First impressions
The Malmaison is part of the Mailbox, a former Royal Mail sorting office that
now houses shops, restaurants and bars. It’s a five minute walk to
Birmingham New Street railway station, and other shopping venues including
Selfridges, are a short walk away – so you can’t fault the location.
The lobby is typically Mal – sultry and moody with lustrous rich fabrics and
striking features, such as a spectacular spiral staircase carpeted in red,
all with a backdrop of trendy music. When I checked in you could hear the
bustle of the bar at the top of the staircase – not bad for a Thursday
night. Check-in was swift although I was miffed to be charged for the
newspaper that I was invited to request, and had assumed was complimentary
(for reference there are free copies of The Independent in the lobby).
Why it’s special
The location, as mentioned before, is great. Plus there’s the décor, which
screams fun and sexy, so whether you’re staying for leisure or business, the
hotel sets a playful mood.
Hitting the sack
The 189 bedrooms have a cream, dark brown and beige, or ecru as the hotel
calls it, colour scheme, with dark sleek furniture, dramatic headboards and
modern lighting. Many have chaise longues, and the best overlook the front
of the hotel and the cityscape, although the view is fairly mundane from any
room.
My suite, one of ten in the hotel was more dramatic – called the Executive
Suite, it had velvety textured wallpaper in crimson and black, a black
laquer four poster bed, dark brown velvet throw, and a huge bathroom with
freestanding black claw-foot bath, huge shower and flat-screen television in
the wall at the end of the bath. In the open-plan lounge area was a large
modern sofa, trendy books on subjects such as New York, aromatherapy and
wine, an iPod dock with speakers and another huge television (the second in
the room) with a Bose CD and DVD player. The bed was comfortable, the linen
crisp and I was only sad not to be able to stay up all night to enjoy the
gadgets and quirky minibar food and drink.
All rooms have a power shower, free internet access, CD player and CD library,
same-day laundry, satellite television and generously proportioned Malmaison
toiletries, labelled with notes that encourage you to take them home (the
grapefruit soap and lavender shower gel are divine).
Sampling the food
The nature of the in-room breakfast at Malmaison means its one of the few
hotels where room service is best. Choice is limited if you opt for the
continental in-room breakfast, but when it arrives you’re rarely
disappointed – a wicker hamper heaving with fresh fruit juice, a yoghurt,
fruit compote and muesli concoction, pastries, cereal and a fresh fruit
salad, all for £11.95. Downstairs you can indulge in breakfast between 7 and
10am (10.30 at the weekend), with cooked options as well as the continental
choices.
For lunch and dinner the brasserie offers staples: burgers (substantial
patties made from naturally reared ground beef) and Scottish sirloin steak,
as well as more unusual dishes such as seared Scottish scallops with black
pudding or braised Shropshire pork cheeks with caramelised apple. There are
usually at least four vegetarian dishes and plenty of options for those who
like to keep their food miles to a minimum. Meals typically cost £20 for two
courses. Puddings at £5.95 included a crisp and moreish rhubarb tarte tartin
and an extensive cheese trolley. The wine sommelier offers advice if you
request it and chose us a good Chardonnay, a wine that I usually avoid, and
a smooth Argentinian red.
The adjoining bar offers meals and snacks and an extensive cocktail menu of
classic and bespoke drinks for around £8 each. There are bar stools in the
centre of the action or lower comfy lounging chairs around the edge, with
lots of burnished metal, soft dark fabrics, red walls and glossy black
tables.
Access all areas
The hotel is wheelchair accessible and some rooms have been adapted for guests
in a wheelchair.
Added attractions
The Le Petit Spa offers treatments using Elemis products for facials, massages
and body treatments and Jessana products for manicures and pedicures. Spa
packages cost from £105 and include use of the sauna, steam and light
therapy rooms, bubbling spa pool and gym, or you can pay £20 for use of the
facilities without a spa treatment.
What we think
The noon check-out is welcome, as is the breakfast til 10am policy and free
internet access. It’s just a shame that extras such as newspapers and
breakfast aren’t included.
Bottom line
Suites cost from £255 per night and rooms from £99 including VAT but not
breakfast.
Need to know
Malmaison Birmingham, 1 Wharside St, B1 1RD; www.malmaison-birmingham.com;
birmingham@malmaison.com; tel. 0121 246 5000. For more information on
Birmingham, or to book a shortbreak to the city, contact Marketing
Birmingham.
