Copthorne Hotel - Birmingham UK

Few years ago, when I heard of Copthorne Hotels, my imagination when in to over drive. I imaged that these hotels had the most up to date decorations with external smoky reflective mirrors.

Last week I stayed in one of them in central Birmingham. When I was booking, I asked the receptionist if there was a restaurant in the hotel and she told me that yes, there was a Chinese restaurant. Now, I have never eaten in a hotel based Chinese restaurant and I imagined that the food would be outstandingly good and well-presented... proper oriental experience… or even a buffet.

My room at the Copthorne

When I arrived at the hotel, it did have those external smoky mirrored walls. I was not impresses with the parking but, still I wasn’t spending the night in the parking was I?

The receptionist was excellent and very accommodating. The reception area seem to have had better days, but was still very welcoming.

It all changed when I took the lift to my floor. The corridors which looked like school ones where old, all beige and light brown. The wall paper seem to have been painted on and was peeling off the walls.

View of the square

One great thing about my bedroom is that it was massive, on the third floor with a side view of a small square from which the shiny Hyatt hotel and the new Birmingham library could be seen.

Having smacked my lips all day at the prospect of seating down for some kind of a la carte or high class Chinese dinner, I was disappointed to discover that my colleague and I were going to be the only people having dinner at the time we went to the restaurant (8.30pm). The menu presented to us wasn’t impressive and looked like the one I’d have if I went to my local. 

The selection of drinks had nothing oriental and I was only able to order an orange juice… nothing exotic about that… Do check your restaurant recipe before you leave…

Copthorne toiletry 

Two year ago, I was introduced to Pork ribs, and it “changed my life”. Since that was the only thing that seem attractive on the menu presented to me, I ordered the ribs with some basic stir-fry vegetables… without cashews or event sesames seeds, which didn't give me anything to write home about.

My dinner wasn't impressive, my room was functional, the bathroom light were too dim, but had own branded toiletries. Still. I was just too glad and reassured to only have to spend one night at the Copthorne… don’t be fooled by the photos on the website.

I will not recommend it, but if you are looking for a hotel in city centre Birmingham with its own parking, go for it. The hotel is quiet central, so, it won’t be too difficult to find a good restaurant for dinner. 

Then again, this was my experience, yours might be different.

See you next week.

Ciao.

Email me at beenthere.reviews@gmail.com

Further info about the Copthorne Birmingham here.