I can’t believe this AC Hotel Birmingham post is my 15^th hotel review, it still doesn’t feel real even after 4 years in the game. Even now, I squeal with excitement every time I get invited to luxury superior suites for review purposes.

I mean, it really is a little bit crazy that I get to do this for a hobby. Excitement and enthusiasm aside for a moment, there’s now a running joke that I make my boyfriend stand in the corner (out of shot) while I’m taking photographs of the hotel rooms. It’s like that scene out of the Blair Witch Project where they’re made to face the wall. I wish I was joking when I say this is perfectly true…

After receiving  an email at the end of July inviting me to the brand new AC Hotel public launch, I was promised drinks, food, entertainment and a tour of the venue. During the event I was shown around one of the rooms and I fell in love with interior, the service and the ambience straight away. There’s a feeling of calm that I’ve never felt in another hotel before, meaning they’re definitely doing something right. As hotels are becoming a big thing in Birmingham now, it seems most new builds are fighting for both the best location and the reputation to entice people into their luxury rooms. The AC hotel especially, is perfectly located within the Mailbox, offering a fantastic base for shoppers, tourists and the business trips alike.

I can now officially say that the AC Hotel Birmingham is one of the best hotels I’ve ever experienced in Birmingham. I found it hard to pick faults at the staff service, rooms, comfort, food and drinks as they were all at a very high standard. My boyfriend also agrees which is a bonus! The hotel offers stylish accommodation, a perfect retreat for a hotel bang in the centre of the bustling Mailbox area and is parked right in front of the luxury restaurants and shops. AC Hotel Birmingham also sports its own Starbucks on the ground floor – perfectly ideal if you need to run out for a business meeting or if you want to nestle down with a hot coffee and slump on their sofas while reading the newspapers. The world really is your oyster while here. You’re also well equipped for easy access to Brindley Place and the train station. What’s more, they recently got in touch with me to say they offer the blogging community free tea or coffee when using the AC Lounge as a place to work from, available Monday – Friday 10am – 5pm What more could you ask for, really?

Canal View Bedrooms

Rooms are designed for the professional working busy-body and are fuss free, meaning all 90 rooms are provided with only the essentials you could possibly need for the perfect sleepover. Not to mention, they all face outwards overlooking the canal and restaurants. The air-conned spaces are luxurious and simplistic, and we were told upon arrival that everything in the room has carefully been considered and strategically placed to cater towards our guest stay. This included a Nespresso coffee machine, a stocked mini bar with Pepsi, chocolate, water and beer to consume at our leisure. Our room would have cost £139 on the night.

After Josh began drinking all of the beer, it was time to test out the hypno Queen sized beds with crisp white sheets that allow you to melt in the duvet. Looking back I slept like a log that night. I didn’t realise before, but the sofa also converts into a bed which is handy for sitting on to overlook the canal. There’s something about the spacious surroundings that made us feel at ease and considering the bedside tables also provide plugs and USB sockets, this meant no faffing at night when trying to charge your phones in bed! We’ve actually stolen this idea and are incorporating this function in our new house. So no more messing around in the dark while looking for phone juice!

The rooms also provide a large flat-screen TV with Sky Sports (something my boyfriend wouldn’t stop ogling over and I physically had to pull him away to go and grab food). The free Wi-Fi is ridiculously fast and most of all, we loved the spacious amenity of a working desk. I am so grateful for the wonderful goody bag full of personalised notebooks, pens, USB sticks and keyrings which was kindly left in my room.

The bathroom

If there’s anything that makes me rate a hotel highly, it’s being provided with a fluffy white gown and slippers. Trivial but so true! It’s always the first thing I look for when turning on the bathroom light. I was aching that day for some reason and I was a little sad not to see a bathtub anywhere in sight, but this didn’t prevent me from trialling the shower and the complimentary hotel shower products. The rooms are bright, airy and have asymmetric posters on the walls. The rooms are certainly modern, but still withhold a luxury vibe throughout the rooms.

After a decent hot shower and snuggling into the comfy robes for a while, we headed out for some local grub and then dived straight into the bar for some drinks. I’m not a huge whisky drinker but I opted for a ‘strong and silky’ Buffalo Trace Bourbon Manhattan. Cocktails are all reasonably priced at £7.95, and the bar further offers a range of spirits, wines and beers. Management kindly left 2 free drinks vouchers for me to use, and by 9pm on a Friday night, there were still people ordering room service, drinks at the bar and we even saw a couple order food to the lounge while playing games of chess by candlelight. Customer satisfaction is something AC Hotels clearly thrives for and owing to the fantastic bar service and chilled ambience alone, I would definitely love to go back to try more of their cocktails.

Breakfast at AC Hotel

After a fantastic night sleep, we headed down for breakfast at 7AM as Josh had work that day – I definitely should have stayed and snuggled in bed! A selection of hot food (bacon, eggs, sausages and more) were provided as well as an array of pastries, juices and cereal to help yourself to at your own leisure. The breakfast room is the same as the lobby that we drank in the night before and I was happy to see the tables were beautifully set with white coffee cups, plates and glasses provided for drinks.

I would like to say a huge thank you to the wonderful staff at AC Hotels for making myself and my boyfriend feel welcome during our stay. I really enjoy the personal touches of a handwritten letter and a bottle of champers while walking into the room – it made my night so much more enjoyable. I rate this hotel very highly and would definitely push for anyone who is visiting Birmingham and looking for a hotel to look into this one – you won’t leave disappointed. What do you think of this hotel, would you like to visit here?

The Mailbox, 160, Wharfside St, Birmingham B1 1RL

AC Hotels Birmingham gifted me a complimentary one night stay with breakfast and drinks vouchers. Rooms are available from £132 per night. Room packages and members offers are also available. For more info, click the AC Hotels Birmingham site.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
– This competition is open to all UK residents
– You must be over the age of 18 to enter.
– The prize must be redeemed before 31st March 2017.
-Competition closes on October 2nd 2016 and winner will be contacted on the day. 
– Prize is for 2 people
– Booking of superior room is subject to availability and bookable via AC Hotel Manager.