Hotel planned for Gandhi-linked historic building

A hotel could open in an ornate Victorian building, which was previously a vegetarian restaurant where Mahatma Gandhi once dined, according to newly submitted plans.The grade II*-listed Murdoch Building and Pitman Chambers in Corporation Street has been earmarked for the proposed scheme by applicant MP Devco Ltd.A total of 156 rooms would be created if the go-ahead is granted by Birmingham City Council in the coming months.The plans for the building, which was constructed in the late 1890s, have been drawn up by BPN Architects.The left hand side of the building, originally Dean’s, was built as a furniture showroom and warehouse.Pitman’s was a vegetarian restaurant and the upper floors were used as hotel rooms shortly after it opened.The building was named after Sit Isaac Pitman who was at the time vice-president of the Vegetarian Society.The restaurant was still in operation when Gandhi visited the city in 1930.From the 1950s to the 1990s, former Aston Villa footballer Harry Parkes ran a sports shop from the Pitman building.Now, fast food outlets occupy the ground floor of both buildings with vacant offices on the floors above.