Birmingham

[t1grm]

I’ve got to go to Birmingham on a business trip for two nights week after next. I don’t really know the city at all.

Can anyone recommend a good hotel and a couple of decent curry houses? The office is in Kelvin Way, West Bromwich. My client has suggested The City Inn, Brunswick Square. Apparently this is just off Broad Street. Also an American colleague is staying on for Saturday and wants to do some Christmas shopping so ideally need a hotel that’s near the big shops as well.

[NiceCupOfTea]

www.birminghamitsnotshit.co.uk/

Well, Broad Street is near the shops but gets pretty lairy at the weekends! There's the big hotel opposite Symphony Hall that looks OK. Plenty of good curry houses (home of the balti!) but I don't know any decent central ones.

I'll ask my brother as he knows Bham well.

www.jonbounds.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/jon/brum/kojak/
http://www2.b3ta.com/birmingham/

>> Edited by NiceCupOfTea on Friday 2nd December 12:38

[lexie]

There's the holiday inn on smallbrook queensway (near the back of new st station) which i've stayed in loads of times, there's also the britannia on new st but can be a bit noisy there.
Make sure you get to the german market!

[Prof Beard]

I'm so sure about the curry houses (there are zillions) but if you want a good pint, I'd strongly recommend the Old Joint Stock on Temple Row West (well walkable from the City Inn) - it's Fullers most Northerly Pub I think?

[havoc]

The Copthorne is supposed to be very good and is at the town-end of Broad St...so it's walking distance from both shops and bars/restaurants.

Ooh - very nice restaurant if you've deep pockets: The Bucklemakers, corner of St. Paul's Square. £30-45 per head depending on if you're drinking and how much!

[lexie]

Prof Beard said:

I'm so sure about the curry houses (there are zillions) but if you want a good pint, I'd strongly recommend the Old Joint Stock on Temple Row West (well walkable from the City Inn) - it's Fullers most Northerly Pub I think?

Seconded, tis very good pub, with nice ceiling!

[ADDYBOY1982]

Have stayed at the City Inn off Broad Street and it's great - that'd be the one I'd recommend having tried a few others over the past couple of years

>> Edited by ADDYBOY1982 on Friday 2nd December 12:54

[bga]

The Hyatt is good if you are not paying for it yourself. Stayed there for about 9 months & was v comfortable.

[raceboy]

bga said:

The Hyatt is good.

Yep, stayed in there and it's quite nice, and just a short stagger from all the 'entertainment' on Broad Street

[chassis 33]

Another for the Old Joint Stock, excellent pub, with plenty of Fullers ales on tap and the rest in bottles.

Regards
Iain

[tomtom]

havoc said:

The Copthorne is supposed to be very good and is at the town-end of Broad St...so it's walking distance from both shops and bars/restaurants. Ooh - very nice restaurant if you've deep pockets: The Bucklemakers, corner of St. Paul's Square. £30-45 per head depending on if you're drinking and how much!

My other half used to work in the Copthorne, it's fine as city hotels go. I use the City Inn in Bristol, though, and it's nice, very modern.

[theboyfold]

the City Inn is good and it's just off Broad Street. It's not too expensive either if cost is an issue.

[skibum]

If you're budget for the hotel is picked up by work, then I would advise either Hotel Du Vin or Malmaisson. Hotel Du Vin is about 3 min walk from the Old Joint Stock and 5 mins from Rackhams and the rest of the shops. Malmaisson is in the Mailbox so is close to loads of bars and restaurants.

Broad street is a meat market and full of chav's on a Friday and Sat night and any hotels in the area will no doubt be noisy and risk having some unsavoury characters in/nearby.

If you are after a nice restaurant I can highly recommend OPUS which opened about 3-4 months ago - can be quite pricey though....

[bga]

skibum said:

If you're budget for the hotel is picked up by work, then I would advise either Hotel Du Vin or Malmaisson. Hotel Du Vin is about 3 min walk from the Old Joint Stock and 5 mins from Rackhams and the rest of the shops. Malmaisson is in the Mailbox so is close to loads of bars and restaurants. Broad street is a meat market and full of chav's on a Friday and Sat night and any hotels in the area will no doubt be noisy and risk having some unsavoury characters in/nearby. If you are after a nice restaurant I can highly recommend OPUS which opened about 3-4 months ago - can be quite pricey though....

I completely forgot about the HdV - by far the best! Personally I would take the Hyatt over the Malmaison if it was for business.

[BCA]

For curry, jump in a cab and head to "Ladypool road" moseley... theres loads of choice and they all try to undercut eachother price wise, so its vvvv cheap. Al frash is quite nice in my experience, but havent been there since coming to uni Miss having a good indian on fridays before heading out!

[Flat in Fifth]

Just totally staggered at all the people recommending the Hyatt

£28 for a brekkie, yes nearly thirty effing squid.

Days Inn behind mailbox recommended.

If you want something different and out of city try www.jonathans.co.uk/

[gwp]

City Inn would get my vote, Brindley place is usually OK, but would agree on the comments on broadstreet (towards the end away from the city centre)..
Days Inn, Average and very noisy at night as its above some bars..but if thats your thing..

gwp

[t1grm]

Thanks for the feedback folks. I’m waiting to see if my client gets a corporate rate at the City Inn. It sounds like a goodun. The Old Joint Stock and The Bucklemakers are on my list of places to visit.