The Cube

The Cube is an instantly recognizable addition to the Birmingham skyline. It is located right next to the Mailbox and is filled with some great newcomers to the already thriving Brum restaurant scene. This whole space screams modern with a capital M. Contemporary artwork pieces around the building add to its overall wow factor and impact, making it one of the most memorable buildings in the city centre.
The restaurants you can find here are currently Shogun Teppan-​yaki, Marco Pierre White’s, Rodizio Rico and its latest addition to the Cube family Bun&Bowl. It feels like this is just the beginning for the Cube, I expect to see more and more restaurants and bars popping up all over the development in the months to come… with so much to offer here how can they resist!

So… The Cube… it’s a weird one to review as it’s a centre with venues within it, rather than being a restaurant or a bar. It’s fast becoming a landmark of Birmingham (along with the Selfridges building, Bully the Bull, the Library and the Council House/​BMAG).
It’s an imposing structure which regularly produces a «Marmite» reaction. I personally, love the weird cross design that you can see from miles around but understand the view of traditionalists too. I’m not going to lie, it reminds me of spaceships (it’s a little Borg).
It currently houses «The Club and Spa» (encompassing a champagne bar, spa, climbing wall and a café/​bar), Rodizio Rico (Brazillian BBQ resturant), Adee Phelan Hairdressers, Hotel Indigo, a Teppanyki restaurant, Marco Pierre White’s restaurant, offices and residential. There may be more… but it’s all spread across quite a few floors (so it’s hard to keep track).
None of the venue’s in here are cheap and cheerful places. If you’re looking for a spot to take the parents, for a nice date or a special occasion; this is a good place to start. I have heard great things about the views from Marco Pierre White’s restaurant at the top of the Cube, the service and food at Rodizio Rico and the services at the Spa; but not a lot else.
The inside of the Cube houses weird «heart headed» human sculptures. I’m not their biggest fan (I find them phenomenally creepy), but they are a talking point and add to the crazy design inside.
I think this place will be a grower on me. A lot of new venues are opening up this year, so watch this space. Hopefully having a wider range of services inside The Cube will create more of an atmosphere of bustle day and night.

I am writing this review from a residence perspective for people considering to live in the cube or buy there.
pros Bar on top gym below, city centre perfect location. very modern fitting etc.
cons.
no concierge service so if you have to buy stuff off Amazon guess what you can’t get it unless you are actually home. For most of us who have a job it’s impossible.
no parking for guests
parking for residents is automated so a nightmare when you have to bring in shopping as guess what you can’t walk it from your car to the door as there is a separate entrance and you have to walk the ridiculous journey of going through the atrium down an escalator to get to your apartment
also entrance buzzers have not worked since we moved in another pain as anyone who visits you needs to be let in or will have to just walk in after someone. very safe
because of the amount of metal in the building mobile reception is greatly hindered as well.
also moving in is through a common loading bay for which was also another pain
perhaps the architect should have considered practicality and functionality before thinking of aesthetics. After all if you live in the building you are more concerned about convenience rather than how good it looks.
which it does.

This impressive architectural structure dominates the Birmingham skyline, in what really is a remarkable build.
Located directly next to the Mailbox, my first visit coincided with a friends 21^st, as we looked to head up to Marco Pierre Whites’ Steakhouse, for a few drinks with a view.
Despite its obvious class and elegance, in association with the Mailbox, not one of us knew how to get up to MPW’s and had to ask several people for assistance before being directed correctly.
Standing out as a particularly modern design, the way in which MPW’s stood head and shoulders above the rest of the city, at the top of The Cube was nothing short of sensational.
The views from the top were magnificent and definitely worth a visit, even if only to witness the breathtaking views.

As a city centre girl, I use to spend many a sunny afternoon sat outside of Bar Room Bar which is in the Mailbox Complex. That was until, the Cube development was built. What use to be a complete sun trap looking out onto the Mailbox canal is now covered by the huge ‘sun-​blocking’ cube building.
That aside, I went in the Cube a couple of weeks ago for a meeting on the top floor restaurant. Ruining my afternoon sunbathing aside it was very impressive, at least on the top floor.
The centre of the building looks quite bare and doesn’t really office much. There are a few offices, a luxury spa/​gym, the Adee Phelan Hair salon and the rest of the building has been dedicated to apartments.
A colleague of mine has purchased one of these and although it does have great views of the city (it’s on the 3^rd floor from the top) it is pretty small and doesn’t come with a balcony so in the summer heat it’s like a sauna!
I’ll review the top floor restaurant separately as it’s definitely worth sampling.

This building has to be one of the most peculiar places to appear in the Birmingham landscape over the last year. Inside, there are statues of people with hearts instead of heads. Some sitting on benches, others standing and others flying. I really like the touch this brings to the building, as it makes visitors uncover and search for the strange creations. You won’t have trouble finding The Cube either. It’s right next to The Mailbox and stands out above most of the city, mainly because it is covered in peculiar square patterns.
A lot of the places inside aren’t yet open, but it’s pretty obvious from looking around the rest of the building that prices for hair cuts, for example, will be extortionate. At the top of The Cube, there is a restaurant that was opened by Michael Pierre White. Again, the whole place is very expensive looking, and dining inside would probably only be suitable for people who can afford to spend money freely. But the design and layout is great to explore, and the balcony that looks over the entire city would be perfect for romantic couples. So take your other half up there, even if you haven’t got enough money to buy her a meal!
The Cube is also a hotel, and has amazing looking, large apartments. The whole building is just great to have a look around, but It’s probably best to treat The Cube as a piece of art rather than a place to spend your cash.

When The Cube was just a concrete foundation, back to some years ago, I was already curious about its impressive architecture. Some years later– and already open for visiting– this iconic building still impresses me, but in another way.
Despite all advertising and investment done, it seems a dead space during the day.
It’s a purposed place not just to «transform Birmingham’s skyline», as advertised, but also to attract a very selective clientele that certainly approves businesses such as Marco Pierre White’s top-​roof restaurant, the Brazilian steakhouse Rodízio Rico, the luxury Hotel Indigo, The Club and Spa, among other fine shops.
The Cube is also residence and an office building.
I’m not expecting to find (now or in the future) some popular chain cafes or/​and shops there, but even when I visit (once and then) the stunning pieces of artwork «The Lovely People», made by the graffiti artiste Temper, it was still really impressive how quiet and empty The Cube is.
As a promised to be the new landmark of Birmingham, this wonderful construction planned by famous English Ken Shuttleworth, will shine. No doubts about it, and even if I can’t think about plashing out some pounds (yet) at Marco Pierre White’s restaurant, there is always a chance of checking the building-​from inside and outside. The Temper’s artwork is a must and it is spread at the atrium !