The Birmingham hotel with new 1920s American-style revamp
GREAT STATE The Birmingham hotel with new 1920s American-style revamp
HILTON Metropole is a great base if exploring the city of Birmingham, being right next to the major exhibition centres.
Read on to find out how to book your room.
2
Here is everything you need to know about the rooms and restaurant
Credit: Supplied
Where is the Hilton Metropole hotel?
Right on the edge of Birmingham's NEC site and new Resorts World Complex, there's plenty to offer inside and outside the hotel.
But equally, it feels secluded, nestled in the Midlands countryside with a huge lake outside.
An ideal venue conveniently off the M4 and a 12-minute walk from Birmingham's international rail station makes movement very easy, whether that's simply seeing nearby attractions or if you want to explore the Midlands.
What is the hotel like?
This sprawling hotel has 795 rooms, a spa, convention facilities, a restaurant and great bars.
Read more hotel reviews
SUITE DEAL Andaz Hotel review
Hilton has refitted this 1970s hotel with a sleek American 1920s feel.
This new renovation provides light, bright rooms with neutral finishings with an additional bonus of huge beds in the King rooms.
What are the rooms like?
Deluxe rooms start at £103 and there are several packages with bed and breakfast and pool access.
If you stay in an executive room you can access the special lounge serving breakfast, free pre-dinner drinks and canapes for a special weekend away.
However, if you are a member you can sometimes get exclusive rates.
What is there to eat and drink there?
The in-house Brightsmith on the Water restaurant and bar has a great array of meals and incredible hand-crafted cocktails, as well as a lovely terrace for summer drinks.
There are two other restaurants on site but if you fancy a simpler fare, venture on a short walk to the Resorts World chain eateries.
What is there to do at the hotel?
Although situated in the bustling city of Birmingham, you can unwind at the PURE spa with discounted treatments on offer, or keep up your fitness at the LivingWell Health Club with the 24-hour fitness centre, sauna, steam room, and pool.
Is the hotel family-friendly?
Yes. Rooms that sleep four, and it offers a Kidz Come First babysitting service if you want a night out without your little ones.
Is there access for guests with disabilities?
Yes, but specific requirements for certain disabilities require checking with the hotel.
Looking for a place to stay? For more hotel inspiration click here.
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Irish Daily Mirror
16 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
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Our first stop was Bodegas Isidro Milagro in Alfaro, La Rioja - one of Spain's top 10 wineries, producing over 40 million litres of wine a year. This family-run operation sends around three million bottles a year to Lidl, including customer favourites like Cepa Lebrel Rioja Crianza (€8.29) and Cepa Lebrel Reserva Rioja (€8.99). Bodegas Isidro Milagro in Alfaro, La Rioja Here, winemaking follows the strict "rules of Rioja", from the grape varieties allowed, to the exact time a wine must spend ageing before it can wear one of those little coloured Rioja labels you see on the back of the bottle. Green, red, purple or dark blue - they're easy to miss, but they tell you a lot about what's inside. The vineyard at Bodegas Isidro Milagro in Alfaro, La Rioja Joven (young) wines spend little or no time in oak, keeping them bright and fruit-driven. Crianza wines age for at least two years, with a minimum of one in oak, adding gentle spice and structure. Reserva wines are matured for at least three years, with one in oak, developing deeper, more complex flavours that can stand up to rich dishes. And at the top, Gran Reserva wines are aged for at least five years, two in oak, resulting in layered, elegant bottles made for slow, indulgent sipping. Tasting session at Bodegas Isidro Milagro At Isidro Milagro, that ageing is split evenly between French and American oak barrels - French bringing subtle, spicy notes and American adding sweeter vanilla tones. It's a balance that Irish drinkers, who tend to favour fruitier styles, love. Lidl's team sometimes turns up for unannounced visits, but the winery takes it in its stride. "We're a working winery - it doesn't matter", a manager told me with a grin. Vineyard tour at Bodegas Isidro Milagro in Alfaro, La Rioja - one of Spain's top 10 wineries Later that day, we headed to Bodega Garcia Carrion in Labastida, Rioja Alavesa - a fifth-generation family-owned business that works closely with 40,000 farmers on long-term contracts. They're one of the biggest players in a region that boasts 6,000 wineries, and their Antano Rioja Crianza (€8.49) is one of Lidl's best sellers. Bodega Garcia Carrion in Labastida, Rioja Alavesa - their Antano Rioja Crianza (€8.49) is one of Lidl's best sellers Admiring the stunning views at Bodega Garcia Carrion They said September to November is the best time to see the winery in full swing. Even outside that window, quality control is relentless. Every bottle is photographed during production, and if a label is even slightly crooked, the entire bottle is rejected. The attention to detail is meticulous, but it's how they keep quality consistent across the millions of bottles they produce each year. Touring Bodega Garcia Carrion in Labastida, Rioja Alavesa Touring Bodega Garcia Carrion in Labastida, Rioja Alavesa The next morning, we crossed from Rioja into Ribera del Duero to visit Bodega Felix Solis, one of the largest family-owned wineries in Spain. Built in 2002, its modern Pagos del Rey facility partners with 450 family vineyards. We crossed from Rioja into Ribera del Duero to visit Bodega Felix Solis The cellar here feels more like a chapel. Barrels are stored horizontally to keep corks wet, while classical music drifts through the