The University of Birmingham has recently acquired two prominent hospitality venues in the heart of the city, marking the beginning of a significant £15 million investment programme.
The former The Cube Hotel and Marco Pierre White restaurant, located on the 23rd, 24th, and 25th floors of The Cube, will be taken over by the Birmingham College of Food, a part of the university.
The venues will undergo redevelopment and upgrade works over the next three to four months, with reopening dates and recruitment details to be published as they progress towards completion.
Alongside the hotel and restaurant, the university plans to open a neighbourhood restaurant in Harborne and a café, restaurant, and bar at its Summer Row campus in the city centre.
The existing Restaurant at Birmingham College of Food will also undergo a full refurbishment under the same programme.
The university's £15 million investment will create over 150 new jobs, providing students on its hotel, hospitality, culinary arts, business, and events management courses with paid employment, apprenticeships, and placements.
Recruitment is currently under way for hospitality professionals to lead each venue, with a particular focus on bringing back university alumni.
The acquisition is seen as a major step forward for the university, demonstrating its commitment to investing in exceptional learning environments for its students.
At the same time, the university is strengthening Birmingham's hospitality sector, which has been facing significant challenges, by creating new jobs and attracting talented professionals.
The investment comes as the wider hospitality sector sheds staff, with almost 89,000 jobs lost since the autumn Budget, according to official employment data.
The university's investment programme is part of its ongoing efforts to support the city's reputation as a leading destination for hospitality, tourism, and culinary excellence.
David Cumberlidge, commercial director at the university, said the acquisition creates an incredible opportunity for students to learn and work alongside experienced hospitality professionals.
The university's culinary school in Chelmsley Wood also offers free training for adults and young people entering hospitality or returning to work, with the government providing an apprenticeship bursary of up to £4,500 a year for Universal Credit households.
The university teaches over 10,000 students, and the Restaurant at Birmingham College of Food has served diners since the 1960s.
Birmingham was ranked as the second most sought-after UK city outside London by companies planning to invest, with the Midlands creating 5,970 foreign direct investment jobs in 2025.
