University College Birmingham (UCB) has announced the acquisition of the former The Cube Hotel and Marco Pierre White restaurant as the first stage of a major investment programme that will deliver three new hospitality venues across Birmingham, creating more than 150 jobs, while providing world-class training opportunities for hospitality students
The £15 million investment programme also includes the opening of a new neighbourhood restaurant in Harborne, a new café, restaurant and bar at UCB’s Summer Row campus, and a full refurbishment of the existing Restaurant at Birmingham College of Food
University College Birmingham has announced the acquisition of two venues within Birmingham’s The Cube, marking the beginning of a significant investment programme designed to create exceptional learning environments for the next generation of culinary and hospitality professionals.
The Birmingham College of Food, part of University College Birmingham, will take over the former The Cube Hotel and Marco Pierre White restaurant, transforming the iconic rooftop site with panoramic views across Birmingham and beyond into a new 52-bedroom hotel and restaurant spanning the 23rd, 24th and 25th floors of The Cube.
The venue will operate as a commercial business while supporting students from UCB’s well-established hotel, hospitality, culinary arts, business and events management programmes by providing invaluable hands-on experience in a live hospitality environment. Drawing on the University’s extensive expertise, the venue will offer high-quality food and services that represent excellent value, with menus and customer experiences developed and delivered by industry professionals. This commercial model will enable students to gain practical, real-world skills while contributing to a high-quality visitor experience.
The acquisition forms the first stage of a wider programme that will see UCB expand its portfolio of commercial hospitality venues across the city, making initial investments of over £15 million. Alongside the new hotel and restaurant, UCB will open a new neighbourhood restaurant in Harborne and a new restaurant and bar at its Summer Row campus, located in the heart of Birmingham city centre. The existing Restaurant at Birmingham College of Food will also undergo a full refurbishment as part of the investment programme.
Collectively, the new venues will create more than 150 hospitality jobs for people across Birmingham and beyond while providing students with paid employment, apprenticeships, placements and practical learning opportunities alongside experienced hospitality professionals. Students from Birmingham College of Food will gain invaluable real-world experience across a diverse range of commercial hospitality settings as part of their studies.
The investment follows the successful launch of a culinary school in Chelmsley Wood, which offers free training for adults and young people, aiming to give an introduction to working in hospitality or refresh existing skills to get them back into work.
The new programme represents the first phase of UCB’s ambition to establish additional hospitality venues across Birmingham, giving students an even broader range of environments in which to develop their skills and prepare for successful careers. The University is proud to be making such a significant investment in Birmingham and in the hospitality sector, at a time when the industry is facing significant challenges. Recruitment is already underway for hospitality professionals to lead each venue, with a particular focus on welcoming University College Birmingham alumni back to help train the next generation of industry talent.
The Birmingham College of Food, as part of University College Birmingham, is recognised as one of the UK’s leading providers of culinary and hospitality education. Its on-site restaurant has welcomed diners since the 1960s, making it one of Birmingham’s oldest and longest-running restaurants, while its graduates have gone on to enjoy successful careers throughout the hospitality industry, including many Michelin-starred chefs.
Professor Michael Harkin, Vice-Chancellor and Principal at University College Birmingham, said: “This acquisition marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for University College Birmingham and demonstrates our continued commitment to investing in exceptional learning environments for our students. Over the past five years, we have invested more than £300 million across our campuses, Birmingham city centre and the surrounding communities, and this latest programme represents another significant step forward.
“By creating a collection of high-quality hospitality venues across the city, we are giving our students access to real-world, commercial environments where they can develop the skills, confidence and experience that employers are looking for. At the same time, we are strengthening Birmingham’s hospitality sector when it is facing significant challenges by creating new jobs, attracting talented professionals and supporting the city’s reputation as a leading destination for hospitality, tourism and culinary excellence. This is an investment not only in our students, but in the future of Birmingham.”
David Cumberlidge, Commercial Director, added: “These acquisitions create an incredible opportunity for our students to learn and work alongside experienced hospitality professionals in a range of exciting commercial settings. University College Birmingham has an outstanding heritage, the College of Food, part of our Business School, has trained many Michelin-starred chefs as well as countless hospitality leaders who have gone on to successful careers in Birmingham, the UK and around the world. We’re proud that these new venues will also provide opportunities for many of our alumni to return to UCB, bringing their expertise back into the classroom and workplace to inspire and develop the next generation. There is no better place in the UK to study hospitality, where students benefit from industry-leading facilities, paid work opportunities and an exceptional practical learning experience that prepares them for long-term commercial success.”
University College Birmingham provides further and higher education, sixth-form provision, apprenticeships and university courses to more than 10,000 students from Birmingham, the wider region, across the UK and internationally. Its curriculum and skills training span a wide range of disciplines, including Nursing and Health, Business and Finance, Tourism and Hospitality, Computing, Cyber Security, Creative Studies (taking in hair, beauty, theatrical make-up and prosthetics) Digital and IT, Psychology and Social Work, Education, Sustainable Construction and Engineering, and Sport. These programmes are delivered through three academic schools: the Business School, the School of Health, Life Sciences and Education, and the School of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment.
Further updates will be announced in due course. Major redevelopment and upgrade works are taking place over the next three-four months and, as the new venues progress towards completion and opening dates, recruitment information will be published.
For the full list of courses, or to find out more, visit: https://www.ucb.ac.uk/