'The Cube is coming back to life' - Mayor delighted as college unveils major hospitality plan for city

The Mayor of the West Midlands has welcomed news that UCB has acquired the former The Cube Hotel and Marco Pierre White restaurant as the first stage of a major investment programme.

University College Birmingham said it hopes the acquisition 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 the Summer Row campus, and a full refurbishment of the existing restaurant at Birmingham College of Food.

The acquisition of two venues within Birmingham's The Cube marks the beginning of a significant investment programme designed to create exceptional learning environments for the next generation of culinary and hospitality professionals.

Part of the University's Business School, the Birmingham College of Food 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 next three to four months will see a programme of major redevelopment and upgrade works get underway.

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.

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said of the news: "The Cube is coming back to life, and it's bringing 150 jobs with it. University College Birmingham have chosen to back the city - and our young people at the same time - with this incredible investment.

"That's over 150 new jobs. There are real apprenticeships behind that number too, proper training, not just a few weeks of work experience. Students will train in a live hotel and restaurant, serving actual guests, learning the trade under real pressure with a paying customer in front of them.

"This is what skills investment should look like. Young people learning to run a kitchen, manage a front desk, deliver an event. That's how you build a career in hospitality, and it's one of the best routes into work in this city for people who didn't take the traditional path.

"Hospitality is one of Birmingham's biggest employers. A trained workforce is also what keeps our city centre thriving after dark. Backing skills like this, in a building at the heart of Birmingham, is how we keep growing both.”

The Birmingham College of Food, part of University College Birmingham, is 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, and 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 UCB, 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.