University College Birmingham (UCB) has acquired the former The Cube Hotel and Marco Pierre White restaurant as part of a £15m hospitality investment programme.
The purchase is the first stage of a major expansion that will see the university develop three new hospitality venues across Birmingham, creating more than 150 jobs while providing students with paid employment, apprenticeships, placements and practical learning opportunities alongside experienced hospitality professionals.
The investment programme also includes a new neighbourhood restaurant in Harborne and a new restaurant and bar at UCB’s Summer Row campus in Birmingham city centre. The existing Restaurant at Birmingham College of Food will also undergo a full refurbishment as part of the investment.
Under the plans, Birmingham College of Food, part of UCB, will relaunch the property as a new 52-bedroom hotel and restaurant across the 23rd-25th floors of The Cube.
The venue will operate as a commercial business, offering food and hospitality services developed and delivered by industry professionals, while supporting students from UCB’s hotel, hospitality, culinary arts, business and events management programmes.
Professor Michael Harkin, vice-chancellor and principal at UCB, commented: “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 £300m 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.”
The Cube Hotel announced its closure last month, two years after the property fell into administration.
In February, Boutique Hotelier reported that the Cube Hotel reduced its asking price by nearly £5m, a year and a half after the property was first brought to market.
The Cube Hotel fell into administration in July 2024 and was listed for sale at a guide price of £12m the following month.
In February, Knight Frank was appointed to sell the property on behalf of joint administrators Richard Easterby and Nick Simmonds of Quantuma Advisory Ltd, at a heavily reduced price of £7.2m.
