Resorts World Birmingham with Children: Review

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Last week, we were invited to attend Resorts World Birmingham for a preview of their Very Hungry Caterpillar themed soft play and children’s menu.

Resorts World Birmingham

Before being invited to this event, I had no idea that Resorts World Birmingham even existed. It is quite literally a shopper’s dream. It is located on the same site as the NEC, a short walk from both Birmingham International train station and Birmingham airport with plenty of parking spaces available. There is an 11 screen cinema and 50 outlet stores, all of which sell goods from fantastic brands at prices of up to 50 % off.

There are also brand named restaurants such as Nandos, TGI Fridays and Pizza Express, along with a sports bar, cocktail bar, high end restaurants and the World Bar offering over 40 craft beers. For people wanting to make a real experience of their shopping trip, there is a four and five star hotel and a spa with pool, gym, salt caves and beauty treatments.

For children

Shopping with young children is never a particularly relaxing experience. I love the fact that there is so much to entertain them at Resorts World. It would be very easy to go shopping as a family, safe in the knowledge that the children wouldn’t even have to set foot in a shop if they didn’t want to.

Very Hungry Caterpillar Soft Play

This is a very small soft play area for children aged five and under. It isn’t the sort of soft play where you would find slides and ball pits, I would say it is more reminiscent of a toddler area in an average soft play. Whilst my girls had a great time playing it for 15 minutes, it wouldn’t keep them entertained for hours.

Children’s Menu in the World Bar

I love the concept of the World Bar, providing a selection of craft beers. I think part of the reason it appeals to me is that our local is a craft beer pub, so it’s like transporting a local pub to a big shopping centre. They also do pretty great cider so I was happy.

The food in the World Bar is very much pub grub, the gourmet menus are found in the more high end restaurants. The World Bar food is perfect for grabbing a pie and a pint to break up a shopping trip.

When we arrived, the girls were given a copy of the children’s menu and a pack of crayons. The menu is really bright and colourful and there is a blank picture of the very hungry caterpillar for them to colour in.

The menu itself was relatively basic but nicely presented, offering pizza, pasta and a burger, along with ice cream or waffles for pudding. The prices are reasonable with a main for £4, a pudding for £1 or a set menu with a drink for £5 or £6 depending on your choice of drink.

Both of my girls decided they wanted a burger and chips, so they had the big bite beef burger and fries. The portions were a really good size for a children’s menu and there was plenty for them to eat. They both struggled a bit with the beef itself and my husband tried it and said that the beef was a bit dry and tough. I think if we went again they’d go for one of the other options on the menu.

The cinema

After lunch, we decided to treat the children to a trip to the cinema to watch a film. There was a great selection of new releases available, and in the afternoon numerous children’s films were showing. We settled on Norm of the North and enjoyed a relaxing hour in the big, plush cinema seats taking in the movie.

My thoughts on Resorts World Birmingham

I will definitely be heading back to Resorts World Birmingham both with and without the children. Next time we go as a family, I will leave my husband and children in the cinema while I hit the shops. We can then meet up again for lunch before my husband has some shopping time. While he’s shopping, the children and I can spend some time in the soft play and have a look around the shops they are interested in.

If ever I get the chance to go to Resorts World Birmingham without the children, I will be taking full advantage. I’d book myself into the hotel and spend a day shopping, maybe taking in a film. I’d then relax in the spa before going out for the evening for dinner and drinks. I’d be making the most of the gym and spa again the following morning and finishing off some final bits of shopping.

I’m delighted to have discovered Resorts World Birmingham and I can’t quite believe I hadn’t heard of it before. I will certainly be a regular visitor from now on!

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