Birmingham’s business tourism offer continues to evolve, with a host of new developments, venues and accommodation increasing the city’s reputation as the beating heart of the UK’s events industry.
In the first of their blogs, the West Midlands Convention Bureau looks at some of the new spaces, which are set to welcome event organisers in 2021 and 2022.
In the spring, Birmingham welcomed the launch of the stunning Grand Hotel, following a multi-million-pound investment. The 185-room hotel boasts a mix of original art deco and Victorian luxury alongside a 350-guest capacity ballroom, perfect for meetings, parties and banquets.
The city is also now home to the new purpose-built conference venue, the eastside rooms, which features the largest pillar-free space in central Birmingham, capable of holding up to 1,200 delegates. Connected to it, the new Aloft Birmingham Eastside – run by Interstate Hotels & Resorts – has 195 bedrooms, a W XYZ cocktail bar and Tempo! restaurant.
Located on Centenary Square, the University of Birmingham’s new city hub, The Exchange, opened this month. The second floor’s two meeting spaces and roof terrace are ideal for a range of events, exhibitions, presentations and training.
Birmingham’s gastronomic offering continues to grow, giving delegates plenty to feast on before, during and after events. Local Birmingham brand Medicine has launched its second city centre branch in the Mailbox, which is also home to new, high-end Italian restaurant Lucarelli. New for 2021, Luna Springs, which celebrates Digbeth’s industry, creativity and spirit, features an outdoor bar, street food and a schedule of live music and entertainment.
Popular restaurant group Rosa’s Thai Café opened its doors in May, bringing authentic Thai food to Paradise Birmingham, overlooking the Town Hall and Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. In November, Albert’s Schloss will house room for 500 revellers, serving up indulgent Bavarian-Alpine food, with an in-house bakery producing artisan bread, pretzels, pastries and puddings.
Alongside the city’s famous canals, the historic Roundhouse Birmingham has undergone a £3.6 million makeover to reopen in July. The unique venue has been transformed into a cultural hub that offers tours, exhibitions, and office space.
Located in Royal Sutton Coldfield, The Belfry Hotel & Resort’s new facilities include “The 19th Green”, an outdoor bar situated on the old 18th hole of The Belfry’s iconic PGA National course. The outdoor space is available for exclusive use with space for organisers to use the area to host outdoor dining and BBQs, and to set up large screens and staging for entertainment such as an outdoor cinema or live music.
Sticking with the same sport, Treetop Adventure Golf is perfect for team building. The venue opened at the Bullring shopping centre in May, following an extensive £2.4 million refurbishment of the former Forever 21 unit.
To the west of the region, Wolverhampton’s Civic Halls reopen in 2022, and will once again host leading musical and entertainment acts, business events and conferences.
In Coventry, the new Telegraph Hotel opened in May, boasting 88 uniquely-styled bedrooms. The venue, located in the building that housed the Telegraph newspaper for 50 years, has a seasonal rooftop bar – Generators – which overlooks the city’s Belgrade Plaza.
Meanwhile, the first phase of the Black Country Living Museum’s Forging Ahead project – telling the story of the 1940s, 50s and 60s in the region – opens in 2022. The development at the Dudley venue – which is used as a backdrop for the BBC hit drama Peaky Blinders – will include new learning spaces and a visitor centre.
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