air - the wines "rest" to the sound of opera. There's even a statue of Ariadne, a figure from Greek mythology, watching over the rows of oak. Felix Solis produces some of Lidl's most highly rated wines, including the 93-point Hachon Ribera del Duero Crianza (€10.99). That score comes from Richard Bampfield himself - a Master of Wine, one of the wine world's most prestigious titles - who tastes and grades every Lidl Wine Cellar bottle alongside two fellow Masters. They use the internationally recognised 100-point system. Anything over 90 is considered outstanding for its category, which is how a €10.99 bottle can genuinely hold its own against wines several times the price. Bodega Felix Solis produces some of Lidl's most highly rated wines, including the 93-point Hachon Ribera del Duero Crianza (€10.99). If you imagine Lidl's wine buying process as a boardroom full of tasting glasses, you wouldn't be wrong - but Richard admits he prefers not to meet suppliers first. "I'd rather judge it for myself", he told me. For the average Lidl customer, technical talk about tannins or malolactic fermentation isn't the point. These wines are chosen because they're versatile - as happy beside a steak as they are with Friday-night pizza. Fruity styles often win out, and Lidl's competitively priced Reserva offers great quality without the premium price tag, making it an excellent choice for savvy shoppers. Enjoying a curated wine tasting with Richard Bampfield at Castilla Termal Monasterio de Valbuena hotel Rioja is famous for its reds, but Lidl also sources great-value Navarra rose. Richard says it's underrated, and not just for its flavour. "One of the reasons rose is so popular is it looks good in the glass", he smiled. Try Hacienda Uvanis Garnacha (€8.99) with one ice cube or a few frozen strawberries His summer serving trick? A glass of Quarzose Tempranillo Garnacha (€8.99) or Hacienda Uvanis Garnacha (€8.99) with one ice cube or a few frozen strawberries bobbing about. Quarzose Tempranillo Garnacha costs €8.99 in Lidl Ireland may not be known for our vineyards (our soggy summers see to that), but we're fiercely loyal to Spanish wines. Lidl's success here is built on finding wines that over-deliver for their price, whether that's a €8.99 Rioja or a €10.99 Ribera del Duero. Behind every bottle are hundreds of decisions: where to source the grapes, how long to age the wine and whether to use French or American oak - which, by the way, can cost between €400 and €1,000 per barrel! The incredible Hotel Marques de Riscal hotel, which combines the most deeply rooted winemaking tradition with an avant-garde design, luxury and the most advanced technology of the 21st century. For all the stainless steel tanks and automated bottling lines, this is still a people-driven industry. Lidl works with multi-generational winemaking families, some stretching back five generations. In Rioja alone, tens of thousands of farmers, vineyard workers and cellar hands keep the tradition alive. They're the ones walking the vineyards in late summer and tasting grapes to decide the perfect harvest day. 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Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
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The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- The Irish Sun
The Birmingham hotel with new 1920s American-style revamp
Read on to find out what extra luxuries are offered in the renovated hotel rooms GREAT STATE The Birmingham hotel with new 1920s American-style revamp HILTON Metropole is a great base if exploring the city of Birmingham, being right next to the major exhibition centres. Read on to find out how to book your room. 2 Here is everything you need to know about the rooms and restaurant Credit: Supplied Where is the Hilton Metropole hotel? Right on the edge of Birmingham's NEC site and new Resorts World Complex, there's plenty to offer inside and outside the hotel. But equally, it feels secluded, nestled in the Midlands countryside with a huge lake outside. An ideal venue conveniently off the M4 and a 12-minute walk from Birmingham's international rail station makes movement very easy, whether that's simply seeing nearby attractions or if you want to explore the Midlands. What is the hotel like? This sprawling hotel has 795 rooms, a spa, convention facilities, a restaurant and great bars. Read more hotel reviews SUITE DEAL Andaz Hotel review Hilton has refitted this 1970s hotel with a sleek American 1920s feel. This new renovation provides light, bright rooms with neutral finishings with an additional bonus of huge beds in the King rooms. What are the rooms like? Deluxe rooms start at £103 and there are several packages with bed and breakfast and pool access. If you stay in an executive room you can access the special lounge serving breakfast, free pre-dinner drinks and canapes for a special weekend away. However, if you are a member you can sometimes get exclusive rates. What is there to eat and drink there? The in-house Brightsmith on the Water restaurant and bar has a great array of meals and incredible hand-crafted cocktails, as well as a lovely terrace for summer drinks. There are two other restaurants on site but if you fancy a simpler fare, venture on a short walk to the Resorts World chain eateries. What is there to do at the hotel? Although situated in the bustling city of Birmingham, you can unwind at the PURE spa with discounted treatments on offer, or keep up your fitness at the LivingWell Health Club with the 24-hour fitness centre, sauna, steam room, and pool. Is the hotel family-friendly? Yes. Rooms that sleep four, and it offers a Kidz Come First babysitting service if you want a night out without your little ones. Is there access for guests with disabilities? Yes, but specific requirements for certain disabilities require checking with the hotel. Looking for a place to stay? For more hotel inspiration click here.
