A dream shopping centre – and no Bull
NOT so many years ago Birmingham had a problem similar to that which is presently facing Sheffield.
Back then large parts of Brum's 1960s-constructed city centre had become run- down and dated.
Then the bulldozers moved in and Europe's biggest city centre re-development scheme began.
Job done, and today Birmingham is buzzing.
Our second city is second to none when it comes to shopping and it's easy to see why.
First to the Bullring Centre.
This place is more than impressive, it's immense and immaculate – no Bull.
Adjacent to New Street Railway Station - just an hour down the line from Sheffield - the centre is ideally situated.
A huge bronze bull stands by its entrance - and there's another inside Selfridge's Food Hall made entirely from jelly beans.
Believe me you will need the stamina of those bulls to make it around the vast number of shops.
And there's more.
High streets which bristle with retail outlets and throw in a couple of large market halls with traders selling everything from fabric to fruit.
A shortish walk from the Bullring brings you to the Mailbox - a former Royal Mail sorting office meticulously transformed into a centre packed with exclusive stores - DKNY, Harvey Nichols, Giorgio Armani and Hugo Boss - restaurants, cafe bars and home to the Malmaison Hotel.
The Malmaison is the perfect place to crash after doing the old shop 'til you drop routine.
Sophisticated, swanky and chic, but without a hint of the snobiness which you can sometimes be associated with a hotel of this calibre.
Dining in the stylish brasserie is highly recommended, but there's plenty of choice nearby if you take a stroll up the delightful canal towpath.
Rooms at the Malmaison are large and light, opulently furnished and accessible by three super-speed lifts.
A walk across town takes you to Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter where you will find the equally stylish and impressive Hotel Du Vin.
Occupying the previously disused Birmingham Eye Hospital - an ornate, early Victorian building - it has been sympathetically transformed to provide 66 bedrooms and boutique suites. It retains many of the building's dramatic original features including the magnificent sweeping staircase and granite pillars.
As you'd expect both hotels have a spa and gym - but who wastes time wrapped in a towel or pumping iron when there's so much shopping to be done?
Factfile
Hotel Du Vin,
Church Street,
Birmingham
0121 200 0600
0121 235 0889
info@birmingham.hotelduvin.com
Malmaison Birmingham
1 Wharfside Street,
The Mailbox,
Birmingham
0121 246 5000
0121 246 5002
birmingham@malmaison.com
www.malmaison.com
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Weather for Sheffield
Friday 10 February 2012
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