We used to visit Resorts World Birmingham quite a lot. The mix of shops, food and live music made it a great all round venue. About five years ago they reduced the retail offering and replaced a number of shops with a bowling alley. It shifted the balance more towards leisure. Now it feels centred on restaurants, cinema, VR and bowling rather than shopping.
We were back this week as our daughter was attending a Raye gig. While she was at the show, we made the most of it. We grabbed something to eat at Five Guys and, as Cineworld Unlimited members, enjoyed a fairly inexpensive night at the cinema. This is less a formal review and more a collection of general thoughts on our latest visit.
Resorts World
It is easy for us to get to, living around 18 miles away. We know the NEC layout well enough to avoid any parking issues and headed straight into the Resorts World multi storey.
Inside the leisure area, there were still a few shops open until about 7pm, and there is certainly no shortage of restaurants. The issue is how busy it gets. Without a reservation, you can face a long wait. Interestingly, several restaurants now display signs advising you not to attempt to walk in without a booking. That feels different from how it used to be, when reservations were not always possible at peak times. Perhaps that has changed.
We had planned to eat at Las Iguanas as Cineworld Unlimited members receive 25% off there, which is a decent perk. Unfortunately the timing of an available table did not work for us and we would have missed our film, so we had to rethink.
Later in the evening, while waiting for our daughter, we encountered a security guard who was genuinely excellent. She was proactive, approachable and clearly focused on helping visitors, offering advice and keeping an eye on things. It made a positive difference.
One point to note is that the mobile signal was not great with EE. However, there is free WiFi to use, and you sign up using a company called Purple.
Five Guys
When we first arrived the queue looked like a nightmare. However, the branch was impressively efficient. Orders were taken and processed quickly and by the time we joined the queue it had reduced significantly.
The member of staff on the till was friendly and helpful. We ordered two bacon cheeseburgers, large fries and two drinks. The food was very good. The burgers were excellent, freshly made and exactly what you expect from Five Guys. The only drawback is the cost. At £42 it is not a cheap meal for what it is as take out.
Cineworld
We are regulars at Cineworld and usually use our Unlimited cards at the Rugby branch. At Resorts World we just paid the small uplift fee and settled in for the film. Interestingly, while this branch is more modern than Rugby, it is not necessarily a better overall experience. The screen and sound quality are noticeably superior, but I actually find the older seats in Rugby more comfortable.
As ever, the service was very good. Staff were polite and efficient, which is consistent with our usual Cineworld experiences. We also managed to pick some merch up as they have a sale at present.
Overall
We had a good evening at Resorts World. The ability to validate parking down to £2 when visiting the cinema is also a real benefit and saved us a lot of money. As Cineworld Unlimited members there are genuine opportunities to save money across the complex, particularly with the restaurant discount of 25% off at Las Iguanas, had we managed to get in.
The only real negative was the exit from the car park. It took nearly 50 minutes to leave the multi storey, which slightly prolonged the end of the night.
Aside from that, it was an enjoyable visit and a reminder that while Resorts World has evolved, it can still deliver a decent experience.
