IT might only have been a four-hour journey, but I was as excited as a little kid on Christmas morning. My destination was the Art Deco Midland Hotel, Morecambe.

This seaside palace had been on my to-do list for some time so an opportunity of a hotel break was a dream come true.

Even from the outset I was beginning to get into the Art Deco vibe and had a carefully planned outfit to make my grand arrival. Palazzo pants and wide-brimmed hat: I had it covered.

A short drive off the M6 motorway and through the town of Carnforth, famous for being the setting of the 1944 David Lean film Brief Encounter, I was soon heading for Morecambe.

The rows of Victorian terraces and traditional seaside hotels were to the left and the vast coastal landscape to the right.

Ice cream shops, secondhand record stores and amusement arcades were dotted along the esplanade.

But all I could envisage was my first glimpse of The Midland. A quick wave to the town's late, great son Eric Morecambe (the comedian's statue takes pride of place on the prom) and then the majestic curved front of the hotel lay ahead.

Perched at the top of the town, there she was in all her glory on the seafront. I was ready to step back in time to the days of sophisticated, demure glamour and I felt like Katherine Hepburn stepping on to a 1930s film set.

The grand hotel entrance is breathtaking and the glass frontage makes the most of the views across Morecambe Bay.

Designed by Oliver Hill, with interior decoration by Eric Gill, this historic hotel opened in 1933, the hotel was requisitioned by the government during the Second World War, and converted into a RAF hospital. After the war, the hotel reopened, and in the 1970s the building was listed. Towards the end of the 20th century, however, this once-grand institution had begun to lose its lustre, and by the turn of the millennium it was in a sorry state. For several years, it lay empty and derelict.

Today, however, thanks to a multi-million pound revamp, The Midland is back on top.

And so, with gentle era-appropriate music playing in the background, I checked in. I had a room on the first floor with views over the bay. I couldn't waste any time in getting settled in as the hubbub of the lobby and bar were luring me back.

Climbing up the grand spiral staircase it is almost like entering a lost world. While parts of the hotel have retained their period Art Deco looks, the bedrooms are surprisingly modern and very well-designed.

Ample space to relax is provided, helped by the compact bedroom wardrobe and storage area. The wardrobe was designed to be ever so practical and the TV unit was tucked away in a little cupboard.

Just one problem – where was the bathroom? Now I'm no Bear Grylls, but surely I could find it. Eventually I did. It was at end of the compact furniture unit with the door pulling round to reveal a roll-top bath and separate shower cubicle.

I wanted to explore the hotel's eating areas. The Conservatory Restaurant and the Rotunda Bar both with stunning sea views.

It was time to relax with a small libation at the Rotunda Bar. It is a great sun trap and ideal for watching the sun go down while sipping a gin and tonic.

With a tranquil feel to the hotel, I could have gladly sat down in the lobby with a PG Woodhouse and Earl Grey, but I knew Morecambe was worth a wander.

Smaller than its nearby big sister Blackpool, Morecambe is striving to make the most of itself and to regenerate the popular seafront. Work has been underway to revamp the prom walk where Eric Morecambe thrills visitors with his cheeky grin. The statue is a fantastic likeness and who could resist doing an Eric pose.

After a cup of tea at the clock tower and a browse through the old record shops, it was time to head back to The Midland for dinner.

Run by English Lakes, it is easy to see why the hotel has regained its place as a jewel in the North West's crown.

It's a travesty to think that this special venue once lay dormant and derelict. But it seems like the thirst for all things vintage is here to stay.

The hotel created the Vintage By The Sea Festival in collaboration with Morecambe-born vintage style guru Wayne Hemingway three years ago and the festival has now grown into a popular celebration of British music, fashion, film and art.

As the sun began to set I made my way down the spiral staircase into the lobby for a pre-dinner drink and a look at that night's menu.

It all sounded delightful and with a table overlooking the glistening bay, this was an evening to savour and enjoy.

There could only be one way to start the meal and that was with Morecambe Bay shrimps.

Served in their own little pot and cooked in a herb butter, they were divine.

It's certainly fine dining at its best, but with a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Staff were very pleasant and there was nothing aloof about the restaurant.

The hake to follow melted in the mouth and was garnished with petite roasted cauliflower heads and a red wine jus.

During the weekend, I was feeling every inch the silver screen matinee idol.

Trying to maintain an elegant look at breakfast is not easy to pull off. But I tried my best with a pleated skirt and a floating silk scarf.

However I have to admit I was totally outdone. A diner a few tables along had the vintage era down too tee. In high-waisted trousers, two-tone brogues and a cravat, this gentleman had style.

As I tucked into my eggs benedict, I had to salute him.

If the weekend taught me anything it's that somewhere, someone is looking to hold on to a little touch of the past.

And with The Midland helping us along in our nostalgic trips, we might just have one foot in the past for a little while longer.

Deborah was a guest of English Lakes hotel group. She stayed at The Midland for two nights. Room rates start from £150 with Spring Saver offers from £249 based on two nights.

For more information visit their website at englishlakes.co.uk/hotels/lancashire-hotels/the-midland-hotel-morecambe

5 interesting facts about Morecambe

Morecambe Bay is the second-largest bay in Britain: it covers 310 square kilometres, and is one of Europe's most important wildlife sites in Europe, boasting abundant bird life and diverse marine habitats.

During the mid-20th century, Morecambe was a thriving seaside resort, popular with holidaymakers from Scotland, thanks to its railway connections. railway connection) and Scotland.

Between 1956 and 1989, the town it was the home of the Miss Great Britain beauty contest.

The author and playwright Alan Bennett often holidayed in Morecambe as a child, and in his essay, Written On The Body, he speculated that he may actually have been conceived in one of the town's boarding houses, "sometime over the August Bank Holiday of 1933" (though he added that it could have been Filey). The place crops up frequently in his works.

In 1989, the Midland Hotel was used in filming episodes of the TV series Agatha Christie's Poirot.