rajnag's Qype profile

After years of visiting the AMC this cinema was like stepping into a timewarp. It's so badly in need of a refurb it's a joke.
The floors are infamously sticky and the screens smell as old as they look. A third of the seats in one of the screens were 'out of use' i.e. knackered beyond all repair.
Some cinemas are now showing films with digital projectors and in 3D. This cinema will be lucky if it gets a projector that doesn't require a series of hamsters running in wheels on a pulley system to spin the reel!

This place used to amazing, the downstairs was a retro gaming haven with some really rare old machines on display and working arcades you could play for free. Unfortunately after they were bought out by Game that was all chucked out in favour for a dozen 360s demoing games.
It's quite large so has a good selection of games, and for the high street it's probably got the best prices without going online.
The trade-in section sometimes has some bargains but I wouldn't recommend trading if your own games, you're better off selling them online on ebay.

A word of warning, this Ibis can be a real pain to find because it's location can confuse some sat navs.
Once you get there it's all standard Ibis fare, pretty average but clean room.
The staff are usually pretty accommodating if you have any problems.
This hotel isn't the best location if you're trying to get into the city centre, but it's close to London Road which can get you to all the major motorways.

I came here on my stag on a Saturday (I think?) and have nothing but good memories. I'd never seen so many stag and hen do's in one place before, and the novelty of having a girl standing on a bar pouring drinks from a bottle into your mouth can't be beat!

This is my favourite cinema in Birmingham. It's large, relatively cheap and clean. If you've ever been to the Odeon on New St you'll understand, it seems like a cinema in a Third World country compared to the AMC!
There's free secure underground parking for 3 hours which is great if you fancy going for a bite to eat before the film or a drink afterwards in one of the nearby restaurants and bars.
One of the best things about the screens themselves are the seats, they're massive! For couples you can lift the arms up too so you can cuddle up. By contrast, the Odeon charges more for the 'premium' seats which are the same thing, except there's a huge gap between each seat so if you could fall between the gap.
Doesn't show many smaller indie films like the Cineworld but it does the job well.

This hotel is situated opposite the massive looming Etap hotel which is generally much cheaper and has a lot more room available, so it baffles me why anyone would look to stay here.

Well it's certainly a lot quieter, it's not full of revellers out on the lash like the Etap so if you're looking for a it of peace of quiet this might be more up your street. The rooms are a step up from the Etap with a larger TV and larger ensuite room.

The layout of the hotel is a bit odd, reception is a separate building to the accommodation so you have to go outside to get to it from your room, not ideal in the winter. It sort of resembles a holiday camp or something.

It also means your room door doesn't lead to a corridor but to the elements so make sure you keep the heating up and the curtains closed, it can get a bit chilly and privacy can be compromised!

The rooms and bed are adequate, they do the job but are nothing special. In fact I've found in the past some of the fitments like table lamps have got bulbs blown, something that should have been checked. The rooms are generally very clean.
There's a barrier to get your car in and out of the secure car park so your car will be safe, and it's free (unlike the Etap).

I love the chance to go see a film at the IMAX. Unfortunately a lot of films only have a few select scenes that are shot in the IMAX format and make full use of the screen e.g. Dark Knight, or only a few scenes that use 3D e.g. the start of HP & the Half Blood Prince.
However this year promises to change that since Avatar has been released which was designed to be shot entirely in IMAX 3D, and wow, what a difference it makes!
My advice is to book way in advance as screenings of films are limited and fill up fast. Getting there early is a must, I got there 30min before my screening of Avatar and the queue was unbelievable. The best seats are close to the back in the centre so you'll want to rush to get those (it's first come first served).
One important note, if you do suffer from motion sickness, vertigo, migraines etc, do consider taking some medication with you because the 3D effect on such a large scale can become disorientating for some. It's also the last place you want to get a headache/migraine as the screen envelopes your peripheral vision and the surround sound is LOUD.
Expensive for watching a film, but you get what you pay for.

I came here with my wife by accident when we were driving around trying to find a different pub. It's hidden away up a little lane surrounded by fields so the location is very picturesque.
After entering the restaurant area we loitered around for 5 minutes or so until a waitress asked if we were here to eat.
There was quite a variety in the menu, ranging from pizzas, currys and seafood on the blackboards, as well as the supplied menu.
The starters were generous and we enjoyed them, but the mains was a different story. We waited what seemed like an eternity for our mains, during which time we saw some terrible service being given to other customers.
An elderly gentleman who'd clearly had enough of waiting had gone to the bar to complain to the manager (who I might add had been pouring and knocking back a fair few lagers in a small glass) who didn't take kindly to his criticism. He told him where to stick his comments and to pay and get out. Up until this point I'd considered complaining myself but I thought better after this!
Eventually our mains arrived, and it wasn't so much that they didn't taste good, but rather didn't taste of anything at all. The veg tasted like it had been cooked for an hour and was soft and floppy. Seasoning was apparently a foreign concept.
We asked to see the dessert menu in an attempt to salvage the evening, which took 20min to arrive, from the table 2m to my left I discovered.
Incredibly the ice-cream we ordered (for £4) was as bland as the rest of the meal.
To avoid being abused by the manager we paid the bill and left sharpish.
Apparently this place used to be quite nice, it's not at the moment anyway.