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

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BACKGROUND

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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.

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