Going to Shirley/Solihull: Places to go, hotels, parking etc
Discussion
Hoping to meet up with a close girl friend of mine & obviously treat her a little when i go up come the last week of June.
Anyway! Interested in places we can go, a decent hotel thats nice & safe for (hopefully a Chimaera) parking. I'm not keen on paying the earth for a room as i only want to stay there the weekend & am not fussed about facilities there as i'll only be there come the evening/morning, obviously out the rest of the day.
Anyway, any thoughts & suggestions are much appreciated
Oh & it's worth bearing in mind, I have never been North of Cambridge. Never been up that way before so i have 0 idea what it's like "oop Norf" despite it being only the Midlands :|
Anyway! Interested in places we can go, a decent hotel thats nice & safe for (hopefully a Chimaera) parking. I'm not keen on paying the earth for a room as i only want to stay there the weekend & am not fussed about facilities there as i'll only be there come the evening/morning, obviously out the rest of the day.
Anyway, any thoughts & suggestions are much appreciated
Oh & it's worth bearing in mind, I have never been North of Cambridge. Never been up that way before so i have 0 idea what it's like "oop Norf" despite it being only the Midlands :|
Edited by ironictwist on Saturday 31st May 16:15
I've used the Solihull Holiday Inn a few times with my Z4M. The car park is right by the reception and although £5 to use it(!) is barrier controlled in/out. Some rooms overlook the car park too. The Police station is also about 2-300yds away. Shirley is about 5mls away, one junction on the M42.
I spent 9 months in Shirley for work and I stayed at the Renaissance hotel in Solihull- I wouldn't advise it- it is basically a cruddy old hotel with a Renaissance badge but I wasn't paying so didn't really care it was a utter rip off. Otherwise I'm afraid the only advice I can give you is to spend as little time as possible there and never go back.
hunt_the_fox said:
I spent 9 months in Shirley for work and I stayed at the Renaissance hotel in Solihull- I wouldn't advise it- it is basically a cruddy old hotel with a Renaissance badge but I wasn't paying so didn't really care it was a utter rip off. Otherwise I'm afraid the only advice I can give you is to spend as little time as possible there and never go back.
I have been there one or twice, found it an embarrassement. I suppose each town/city has its good and bad hotels.You would be better off staying with a fellow local PH'er!!
Many thanks for the ideas gents.
In terms of budget for a hotel, ideally around 30-50 quid per night. I could be tempted to spend a bit more, but wouldn't really want to, the main selling point for the hotel for me is whether the Chim can be safely tucked away there without fear of anything happening to it. So emphasis is on parking facilities more than the quality of room however backwards that sounds
I know we were planning to go shopping, most likely at the Bullring, but is there an equivalent that isn't far away that allows us to take a few nice B Roads in while in the Chim? Because although the Bullring will have pretty much every shop, our meeting is rather "secret" & we wouldn't wanna be caught out by some friends/family of hers
Alongside finding an alternative place to shop, are there any places/attractions that are worth going to for a day out that aren't in the area but easy to reach & allow us to be back come evening? Example, any good resort towns near by? Beaches etc? Having lived on the south coast all my life I expect there to be a beach near wherever i am
In terms of budget for a hotel, ideally around 30-50 quid per night. I could be tempted to spend a bit more, but wouldn't really want to, the main selling point for the hotel for me is whether the Chim can be safely tucked away there without fear of anything happening to it. So emphasis is on parking facilities more than the quality of room however backwards that sounds
I know we were planning to go shopping, most likely at the Bullring, but is there an equivalent that isn't far away that allows us to take a few nice B Roads in while in the Chim? Because although the Bullring will have pretty much every shop, our meeting is rather "secret" & we wouldn't wanna be caught out by some friends/family of hers
Alongside finding an alternative place to shop, are there any places/attractions that are worth going to for a day out that aren't in the area but easy to reach & allow us to be back come evening? Example, any good resort towns near by? Beaches etc? Having lived on the south coast all my life I expect there to be a beach near wherever i am
Edited by ironictwist on Sunday 1st June 14:27
Good point, had forgotten about the NEC. However, having just checked there website, doesn't appear to be anything major on, unless "The Wiggles" can be considered major?
Regarding hotels, well, for a Premiere Inn room for around that date, it's a shade over £50 quid a night which is fine. But honestly, my experience of hotels & room costs is quite literally 0.
Regarding hotels, well, for a Premiere Inn room for around that date, it's a shade over £50 quid a night which is fine. But honestly, my experience of hotels & room costs is quite literally 0.
mybrainhurts said:
ironictwist said:
mybrainhurts said:
Shirley.....?
Not...?
Good god! Not...?
