Best Hotel in Birmingham City

Advantages: Everything about this hotel
Disadvantages: Christmas time Parties

...The Thistle Birmingham City Hotel is situated a few miles away from Birmingham International Airport, easily accessible from the major motorway network and close to New Street Station. I stayed at the hotel for 8weeks on a business trip and really enjoyed my stay there. The rooms are very clean, its well maintained. Staff very friendly and helpful. During Christmas time there are loads of parties and the in house guests have no flexibility in the food timings which was a major draw back. Food was very good and so is the bar always well stocked! You can have a short walk for your shopping to the City centre, Bull Ring and the Convention Centre. I would definitely recommend this hotel to my friends and would return again....

Simplecash 22.07.2008 · Read review
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Review of Thistle Birmingham City, Birmingham

City Inn - a hidden gem.

Advantages: Price, features of room, location
Disadvantages: err... food is a bit bland and pricey

...I think I spend far too much time in hotels, and can be quite demanding. That said, it is with pleasure I report that the City Inn in Birmingham is a hidden gem. Location The hotel is located in the trendy Brindley Place development just off Broad Street in Birmingham, and as such is ideally situated for pubbing, clubbing and general merriment and yet being secluded (for a city) enough for a bit of peace and quiet. Brindley Place itself is home to a variety of trendy bars and restaurants including the (in)famous Bank and various luxury apartments. It's a mainly pedestrianised area, and is easily accessible by foot bus or train from New Street station. The majority of other hotels in the area are located directly on Broad Street, which can be quite noisy with the drunken hordes clamouring around after about 10pm. Mind you don't get...

rickyshah 19.05.2006 · Read review
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Review of City Inn, Birmingham

Botanical Birmingham

Advantages: Plenty to see, a relaxing escape from the city.
Disadvantages: Expensive for a one-off visit. Disappointing restaurant.

...Every city need its green spaces. The architecture may be spectacular and the shops fantastic, but finding a place to escape the traffic and bustle is a necessity for most city dwellers. Picture Birmingham and what do you see? The Bullring, New Street Station and Spaghetti Junction would be the first things that come to my mind. Although I've never lived in Birmingham itself, I worked there for several years. During that time I went to the Botanical Gardens regularly, but for the purposes of this review I will focus on my most recent visit which was August 2008. A Brief History Celebrity gardeners are not a new phenomenon. In the nineteenth century J.C Loudon was an influential writer on gardening and became part of London's high society. He designed the Birmingham Botanical Gardens in 1830 to provide a place where keen...

JoannaPiano 31.10.2008 (02.11.2008) · Read review
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Review of Birmingham Botanical Gardens

STAR CITY PT 1 - Reclining Seats - Oohh Err Missus

Advantages: Leg Room, Surround Sound, Air Conditioning, Quick Box Office Service
Disadvantages: £5.50 for an adult ticket!

...I wasn't too sure where to stick this op, as there are two categories on Ciao about StarCity as a shopping centre and Star City as a Cinema, and I wanted to write about both! So, being the mercenary that I am, this is the first in a two part series - two lots of 10p's!! - and deals with one of the most impressive multiplexes I've ever been to. Star City was opened in July 2000 and was touted as the largest cinema in Europe - the Warner Bros website (www.warnervillage.co.uk) now says it's the largest in the UK so some dratted Europeans must have beaten us - but it is still huge. The Cinema boasts 30 - yes, you did read that right - screens and is pretty impressive on first sight. Anyway, I'll take you through everything you need to know, step-by-step. We were visiting Star City at Birmingham from Coventry and so it was simple to...

eca99ajm 05.07.2001 (11.10.2001) · Read review
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Review of Birmingham Star City Complex

I LOVE BIRMINGHAM CITY

Advantages: Great manager, Great team, Great fans, Great accents, Great skills
Disadvantages: injuries, small ground, not consistant enough, not in the premiership

...Just what is going on with BCFC? It all started to go wrong after they lost to Liverpool in the Worthington Cup Final. But in my opinion they didnt lose anything - they one the respect they deserve from hundreds of people across the country. Everybody ruled them out and said it would be a lnadslide victory for The Kop, but no, BCFC fought all the way and took it to penalties and you cant get much closer than that! This is why Brimingham City should be promoted! If they let Nottingham Forest climb above them and get into the play-offs it will be a huge disappointment because Forest do not deserve to be in Division one let alone the Premiership! I think that Trevor Francis is a brilliant manager and doesnt deserve all the hassle he gets if the results dont go the right way for a few games. Lay off him!...

