AUSTERITY measures be damned, I wanted glamour.

My friend and I headed to Morecambe, attracted to the luminous glow of The Midland Hotel’s Rotunda Bar.

The venue is an Art Deco masterpiece. From the stone jetty, its glass-fronted restaurant lights up the night, revealing diners and scenes straight from Edward Hopper paintings.

The glamorous grade II-listed building stands, large and imposing, at the edge of the bay and offers sophisticated dining, and even better, a taste of the Thirties.

Winston Churchill and playwright Noel Coward were rumoured to frequent these rooms before the hotel fell into post-war disrepair.

Four years ago, the chic atmosphere which made the venue famous was restored and it’s now easy to imagine famous figures walking by, in suits, shoulder pads, and nylon stockings.

You can choose gourmet meals like Fillet of Brill with Lobster Beignets or Red Partridge Roasted Whole on the Bone from the Sun Terrace Restaurant.

However, we opted for something slightly more casual in the Rotunda Bar.

From our seats in a red leather alcove, we watched bartenders making cocktails under a jaw-dropping lavender glass chandelier, which poured its light out of surrounding windows.

Our tapas dishes arrived swiftly, presented on thick panels of solid wood, and we were treated to a range of delicacies.

Figs poached in red wine and cinnamon and marinated Kalamata olives were among the vegetarian platter and Morecambe Bay shrimps and peppered mackerel gave a local angle to the restaurant’s fish board.

The sophisticated selection spread out before us and we stayed for well over an hour, soaking up a sense of decadence from a time gone by.

Our dishes came to £24, which we deemed good value.

A three course meal in the restaurant could set you back £35 a head, before drinks.

Still, if you’re going to treat yourself, this is the place to do it.