Colmore Business District is one of the most sought-after places to base a company in Birmingham. Often described as “the commercial heart of the city” it is home to a plethora of leading offices, professional services, hospitality venues, shops, bars and restaurants. The area is a Business Improvement District or BID that aims to deliver a range of projects and services to the city. It plays host to more than 500 companies, employs approximately 35,000 people and includes around 5.6 million square feet of office space. Big-name employers include Amey, Axa Healthcare, Capita, Ernst & Young, KPMG, Price Water Coopers, Wesleyan and many more.
A host of listed buildings
Colmore Row is arguably the most well-known street in the district. It is the home of the Grand Hotel, St Philip’s Cathedral, the Great Western Arcade, Colmore Gate and Snow Hill railway station. In total, Colmore Row has 23 listed buildings and is regarded as the city’s most prestigious business address. Another big draw is the Colmore Building, home to 310,000 square feet of office space arranged over 12 upper floors as well as a ground floor and mezzanine. The building is home to a gymnasium, coffee house, beauty treatment rooms and more.
Pedestrian-friendly
The area is set to benefit from a £1.2 million redevelopment programme to make it more pedestrian-friendly. The “shared space” pedestrianisation scheme is being led by the Colmore Business Improvement District (BID) team and will see the Newhall Street to New Market Street section transformed. There are plans to widen the pavements to make the environment more open and to blend the area with Church Street, which has already undergone semi-pedestrianisation. New seating and lighting will be installed to encourage workers, shoppers and tourists to spend more time in the area.
Seventy-One Cornwall Street has also undergone refurbishment to create more leisure space. The plans are part of the ‘Outstanding Places’ objective, a scheme designed to maintain and enhance the physical aspects of the area. Investment is being made to create a more walkable, sustainable and high-quality city centre and it’s exciting to see how the Colmore Business District is developing to become the heart of this.
Eat and drink in style
The district is also known for its variety of high-end bars and restaurants, including Adam’s Restaurant, Purnell’s, Gusto, The Alchemist, Bubble Lounge and The Bureau and Utopia to name a few. There’s certainly no shortage of watering holes to keep the business community happy.
Well connected
The area is well served by public transport with Snowhill Station in the heart of the district and New Street Station just a minute walk away, commuters and visitors have direct rail routes to local and national destinations. The tram and bus stops allow convenient travel from the district to other areas of the city too.
Get in touch
Of course, such a prestigious address as the Colmore Business District needs a prestigious office to go with it and at Flow Office, that’s what we do best. If you are planning to set up an office in Birmingham’s elegant Colmore Business District or need advice from expert Birmingham office designers, send an email to sales@flowoffice.co.uk or call 01922 453 488. We would be happy to discuss your plans in more detail.