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Why choose Birmingham for meetings and events?
Birmingham is a memorable and inspiring city for many reasons. Here, we take a look at why event profs select Birmingham for meetings and events.
Birmingham’s Food and Drink Scene
Birmingham is a vibrant city with a diverse food and drink scene, offering a variety of options for visiting business travellers. Whether delegates fancy fine dining with colleagues, or a quick bite after a conference, the city has something for everyone.
Here are some of the best food and drink places in Birmingham:
The Wilderness
This Michelin-starred restaurant is known for its innovative, modern-British cuisine, which features locally sourced ingredients and unexpected flavour combinations.
Headed by Alex Claridge, the Wilderness serves provocative, playful tasting menus set in a restored factory. The restaurant has 3AA Rosettes and has been featured in the Michelin Guide.
Located in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, the restaurant has a rock and roll vibe as they play rock and heavy metal music while guests dine.
Purecraft Bar and Kitchen
This craft beer bar and restaurant offer a range of locally brewed beers and classic pub food to be loved by everyone. Purecraft Bar and Kitchen serves high-quality dishes using locally sourced ingredients.
Its head chef, Jonny Mills, has learned from some of the finest restaurants and has created an exciting menu of delicious honest food that pairs perfectly with their award-winning Purity Beer.
The Indian Streatery
The award-winning Indian Streatery is home to a family of foodies who started as street food traders. Heading a team of all female chefs, the head chef and mum of this foodie family came up with the original vision to bring real Indian street food to the streets of Birmingham.
This savvy bunch have designed a dual concept Grab and Go lunch, encouraging passers-by to ditch their normal sandwich and grab a chicken curry, samosa or lentil hot pot to go. They offer a range of delicious authentic Indian dishes, including biryanis, curries, and street snacks.
Birmingham’s History
Birmingham offers fascinating insight into its past and the role it played in England’s industrial development. From museums to restored houses, your delegates can experience the city’s rich history first-hand. Here are some great examples:
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
This museum and art gallery houses an extensive collection of artefacts and artworks, including items from Birmingham’s industrial past and works by famous artists such as Van Gogh and Picasso.
The museum and art gallery is now closed for ongoing essential maintenance work but plans to reopen in 2024. When it reopens, visitors will be able to see 35,000 pieces of art on display.
The Birmingham Back to Backs
These restored 19th-century houses offer a glimpse into the lives of working-class families in Birmingham during the Industrial Revolution. Visitors to this attraction will embark on a guided tour and will step back in time in Birmingham’s last surviving court of Back to Backs. These are houses built back-to-back around a communal courtyard.
Visitors will move from the 1840s through to the 1970s, where they’ll discover the lives of some of the former residents who crammed into these small houses to live and work. With fires alight in the grates and sounds and smells from the past, guests will experience an evocative and intimate insight into life at the Back to Backs.
Aston Hall
This Jacobean mansion was built in the early 17th century and is now a museum that offers a look into the city’s history and its people. There are over 30 rooms to explore at Aston Hall, including King Charles’ Chamber, the elaborate Great Stairs and the breathtaking Long Gallery – Hailed as one of Britain’s finest.
Guests can also explore the servants’ room from Dick Garrett’s at the very top of the house to the Butlers’ Pantry and Servants’ Hall on the ground floor. Aston Hall is renowned for its exquisite decorative ceilings. So, guests must make sure they look up for sightings of elephants, orange trees and devils.
The Pen Museum
This museum explores the history of the pen industry in Birmingham, which played an important role in the city’s industrial development. During the Victorian era, making steel pen nibs was a major industry within Birmingham, with 129 companies employing around 8000 workers.
At the Pen Museum, visitors will discover a wide range of fascinating objects and details that help tell the story of the Birmingham pen trade and its important legacy, including the link between a prominent pen manufacturer and the establishment of the University of Birmingham.
St. Philip’s Cathedral
This historic Anglican cathedral was completed in 1715 and is a fine example of English Baroque architecture.
St Philip’s Cathedral is home to four beautiful stained-glass windows designed by Pre Raphaelite artist Edward Burne-Jones. While these historic pieces are going undergoing conservation in 2023, visitors can book a free scaffolding to see the work taking place up close.
Venues in Birmingham for meetings and events
Radisson Blu Hotel Birmingham
Rooms – 211 | Meeting spaces – 10
The Radisson Blu Hotel Birmingham is a stylish and modern hotel located in the city centre. The hotel offers a range of comfortable and well-appointed rooms, and amenities including a fitness centre, restaurant, and bar.
The hotel’s excellent location makes it a popular choice for business travellers and tourists, as it is within walking distance of many of Birmingham’s top attractions. With its sleek design and excellent facilities, the Radisson Blu Hotel Birmingham is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a luxurious stay in the heart of Birmingham.
The Abbey Hotel Golf & Spa
Rooms – 98 | Meeting Rooms – 8
The Abbey Hotel Golf and Spa Birmingham is a luxurious hotel located in Redditch, just outside of Birmingham. The hotel offers spacious and well-appointed guest rooms, as well as a range of amenities including a golf course, spa, and multiple dining options.
The hotel’s beautiful surroundings and tranquil atmosphere make it an ideal destination for a relaxing weekend getaway or a corporate retreat. With its excellent facilities and convenient location just outside of Birmingham, The Abbey Hotel Golf and Spa is a top choice for anyone looking for a high-end hotel experience.
TheStudio Birmingham
Meeting Rooms – 19
TheStudio Birmingham is a modern, flexible event space located in the city centre. The venue offers a range of event spaces, from small meeting rooms to large conference halls, making it ideal for a variety of events including conferences, exhibitions, and corporate meetings.
It also offers a range of catering options and state-of-the-art technology to ensure that events run smoothly. With its central location and excellent facilities, TheStudio Birmingham is a popular choice for events in Birmingham.
Macdonald Burlington Hotel
Rooms – 112 | Meeting Rooms – 16
The Macdonald Burlington Hotel is a historic hotel located in the heart of Birmingham, close to many of the city’s top attractions. The hotel offers elegant and comfortable rooms, as well as a range of amenities including a fitness centre, restaurant, and bar.
The hotel’s stunning Victorian architecture and historic features make it a popular choice for weddings and other special events. With a prime location and luxurious facilities, the Macdonald Burlington Hotel is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a high-end hotel experience in Birmingham.
Millennium Point Hotel
Meeting Rooms – 7
Millennium Point can be found in the Eastside district of Birmingham, close to Moor Street train station and New Street station.
The venue offers several spaces for hire from small office spaces to large auditorium which can accommodate 350. A percentage of the package charged is donated to charitable work which supports Maths, engineering, technology and science.
Birmingham’s National Conference Centre based at The National Motorcycle Museum
Meeting Rooms – 13
The National Conference Centre at the National Motorcycle Museum is a premier event venue that offers state-of-the-art facilities and a unique location steeped in history. The centre is located within the National Motorcycle Museum, which houses the largest collection of British motorcycles in the world.
The conference centre itself offers a range of flexible event spaces, from intimate meeting rooms to large exhibition halls, making it ideal for conferences, trade shows, and other corporate events.
This is just a small selection of the hotels available in Birmingham! You’ll find further Birmingham venues searchable from our homepage, EDGEVenues.com.
And, don’t forget you can check out more of our destination features, such as Bristol.
