This gorgeous menu cover in jewel colors features characters from a Venetian masked ball and we believe it is dated during the 1920s. It comes from The Midland Hotel, Birmingham, England, and features cocktails in fashion during that era – many of which we have never heard of. There is Palace Favourite, Bosom Caresser, Prince of Wales, Duke of York and a President Lincoln. Absinthe, the hallucinogenic drink that was known by its nickname Green Fairy, is also on the menu.
The Midland Hotel, an example of Palladian-style architecture, was built in 1874 and had coal-fired steam engines to generate its power supply. As the property expanded and was modernised during the following century, it took on a Victorian façade.
Among the famous guests who patronised The Back Bar were comedians Laurel and Hardy and actors Richard Burton and Peter O’Toole who played at the nearby Shakespeare Memorial Theatre.
The Anglo-Italian conductor and composer Annunzio Mantovani started his career here with a string quartet in 1924 and British politician Enoch Powell gave his infamous “rivers of blood” speech at the hotel in 1968.
In 1996 the hotel was further upgraded and its name changed to the Burlington Hotel. It is still in operation today.

Courtesy Private Collection.

Gallery quality Giclée print on natural white, matte, 100% cotton rag, acid and lignin free archival paper using Epson K3 archival inks. Custom printed with border for matting and framing.

All printed in USA.

Each product is accompanied by a copy of the interior menu where available.