Birmingham | Where to stay
If you’re planning a weekend in Birmingham, whether for a show, a shopping trip or the Christmas market, Hotel du Vin Birmingham is one of the city’s most characterful places to stay. Tucked away on Church Street on the edge of the Jewellery Quarter and the Colmore business district, it occupies a handsome red-brick Victorian building that once housed the city’s Eye Hospital. Inside you’ll find 66 individually styled rooms and suites, a classic French-inspired bistro and a bar with a seriously good wine list. Here are five reasons it deserves a spot on your list.
1. You’ll be sleeping in a piece of Birmingham history
The hotel is set in a restored Victorian building dating from 1884, which spent many years as Birmingham’s Eye Hospital before being converted into a hotel. The grand red-brick exterior is a reminder of the city’s confident Victorian heyday, and the conversion has kept plenty of period character, which is also why the rooms come in such a variety of shapes and sizes. It feels a world away from the identikit chain hotels clustered around the busier parts of the centre. The decor leans towards rich, deep colours and detailed furnishings rather than stark minimalism, which gives the place a cosy, clubby feel. It’s the kind of building that makes arriving part of the fun of the trip.
2. Rooms and suites with roll-top baths and monsoon showers
Because of the building’s history, no two of the 66 rooms are exactly alike, and they range from Classic and Deluxe rooms up to Junior Suites, Suites and a Signature Suite. Across the hotel you can expect sprung mattresses, Egyptian cotton linen, air conditioning and flat-screen TVs, while the bathrooms are a real highlight, with monsoon showers in every category and roll-top baths in the Deluxe rooms and above. The suites add lounging areas and huge Super King or Emperor beds, and the Signature Suite even has twin roll-top baths and a second twin bedroom, which could work well for a family stay. Extra beds for children can be added in Deluxe rooms and suites, and cots are available for babies, so it’s worth checking the options when you book. Check-in is from mid-afternoon, with a slightly later check-out at weekends, which is handy if you want a lazy Sunday morning.
3. A French-style bistro for long, relaxed dinners
At the heart of the hotel is Bistro du Vin, a classic French-styled dining room that manages to be elegant without feeling stuffy. It serves lunch and dinner, with a menu of French-inspired dishes built around locally sourced ingredients, and there’s usually a good-value prix fixe menu for those who want two or three courses without breaking the bank. Steak lovers should look out for the Chateaubriand, which is made for sharing and pairs nicely with a glass of Malbec. The bistro also does Sunday lunch and afternoon tea, so it’s a useful option even if you’re not staying overnight. Booking ahead is a good idea on Friday and Saturday evenings, when the dining room fills up with guests and locals alike.
4. A bar made for wine and Champagne lovers
As the name suggests, wine is at the centre of everything at Hotel du Vin, and the Birmingham hotel has extensive cellars to draw on. Just to the left of the main entrance you’ll find the Bubble Lounge, decorated in a style inspired by the famous old cafés of Venice, which is a lovely spot for a pre-dinner drink or a nightcap. The wine list is broad and varied, with a good choice by the glass and close to thirty Champagnes to pick from. If you’re not sure what to order, the staff are happy to recommend wines, spirits or cocktails to suit your taste. The bar stays open until late, especially at weekends, so you can head back after a show and still settle in for a drink.
5. A brilliant base for exploring the city
Church Street sits in a quieter pocket of the city centre, yet you’re within easy walking distance of most of Birmingham’s big draws. New Street station is around a ten-minute walk away, and the Bullring, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and Symphony Hall are all close by, as are the independent jewellers and workshops of the Jewellery Quarter. Families can head to Thinktank, Birmingham’s science museum, while in the run-up to Christmas the Frankfurt Christmas Market is an easy stroll from the hotel. If you’re driving, there are several car parks a few minutes’ walk away, but bear in mind that Birmingham has a Clean Air Zone, so check whether your vehicle needs to pay a daily charge. Note too that the hotel is cashless, so bring a card or phone for payments.
Book
Hotel du Vin Birmingham
25 Church Street, Birmingham B3 2NR
Tel: 0121 794 3005
66 rooms and suites, Bistro du Vin, Bubble Lounge bar and event spaces