Emma_Perry01 11.04.2001 · Read review
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Review of Birmingham City

Birmingham from Cheap to Chic... The City lowdown

Advantages: Great shopping mecca for every shopoholic
Disadvantages: None

...to a cosmopolitan city with a new following of fashion concious people is the arrival of stores such as the very first stand alone store in England out side of London of Louis Vuitton located on Temple Street. Urban Outfitters have also taken a space on Birmingham's New Street which is due to open early nexy year plus other companies are all looking for prime retail space within Birmingham. If Night Life is what your after too Birmingham does not disapoint, You can strole along the 1 mile stretch which is known as Broad Street - although this is usually prone to drunken fights. The best place is to head to China Town with bars such as SoBar and Indie Bar offering a cool place to meet new people, the gay quater on hurst street also offers a great selection of clubs such as Route2 and DV8. SO You want to Visit - Where to Stay...

xx9i 07.10.2004 · Read review
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Review of Birmingham (England)

Birmingham International Airport - 2008

Advantages: Big enough to get the destinations, small enough to care
Disadvantages: Complex road system to get there

...There's a theory that says every opinion on a site like Ciao is valuable and so we should post as much as we like on whatever topic takes our fancies. However, Ciao don't actually reward an opinion once there are already a bunch on a given topic. So this won't earn me a penny - even with the special bonus. Double nothing is ...... er.... nothing. But since there hasn't been a review of Birmingham International Airport for several years, much of the information on Ciao is outdated and well overdue for an update. So pennies or no pennies, here are my thoughts on BHX. When I was a kid, I loved going to airports - any airport, it didn't matter - it was all just so exciting. Strange exotic people, big shiny shops and lots of static electric shocks from the nylon carpets - there was nothing quite like it. But as I grew up the whole...

koshkha 11.02.2008 · Read review
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Review of Birmingham (BHX)

Star City

Advantages: Everything all in one place
Disadvantages: Not in city centre

...After a lot of hype the complex known as Star City opened it?s doors to the public not so long ago. With it?s 30-screen cinema it holds the title of largest cinema in the United Kingdom. (Six of these screens being dedicated to Bollywood movies) It is also home to a number of shops, restaurants and bars. On getting there I was very pleased with what I found, there has obviously been a lot of money spent in order to create one of the best entertainment complexes in Birmingham. The premiere of the film The Perfect Storm was held here with the presence of both George Clooney and Mark Warlhberg making it one of the few cinemas outside London to premiere a Hollywood movie. It is well worth a visit....

Sabrina_imogen 20.08.2000 · Read review
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Review of Birmingham Star City Complex

4 stars for Star City

Advantages: Lots of choice, films, prices; shops, bars, eateries etc
Disadvantages: only one cash till machine, difficult to reach/find, expensive for families

...After a two year wait and many millions of pounds later, Birmingham can be very proud of its latest jewel in its entertainment crown. Star City pays host to over 30 screens, one of which is the biggest in Britain and 2nd biggest in Europe. not only does it have big screens but the sound quality is absolutely top class and wipes the floor with other multiplexes in the city. In addition the chairs are very comfy with plenty of leg room, which makes a change from the usual cramped conditions found these days. Okay so it can be a bit pricey for a family of four, but it is worth it. Plus the fact Star City isn't just a mini Hollywood, it also boasts a host of shops, bars, clubs, restaurants, coffee shops and other little useful nic-nacks, although a few more cash till machines wouldn't go a miss. the only other quibble is its...

Sonatine 14.09.2000 · Read review
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Review of Birmingham Star City Complex

This city of stars sure lights the sky up

Advantages: Big, bright, attractive, lots to do
Disadvantages: not exactly cheap

...Star City is an entertainment complex located in Englands second city, Birmingham. It features cinemas, restaurants, shopping, bowling, a recent casino, and other odds and ends at different times of year, eg fair rides. Opened: July 2000 Location: Birmingham, north. Easy to reach from the M6 motorway, well signposted. Includes: I think best if i list these, and then review them. so... cinema restaurants casino shops bowling pool entertainment clubs free carparking! My experience: Star city is one of those urban entertainment complexes, which is big and bright. I mean it, you can spot it a distance away because of all the lights. it is probably a better place to go in the evening rather than the daytime, as its busier. Its very easy to reach by car, just of the M6. Buses go there frequently from the city...

jamesbt 08.12.2005 · Read review
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Review of Birmingham Star City Complex