The Midland was built by the Midland Railway Company in 1903 to reflect the aspirations and pride of the Manchester business community; at the height of the British Empire, the city was the northern capital of trade and manufacturing.
A major Manchester landmark, not only for its Edwardian architecture, The Midland has hosted several historic meetings, such as that of the Hon. Charles Stewart Rolls and Frederick Henry Royce in 1904, which led to the creation of Rolls Royce Ltd.
This is actually a rear entrance, at the corner of Mount and Windmill Streets (here's the front view). The photograph doesn't really catch the gleam of the glazed ceramic decoration.