Highbury Banqueting & Conference Centre

I’ve been to Highbury a couple of times previously — as a child I was dragged round on a school trip and don’t really remember much about it except for a shameful game of rounders in the grounds after (I was always useless at rounders).
Later still I went to a brilliant play here — all Victorian melodrama and audience participation.
Anyway this weekend I was lucky enough to be invited to a wedding here and I have to say the setting, the gardens, the ambiance, the staff — everything was perfect. Things that stick out — apart from the fact I got to wear a fascinator, which was of course brilliant — the main reception room with staircase is stunning. Secondly the room where the wedding took place — with patio doors that lead out to the garden was straight out of Downton Abbey — and because it was south facing I could blame the sunlight for making my eyes stream (and not have to admit I was blubbing because it was all so lovely). Thirdly — the grounds — absolutely resplendent.
The whole event was incredibly well organised and the staff were really, really sweet.
I can’t recommend this enough really — history buffs take note — this was the family home of Birmingham MP Joseph Chamberlain MP who lived here from 1878 onwards. To find out more it’s worth popping along to one of their open days — full details can be found on the website.

I’ve been here a few times over the years. Mostly, it’s been to see their open days which are free to enter.
It’s a lovely old house that’s great to see is still intact and right on our doorstep. Whenever there are events on you get to see inside the building. There are loads of lovely rooms both downstairs and up and the main reception hall is quite a space.
When the events are on inside, you’ll find various stalls dotted round both floors and in almost all the rooms. This can make it quite tricky to squeeze round with a pushchair, and my daughter wasn’t too keen on the crowds squashing her in tighter spots.
For me the best tine to go if you want to take the whole family are the summer open days, the next one is 15^th July. You can get round both the house and gardens and there’s just more space as everyone’s not crammed into the one space at the same time-​unless it’s raining, of course!
There are refreshments available and on family special days, there are lots of activities for the kids to join in.
Check out the events calendar on the web page for details of more free family events through the year.

I don’t dine at Highbury hall everyday, but for a special treat it’s worth it.
Entering the building, you find yourself in a reception area which holds a bar.
It kind of feels like a country hotel, which is odd as your only 5mns from the Kings Heath high street!
Once it was time to dine, we were brought through into the dining room by a sort of butler type.
It was instantly obvious that we were in a stately home, with high ceilings and wall to wall decoration, it was easy to strain your neck trying to take it all in.
Seated near the bottom of the staircase I soon realised that I had been here before as a youngster when believe it or not acting as an extra in a theatrical performance.
All the evening lacked was some heir or clebrity descending from the stair case and making some great speech.
The food was good and I as dining with a chef so it was easy to find any fault.
The service was a little snooty I felt so I ordered the expensive wine to show the waiter I was a serious diner.
If I get another chance to dine at Highbury, I would take it, it was a rather special experience.