Major investment aims to link education and city hospitality sector
University College Birmingham has purchased the hotel at the Cube in a deal reported at around £15 million, the first phase of a wider hospitality redevelopment that will see new food and drink venues at the university’s campuses and in Harborne.
The move is being presented as both a commercial expansion and a training resource for students studying hospitality, culinary arts, business and events management. The university says the project will result in more than 150 hospitality jobs alongside paid work placements, apprenticeships and other student opportunities.
"We've wanted a hotel for a long time at University College Birmingham, so it came at the right time… It will be fabulous for our students to learn in," the university's commercial director said.
What will change across the university's estate
This purchase is the opening phase of a broader programme. Plans include:
- a new restaurant in Harborne;
- a cafe, restaurant and bar at the university's Summer Row campus;
- a refurbishment of the existing Restaurant at the Birmingham College of Food.
Major refurbishment work at the Cube site is expected in the coming months. The university has said further details — including firm opening dates and full recruitment information — will be released later in the year. Recruitment is already under way, with an emphasis on attracting experienced hospitality professionals and former students.
Local context and likely effects
For Birmingham, the redevelopment carries a number of practical consequences. It strengthens the link between higher education and the city's hospitality industry at a time when businesses continue to compete for skilled staff. Students will be able to gain experience across a range of real-world hospitality settings — from conference and events management to neighbourhood dining and fine dining kitchens — intended to improve their employability on graduation.
The university frames the expansion as part of sustained campus investment. It says the latest project builds on more than £300 million already spent on its facilities over the past five years. For the local workforce, the advertised 150-plus roles, apprenticeships and placements could provide a welcome boost in entry-level and skilled positions in the city centre.
| Element | Planned outcome |
|---|---|
| Cube hotel purchase | Conversion into a university-run training hotel and commercial venue |
| Job creation | More than 150 hospitality roles plus apprenticeships |
| Campus developments | New Harborne restaurant; Summer Row cafe/restaurant/bar; refurbishment of College of Food Restaurant |
City partners and employers will watch closely for details about how the venues are staffed and run. The university says the intention is to provide varied training experiences so graduates have been tested in both large hotel operations and smaller community-facing restaurants. That approach is pitched at helping students move directly into a range of hospitality jobs on completion of their studies.
Although the university has emphasised the educational benefits, the project also adds to the supply of hospitality capacity in central Birmingham — a factor that councillors and business groups may consider when assessing the impact on nearby venues and employment patterns. Final timings and the full scale of activity will become clearer once the university publishes its detailed plans later this year.
