MORECAMBE'S world famous Midland Hotel could be on the verge of yet another new life, this time as a top French restaurant. The art deco masterpiece which stands proudly on Morecambe prom has been the subject of great speculation over the past few years with its ownership under dispute several times. Now, a Citizen source has revealed, Midland owner Les Whittingham is having talks with Lancaster restaurateur John Noon about the possibilities of turning part of the hotel into a Brasserie.

Citizen reporter Colin Dyer spoke with a tight-lipped Mr Noon on the steps of his Ma Cuisine restaurant, soon to be the subject of a London Weekend Television documentary, on Sun Street in Lancaster.

He said: "All I will say is that I have been in negotiations with Les Whittingham but we haven't come to any agreements. We could be looking at a deal regarding the catering at the hotel."

Should that deal be reached, it is believed that a section of the Midland will be converted and operated by Mr Noon, former landlord at the Waterwitch pub, as a 150-seater French restaurant.

Only a few weeks ago, Lancaster City Councillor Diane Huddleston handed the keys to the Midland back to Les Whittingham after running it for several months.

Mrs Huddleston announced her intention to buy the hotel last year but the pair struggled to forge a deal and the sale fell through.

That piece of the Midland's chequered history came less than 12 months after stories announcing the opening of an 'executive gay club' at the hotel hit the headlines.

It has also been recently rumoured that another section of the Midland could soon be converted into a casino after the Government named Morecambe as one of the towns now permitted to house gaming centres.

Midland owner Les Whittingham was unavailable for comment.

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