UCB Acquires Former The Cube Hotel in £15m Hospitality Education Investment Programme

University College Birmingham(UCB) has announced a £15 million hospitality investment programme beginning with the acquisition of the former The Cube Hotel and Marco Pierre Whiterestaurant in Birmingham. The venues span the 23rd, 24th and 25th floors of The Cube and are being transformed into a new 52-bedroom hotel and restaurant with panoramic views across the city. The Marco Pierre White franchise brand will be discontinued.

For students in India considering hospitality, culinary arts, tourism or business study abroad, the significance lies in how the new venue will be used. Once redevelopment is complete, it will operate as a commercial hotel and restaurant while giving UCB students opportunities to gain hands-on experience in a live hospitality environment alongside industry professionals.

The acquisition of the former The Cube Hotel and Marco Pierre White restaurant marks the first stage of UCB's wider hospitality investment programme. The site is being redeveloped into a 52-bedroom hotel and restaurant in one of Birmingham's most distinctive landmarks.

Once open, the venue will operate as a commercial business, giving students opportunities for hands-on experience in a live setting. The wider £15 million programme also includes a new neighbourhood restaurant in Harborne, a new cafe, restaurant and bar at UCB's Summer Row campus, and a full refurbishment of the existing Restaurant at Birmingham College of Food.

Together, the venues are expected to create more than 150 jobs across Birmingham, alongside paid work, placements and apprenticeship opportunities specifically for UCB students. The programme follows more than £300 million of investment by UCB over the past five years across its campuses, Birmingham city centre and the surrounding communities.

Announcing the investment, Professor Michael Harkin, Vice-Chancellor and Principal at University College Birmingham, said: “This is an investment not only in our students, but in the future of Birmingham."

He added that the goal is to give students "access to real-world, commercial environments where they can develop the skills, confidence and experience that employers are looking for" while strengthening a Birmingham hospitality sector that, like much of the industry globally, is navigating a challenging period. Kavita Shah, Country Head, UCB India Office, said,"For students, particularly those pursuing hospitality, tourism, culinary arts and business programmes, this latest addition will reinforce the university's commitment to learning through real-world experience. By creating a collection of high-quality hospitality venues across the city, we will be giving our students access to real-world, commercial environments where they can develop the skills, confidence and experience that employers are looking for."

UCB's Commercial Director, David Cumberlidge, said the acquisitions will create opportunities for students to learn and work alongside experienced hospitality professionals in a range of commercial settings. He also highlighted the opportunity for UCB alumni to return and bring their expertise into the learning and workplace environment for the next generation of students.

Students from UCB's hotel, hospitality, culinary arts, business and events management programmes will have opportunities to gain practical experience across a diverse range of commercial hospitality settings as the new venues open. UCB says the wider programme will provide opportunities for paid employment, apprenticeships, placements and practical learning alongside experienced hospitality professionals.

“What makes the course at University College Birmingham truly unique is the balance between creativity and science. The practical facilities allow students to hone their craft and creativity, while the science labs build a strong technical understanding—creating a distinctive skill set that has been invaluable throughout my career in food innovation and R&D.” – Vaishnavi Vora, Culinary Creative - Experience design and Innovation at The Magnum Ice Cream Company.

For Indian students, the question after "where do I study" is often "what happens next."UCB's dedicated careers, employability and placements service, HIRED, supports students with careers guidance, placement searches and applications, CVs ,interviews and employer engagement. As UCB's new commercial venues open, they will provide additional opportunities for paid employment, apprenticeships, placements and practical learning within the university's expanding hospitality portfolio, although individual opportunities are not guaranteed and will depend on the relevant course, role and application process.

UCB is hosting an Admissions Day in Mumbai on 4 October at Fairfield by Mariott, giving prospective students the opportunity to meet university’s international delegates and In-Country representatives, and a chance to receive on-the-spot offers and scholarships. Register here.

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