This is a relatively new addition in a former office block on St Philip's Square (front rooms get a view of the Cathedral). Location wise, it's around five minutes from New St or Snow Hill stations and very central. It's as close as you get to a leafy spot in central Birmingham.
The reception is stripped down, with self check-in and an assistant to help. Breakfast and dinner are provided in the adjacent Beefeater (named "Bar & Block").
The rooms are pretty standard, but quite well soundproofed, and I didn't suffer from external noise or that from other rooms. Free wifi was perfectly adequate for email and messaging. The beds are very comfortable, though neither the 'soft' or standard 'hard' pillows quite do it for me.
The problem for sleeping, however, was the noise of the heating/cooling unit fan - an irritating whine which meant I had to turn it off to go to sleep and then awoke at 4am too warm. There was also a peculiar, intermittent watery noise, which I presume was someone flushing or washing elsewhere in the building, though it may have been the air-conditioning.
Breakfast was ok, a fairly standard buffet, though Europeans would bemoan the lack of cheese and cold meats. I returned from getting a second cup of coffee to find the waitress clearing away the toast I had just buttered, although she apologised and offered to get me another.
So, ok for the price (£118 including breakfast on a weeknight) but not outstanding value given the imperfect sleep. read more