Views of a Room: Malmaison Birmingham (Accommodation Management, January 2011)

Birmingham has enjoyed a renaissance of redevelopment in recent years, with a multitude of new and exciting buildings like the Bullring changing much of the city’s skyline almost overnight.

One such structure making its mark on the Midland metropolis is decked in a visually stunning red façade. Aptly named The Mailbox, the building used to be a bustling Royal Mail sorting office, but now things have taken a slightly more laidback approach, as it’s now home to a luxurious Malmaison hotel. With 189 rooms available, including four Super Deluxe Suites and one Executive Suite, this review covers a stay at one of the five Bedroom Suites.

As soon as you enter the hotel’s foyers and reception area, the dark yet soft décor is very pleasant and inviting, as are the friendly front of house staff. Indeed, it was satisfying to see that Mal’s luxury is based on contemporary chic rather than ostentatiously opulent.

The double Bedroom Suite was luxuriously cosy, spacious and decked in a brown and cream theme, upholding the hotel chain’s firm reputation for comfortable yet fashionable modern surroundings. It’s a shame then, that the view from the window captures Birmingham at its most drab and grey, bringing a clashing realisation that the surrounding city’s architecture just hasn’t caught up with the building you’re in.

In the next room were a coffee table, two chunky sofas, and one long recliner, the latter being sizable enough to fit most people.

Most gratifying for gadget-lovers was that the room was very tech-savvy, having been kitted out with not one but two micro music system widescreen TV, DVD player, internet access and even portable speakers for your iPod (yours to take and keep at a price, naturally).

Included in the bathroom basket of goodies were scented Malmaison body lotion and massage oil, a nice pampering bonus amongst the usual sundry of miniature bottled wash products expected at hotels.

The highlight of the stay had to be the luscious bed, stacked high with uber-soft pillows and silky smooth linen. You’ll soon forget those usual ‘sleeping in an unfamiliar place’ pangs as that divine divan literally wraps you in utter comfort.

When dinnertime beckons, you can stop by the Brasserie restaurant, offering a decent selection of high quality dishes, as well as tantalising choices from the grill menu which will no double indulge the most carnivorous. On top of this, yet also present a ‘home-grown’ menu, concocted to include the finest locally grown ingredients helping to ensure minimal miles on your fresh cuisine.

The main bar is a fine place to sample the tipples on offer. And it’s here the term mood-lighting really comes into its own: dim light set against dark, sleek surfaces evoke a buzzing yet intimate atmosphere among the many patrons. Nicknamed the ‘Champagne Bar of Birmingham’, the place really gets packed once the weekend lands. Whatever your poison: fine wines, cocktails, or a glass of bubbly, the ambience here just has to be savoured. Good thing then, it’s open until 2am, because you won’t want to leave in a hurry.

Those who believe location is paramount will be pleased to know that the hotel is only a few minutes’ walk from Birmingham’s high street. Which means a multitude of modern retailers, bars, restaurants and clubs are only a leisurely saunter away – perfect for shopaholics and night-time hedonists. And for those of you who prefer to stay indoors, The Mailbox mall also boasts a truly eclectic mix of shops and eateries, including Hugo Boss, Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Harvey Nicholls and Bang and Olufsen, to name a few. With such high-class staples catering for the discerning, Malmaison is right at home here. There’s also plenty of secure car parking underneath the Mailbox in the form of an underground NCP, but the price does bite, setting you back £17 for a full day. In hindsight it would have been great to see some sort of discount offered to hotel guests.

For the truly active wanting to feel the burn, there’s a hotel gym that’s open until ten at night, with more than adequate equipment, including treadmills, exercise bikes and free weights. Handily for the less motivated, you also have the option of a personal trainer to make sure you get those reps in.

Of course, if you fancy just taking a load off and relaxing, maybe a pamper session is what you need. Impressively, the beauty treatment options this hotel has on offer are enough to rival a dedicated health resort. Named ‘Le Petit Spa’, they have everything from ocean seaweed wraps to hot stone therapy, as well as your more common massages, facials and waxes.

Fine ingredients make up the breakfast, with pastries, pain au chocolats, croissants and fruit salads to choose from. The quality of the food ensures you’ll definitely taste the difference here, but the meal itself could have garnered extra praise with a wider selection of cooked food at the buffet.

Malmaison Birmingham is a shining example of the rule you get what you pay for. If you’re willing to fork out for it, you’ll get a near peerless hotel in terms of style, luxury and comfort, despite one or two minor niggles. Sensuous and sleek surroundings, a bar with character, as well as the cosiest, softest bed this reviewer has slept on, all come together for an enjoyable stay that will leave you feeling pampered, refreshed and recharged on checkout.