Mailbox Birmingham — Local services in Birmingham

A couple it years ago, i.e. before Covid, I wrote here:

'A weekday lunchtime. Up the front escalator and then my immediate impression was 'Ah, there are some people here'.

'Most of them were sitting on the chairs in the centre of the space, eating theirs lunch out of their lunchboxes. Movement was provided by people like me, walking through to go up the next escalator and then out the back. The shops were as usual, very quiet or wholly deserted.

'Up the second escalators some of the catering business had closed down. So back down to the bottom floor, which is now optimistically called 'Home', indicating furnishings, appliances etc. The public space was almost deserted, some shops devoid of customers, some units void.

'All very clean but hard not to feel that the Mailbox is failing, still. Something that few really wanted has become less of a destination than a short cut'

...

Since then there has been Covid. It has been announced that the ground floor is to become offices and the spave is already closed off. Harvey Nichols maintains a semblance of life at the end of the first floor but around half the shops up there on a midweek afternoon were either not open or gone. Newcomer Medicine is about as good an English snack shop as you will find anywhere, certainly in the West Midlands, and promises well for a livelier future, but it will require real destinations around it if the Mailbox is ever really to take off.

Good luck to all of them. Self-consciously 'quality' shopping malls in the centre of Birmingham have had a dismal history in modern times, slipping inexorably down market from their opening aspirations to their sad ends. The Mailbox's strategy of 'Reculer pour mieux sauter' might just work....

I have always loved the mailbox complex ever since it opened. A great selection of shops but most of all I love the bars and restaurants inside and out the back by the canal is beautiful. My friends and I loved sitting outside with food and drinks on warm summer evenings. Most favourite place is bar estillo. Great snacks food and drinks too. Lovely cosey place to meet friends for a quick bite to start off one's night. There is a cafe rouge and zizi chain restaurant around the back of building by the canal and they are great to eat. Also a lovely pizza express by the canal. Penny blacks bar is a trendy place to meet and drink though I have not visited a long time.. The mailbox is a slightly more upmarket place in Birmingham for food and drinks. I personally love the area and a bridge walk that leads to brindley place. It is cool and safer than going out on to broad Street or other places. The drinks are more expensive which reflects the brands and nice places to shop and visit. Around the back you can access The CUbe building which is great. It has a great bar on top floor with brilliant views and a few restaurants and eateries you ...

A touch of Class and sophistication in its own little ecosystem in the centre of the city. I guess that kind of sums up the Mailbox. At the fore front of the building you are tempted in by shops such as Harvey Nichols so you know its the place to be. Not cheap but nice. As you move in there are apartments on the top of the building., keep moving on through the modern building and there are more shops...

Keep on going and once your shopped out you start to find restaurants and bars. They are all great quality restaurants and can cater for almost any type of cuisine you want. Now step out the back of the building and you are hit by the lovely view of the Canals of Birmingham all renovated and a variety of more restaurants and bars overlooking the canal.

Its a real touch of class and is a perfect place to visit to do some pricey shopping but to have a lovely meal. Perfect in the summer to sit outside but also great in the winter months to snuggle up in one of the many restaurants and while away an afternoon of shopping and eating. Carry on into the evening for more drinks, music and some great night life. Why...