The Grade I-listed Midland Bank building in Poultry in the City of London was the most expensive banking headquarters of its time when built between 1925 and 1939. However, today it’s the vault that is the best known part of the Lutyens-designed building. It was portrayed as Fort Knox for the climax of the 1964 James Bond film - Goldfinger.
The former bank building is set to open during 2016 as a five-star hotel with between 184 and 255 luxury suites of varying sizes – final numbers to be confirmed - plus restaurants, a rooftop bar with landscaped roof terraces, a health spa and gym, a wine bar and a private members’ club.
The banking hall on the ground floor, the keynote area of the building, will be remodelled as the hotel’s reception area, while retaining its period features. There will be a bar in the bank’s former vault – where Goldfinger's henchman Oddjob met his end, electrocuted by Bond.
Poultry Hotel will be located at 27-35 Poultry, London EC2.
Sir Edwin Lutyens also designed the Midland Bank headquarters in King Street in Manchester – an equally splendid art-deco masterpiece which has also been converted into a hotel. It has just reopened as the Hotel Gotham with 60 bedrooms.
Details: www.newlondondevelopment.com