Anyway, there appears to be a Premiere Inn 2min walk from said lady friend!! Hows that for luck! So i think that almost seals it...I just hope there parking is sufficient.
Edited by ironictwist on Sunday 1st June 15:52
Shopping in Solihull at the TouchCloth Centre is pretty good if you don't want to go to the Bull Ring. Best kebab house in the world is Shirley Kebab House (Veli's) on the Stratford Road, have a doner in a naan
Brilliant Indian in Knowle called the Bilash, also Loch Fyne is very good too. Loads of nice driving and nice days out (loads of national trusty stuff, Cotswolds only an hour's drive).
Brilliant Indian in Knowle called the Bilash, also Loch Fyne is very good too. Loads of nice driving and nice days out (loads of national trusty stuff, Cotswolds only an hour's drive).
Well if you are into National Trust days out Baddesley Clinton and Packwood House are 15 mins from Shirley and worth a visit. Warwick Castle, historic Stratford.
If you are in the Chim then you should definitely take a trip down some of the lanes - Warwick Road (A4141) out to Warwick is one of my favourite roads although it's too busy these days. Old Warwick Road back up to the Stratford Road is nice, Stratford Road and then head across to Little Ulne (I think it's Little, might be Great...), so many nice roads! If you head to the Cotswolds there's some excellent driving there too with loads of nice little villages, I think Moreton Marsh is the SE corner of a nice triangual run out IIRC... (A44 / A429)
If you are in the Chim then you should definitely take a trip down some of the lanes - Warwick Road (A4141) out to Warwick is one of my favourite roads although it's too busy these days. Old Warwick Road back up to the Stratford Road is nice, Stratford Road and then head across to Little Ulne (I think it's Little, might be Great...), so many nice roads! If you head to the Cotswolds there's some excellent driving there too with loads of nice little villages, I think Moreton Marsh is the SE corner of a nice triangual run out IIRC... (A44 / A429)
Not sure about hotels to recommend you stop in, but....
We staged a conference at the Ramada Jarvis in Solihull last year, and our delegates took over around 80 rooms there. (Our client had already booked the hotel before involving us
)
Suffice to say we will not be returning there.
At least the after-dinner speaker was given oodles of material relating to the hotel.....
We staged a conference at the Ramada Jarvis in Solihull last year, and our delegates took over around 80 rooms there. (Our client had already booked the hotel before involving us
)Suffice to say we will not be returning there.
At least the after-dinner speaker was given oodles of material relating to the hotel.....
Meeja said:
Not sure about hotels to recommend you stop in, but....
We staged a conference at the Ramada Jarvis in Solihull last year, and our delegates took over around 80 rooms there. (Our client had already booked the hotel before involving us)
Suffice to say we will not be returning there.
At least the after-dinner speaker was given oodles of material relating to the hotel.....
I did spot that one when i first started looking. Will strike it off the list.We staged a conference at the Ramada Jarvis in Solihull last year, and our delegates took over around 80 rooms there. (Our client had already booked the hotel before involving us
)Suffice to say we will not be returning there.
At least the after-dinner speaker was given oodles of material relating to the hotel.....
NiceCupOfTea said:
Well if you are into National Trust days out Baddesley Clinton and Packwood House are 15 mins from Shirley and worth a visit. Warwick Castle, historic Stratford.
If you are in the Chim then you should definitely take a trip down some of the lanes - Warwick Road (A4141) out to Warwick is one of my favourite roads although it's too busy these days. Old Warwick Road back up to the Stratford Road is nice, Stratford Road and then head across to Little Ulne (I think it's Little, might be Great...), so many nice roads! If you head to the Cotswolds there's some excellent driving there too with loads of nice little villages, I think Moreton Marsh is the SE corner of a nice triangual run out IIRC... (A44 / A429)
Lovely! Baddesley Clinton looks stunning. I like the idea of going for a wander with said lady round the gardens/lake, could be a nice finish to the day.If you are in the Chim then you should definitely take a trip down some of the lanes - Warwick Road (A4141) out to Warwick is one of my favourite roads although it's too busy these days. Old Warwick Road back up to the Stratford Road is nice, Stratford Road and then head across to Little Ulne (I think it's Little, might be Great...), so many nice roads! If you head to the Cotswolds there's some excellent driving there too with loads of nice little villages, I think Moreton Marsh is the SE corner of a nice triangual run out IIRC... (A44 / A429)
Also cheers for the suggestion on roads!
Also consider a visit to the Heritage Motor Centre at Gaydon, if you can.
http://www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk/
I've been there with Mrs 75 and even she enjoyed it.
http://www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk/
I've been there with Mrs 75 and even she enjoyed it.
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