and
EMT are in the former station undercroft. But it's still open to
non-residents, so if you have time to kill at SPI, you can have a drink and
meal there and admire the room.

In message

, at 15:48:41 on Thu, 3 Oct 2013, Recliner
remarked:
I must admit that I wish the booking hall was still in
use as such. I used it from time to time when I lived in Bedford, and I
did notice its magnificence.

It's now at the wrong level of course:

From the street outside (if you are approaching from the Euston
direction) the best route to the EMT platforms is through the hotel and
along what's now the 'upper' floor.

the new booking offices for E* and EMT

And FCC.

are in the former station undercroft.

--
Roland Perry

Roland Perry wrote:
In message
, at 15:48:41 on Thu, 3 Oct 2013, Recliner remarked:
I must admit that I wish the booking hall was still in
use as such. I used it from time to time when I lived in Bedford, and I
did notice its magnificence.

It's now at the wrong level of course:

From the street outside (if you are approaching from the Euston
direction) the best route to the EMT platforms is through the hotel and
along what's now the 'upper' floor.

Though it's regarded as the ground floor of the hotel.

In message

, at 03:47:53 on Fri, 4 Oct 2013, Recliner
remarked:
I must admit that I wish the booking hall was still in
use as such. I used it from time to time when I lived in Bedford, and I
did notice its magnificence.

It's now at the wrong level of course:

From the street outside (if you are approaching from the Euston
direction) the best route to the EMT platforms is through the hotel and
along what's now the 'upper' floor.

Though it's regarded as the ground floor of the hotel.

Yes, through the front door, lobby and 'Booking Office', from where you
emerge onto what's now the 'upper' floor of the station (not far from
the Betjeman statue).
--
Roland Perry

On Fri, 4 Oct 2013 10:42:55 +0100, Roland Perry
wrote:

In message

, at 03:47:53 on Fri, 4 Oct 2013, Recliner
remarked:
I must admit that I wish the booking hall was still in
use as such. I used it from time to time when I lived in Bedford, and I
did notice its magnificence.

It's now at the wrong level of course:

From the street outside (if you are approaching from the Euston
direction) the best route to the EMT platforms is through the hotel and
along what's now the 'upper' floor.

Though it's regarded as the ground floor of the hotel.

Yes, through the front door, lobby and 'Booking Office', from where you
emerge onto what's now the 'upper' floor of the station (not far from
the Betjeman statue).

Yes, the Booking Office bar/restaurant also has tables in the station
at platform level. It's the one bit of new modern hotel that extends
into the station.

Does the hotel or its staff mind if people use it as a short cut.

It reminds me of the old Woolworth's at Victoria which was the shortest route from Vauxhall Bridge Rd to the station. 75,000 people a day went through that shop spending a total of £15.11.

In message , at
06:01:05 on Fri, 4 Oct 2013, Offramp remarked:

Does the hotel or its staff mind if people use it as a short cut.

Not as far as I can tell, but it's a while since I've been there.

It reminds me of the old Woolworth's at Victoria which was the shortest route from Vauxhall Bridge Rd to the station. 75,000 people a day went
through that shop spending a total of £15.11.

There's a Boots at High St Kensington which is the best exit for the
conference hotels, and by co-incidence the Boots at the Victoria
Shopping Centre (on the site of the old station) is a very handy exit in
Nottingham.
--
Roland Perry

In article ,
(Offramp) wrote:

Does the hotel or its staff mind if people use it as a short cut.

It reminds me of the old Woolworth's at Victoria which was the
shortest route from Vauxhall Bridge Rd to the station. 75,000 people
a day went through that shop spending a total of £15.11.

Who here remembers Woolworth's in St Ives (Cornwall)? You could enter in the
High Street and exit two floors down on the quay.

--
Colin Rosenstiel