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"I have now been working pretty close to the mailbox in Birmingham for over a year and when we recently had to move offices, we all dreaded moving away from the place. You see many people cannot see why we love it here because there is nothing but designer shops that hardly anybody can afford but people do not realise just how many bars and restaurants are there and how wonderful it is to go there on a warm day and just reflect on life. Here I will attempt to explain to you just what a great place the Mailbox really is and why it is fast becoming the place to go in Birmingham.
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What is the Mailbox?
The Mailbox is quite a new development in Birmingham city centre. It houses many designer shops selling everything from clothes to cards and then to cheese (I know it sounds strange but it is a great cheese shop). Then at the back of the mailbox is a great selection of bars and restaurants offering great views over the canal.
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How to get there:
The Mailbox is situated at the following address;
Wharfside Street
Birmingham
B1 1XL
There is car parking in the complex but this can work out expensive so I recommend going somewhere else in the city centre and then walking to the Mailbox. There is disabled access in the Mailbox.
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Appearance:
Finding the Mailbox is extremely easy indeed, you see what the people have done in the city centre is signposted it very well and then painted the building a nice bright maroon colour so it can be easily spotted. Also as you are walking to the Mailbox you may see colours on the pavement coming from lampposts (it makes sense when you see them), if you follow these colours you will be led to the Mailbox.
When you look at it you can see what an impressive building it is. It is huge with very large windows on many floors. You can see Harvey Nichols on the windows in hug letters and there are steps leading up to the entrance. Through the windows on the bottom floor you can see some nice window displays from the Emporio Armani so as you can imagine they look very nice indeed. To the right you will see Mal Maison which is a very up market brasserie and it looks very posh indeed.
As you walk through the Mailbox you can see how clean the place is. There are stairs and escalators leading to all floors so you can choose what to take. It is all painted beige and you can walk straight though the centre with all the shops on your sides. As you walk up to where the bars are it is quite good as there are pink stand up lights which kind of reminds me of an runway at the airport.
As you walk outside you will see more bars and restaurants and also the canal. At the moment they are building a stage just out here so you will be able to see some live music while having a drink which will be lovely.
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Shops:
The shops in the Mailbox are very up-market and to be honest I go in to have a browse but I never actually buy anything from them as I simply cannot afford it. Each shop is immaculate inside and because they are quite posh all of the displays are perfect and some of them are quite interesting.
For fashions you can choose from quite a few designer stores. Emporio Armani is the first one you come to and honestly some of the clothes just look amazing and you could imagine a celebrity on the catwalk wearing them. Harvey Nichols is the Mailbox's biggest shop and it spans over three floors. Lots of great fashion is available here including things like make-up for women and then sunglasses. There is also a café here which is nice and I have eaten there once and the food was lovely. Other popular well known shops include DKNY and Hugo Boss.
If you fancy a little fashion that is unique ladies then try Emma Somerset which hassome strange designs but really funky. For great work shirts you can go to Pink for me and women which always looks great inside. For shoes for everybody there are quite a few shops including my favourite to look in, Belle Scarpe.
The Mailbox does not do just fashion and you can find shops for furniture, phones and even memorabilia. For phones you can go to the massive 3 shop that is here and then if you fancy buying some DVDs or sound systems then you can go to the BBC shop or Bang and Olufsen which sells some unique looking stereos.
There is a nice shop called Aga shop which sells cool cookers but my favourite shop just because I can afford some things is Parchment which sells cards and nice diaries. Another very funky shop is Paxton and Whitfield which is the cheese shop I mentioned earlier. It sells some nice cheeses in the cheese room and also some great hampers you can give as presents. There is a small café here too and they do the nicest panini's.
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Restaurants:
The Mailbox hosts some fantastic restaurants of all types of cuisine which is useful and despite what you may think the prices are not actually that bad at all. Zizzi is a great little Italian place and when you sit in there you can watch the food being cooked as there is an open plan kitchen and then this big wooden fire. I love it here as the surroundings are relaxed and the prices are average with a pizza being around £6.
Shogun is the place to go if you like Sushi. The actual restaurant is clean and to me looks quite clinical but the food is amazing. The prices are a little above average but still affordable but I would say it is probably one of my least favourite places to eat.
Santa Fe is situated on the top of all of the restaurants so offers some fantastic views over the canal and even to the Birmingham eye. The food is slightly Mexican so is quite fun and they do lots of special menus which change so you have to keep checking what they are serving. Inside it is very funky with lots of seating for food and the prices are spot on.
My favourite place to eat in the Mailbox is bar Estillo which is a specialist in tapas dishes which I love. The prices are average and they have a great bar in there so you can get almost any drink you can think of. The surroundings are very stylish and modern and this is one of the most popular places to eat so I recommend booking up before you go.
There is though an Indian restaurant called Lazeez and the Oriental which is a Chinese / Cantonese restaurant. There are others but I have never been tot hem so I cannot recommend them as of yet.
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Bars:
There are a few bars in the restaurants so you can go to Santa Fe or bar Estillo and just enjoy some drinks there. My favourite place to go for a drink is Pennyblacks on the very bottom level. The drinks are quite expensive so don't go mad but there is a great view and the actual place is spotless and very modern looking. The staff are extremely friendly and there is some food served there so you can eat too.
Another great bar is bar room bar which is very modern with its comfortable leather seats and funky atmosphere. It is very relaxed in the week but at a weekend it gets extremely busy and you have to be quick to get a seat. I think it has a very nice feel to it and the prices are not too bad.
Bar Epernay also looks quite nice but I have never been so I cant really comment further.
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Other:
In the Mailbox it is worth noting that there are many places to get your hair cut including the expensive but worth it Nicky Clarke. There is also a huge beauty salon so you can go and get your nails done or have a facial.
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Location:
I have to say the location within the city centre is amazing because it is just a ten minute walk from the centre but yet it feels miles away. It is becoming ever so popular so you get a lot of people coming at lunch times and after work so it has a very vibrant atmosphere.
Being right by the canal which means you get some very nice views and it is also a two minute walk away from Brindley place and the symphony hall which is nice. For people traveling to Birmingham there is plenty of parking nearby and the train station is just five minutes away. All bus stops are also just a five / ten minute walk away.
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Verdict:
Well I think you have realised by now just how much I love the Mailbox because it is so new, modern and funky with such a great, relaxed atmosphere it is wonderful. I think working by it is great as it means I can just finish work and then go for a drink in an ice place and just enjoy my free time.
I have to say that although I can't afford any of the shops I still find them nice to have a walk around and I hope that one day I might be able to afford a pair of socks. I am quite happy just browsing but if you have accredit card I would not recommend coming as you run the risk of maxing it out with all the nice things you can buy.
The restaurants really do make the Mailbox what it is though as they are so popular and with the standard of food and choice available you can see why. I have never been disappointed in one which is great and I would return to all of the ones I have been to. I would rather eat here than anywhere else in Birmingham for definite.
In conclusion the Mailbox is getting a top rating from me for being the nicest place to visit in Birmingham just because of its appearance and what it has to offer. If you are in the city come and check it out because it is nice just to have a wonder around and then have a drink.
;)
