Hudsons Coffee House, Birmingham

Oh dear - it appears poor old Hudsons is no more! I've been to Colmore Row twice recently and everything's been shut up, with only a dying pot plant in the window. I sent the management an email but never got a reply....

What a shame.

If it wasn't for the clumsy reception by the young, (seemingly inexperienced) girl, I would've given this place a 3 star. Good coffee and freshly made scones. Lovely. Most likely one of my new coffee haunts?!

Lovely little place & great atmosphere, i half expected a guy with a cane in a top hat to come out and start tap dancing at any minute... lol

The staff were lovely, around 6:30pm on saturday we asked what time they closed whilst myself, my girlfriend and 2 friends had been in there for some time already, they told us 5:30, but that they just didnt want to distrurb us as we were having a nice time, lovely people :)

I'd definitely recommend this palce if you like at least decent tea/food (nothing too special really), but really like a place with some class to relax and enjoy yourself in, as they really couldn't care less if you're in tatty jeans or a suit, they'll treat you like royalty regardless, very nice :)

I had afternoon tea at Hudson's and was not impressed by my experience. The presentation was ordinary - not at all as special as I would have liked for afternoon tea. My expectations were too high: I thought my tea would come on a proper afternoon tea stand. No such luck. That was the one area in which I might have forgiven a more bit of style over substance.

This coffee house itself has lots of style and charm and the service was attentive and prompt, but the food left me cold. I note that one reviewer describes the food as "excellent". I know it's a matter of opinion but talk about different standards!

I was given a plain, old tea pot and cup (which wasn't actually the problem: the blend of tea, however, was) and a plate of sandwiches with salad and crisps on the side.

They basically took no care with their food.

The sandwiches were not made from premium wholemeal bread. It was the cheap kind of loaf I used to buy when I had no money as a student. The smoked salmon filling was so unevenly distributed between the slices of bread that in one part it was falling over the edges while in another part it was stretched to breaking point. I didn't understand that. And I thought it was a bit lazy not to cut off the crusts if you're talking about a premium offering.

Good quality sandwiches don't need crisps and a side salad. I'd rather have satisfying sandwiches than a sad salad afterthought to accompany bad bread.

Anyway, they gave me a wedge of lemon but no dressing for the salad. When I asked for some dressing, I was told that no-one had ever asked for salad dressing before. Nevertheless, the waiter brought me something that looked like liquid sandwich pickle in a mild brown sauce. Obviously, he called it salad dressing. It didn't taste too offensive.

That part of my afternoon tea was poor. However, it really was "a game of two halves" because the clotted cream and jam scone that followed was terrific. The clotted cream portion was generous. The scone itself was heavenly - light, fruity and not too sweet. Baked to perfection. Still, I thought the presentation let them down. I thought it would have been better to decant the jam/preserve into a nice little serving ramekin or something - not give me one of those mini-jars. Even though it was a fine quality "Tiptree" preserve, I'd rather not have known the brand.

I've had afternoon tea loads of times before (including going to Fauchon and La Duree in Paris) and my favourite has been at the Llansantffraed Court Hotel, Abergavvenny. A fabulous indulgent treat. So, Hudson's had a lot to live up to. And they didn't do it.

Maybe I've been a bit harsh on them, but I don't see how they justify their prices. They're no better than Marks and Spencer who offer afternoon tea for about £8 for two people. I paid approximately the same amount for a weak Hudson's effort for one person.

I reckon it's expensive to trade from their location, so there must be a huge mark up on their prices. The food is substandard for the money they're charging. I wish I'd eaten at the museum instead. It looked like good, honest fare.

For a place that's trying to sell itself as "gourmet" their afternoon tea was anything but.

This place is an ideal getaway from the hustle and bustle of Brum city centre.

Lovely large pots of proper tea, with a club sandwich to die for, all served by polite, professional waiting staff.

Can't wait to go back again - shame they are shut on Sundays though!

a very genteel place to enjoy a good quality sandwich and pot of tea in between shopping or before a matinee at the rep. good choice of sandwiches although sadly not as extensive as it once was. service is excellent and the ambience is relaxed and yes a bit old fashioned - but there's nothing wrong with that as far as I'm concerned!

I love this little place to relax in town and have a sit-down after all that shopping. Gorgeous tea selection, with proper tealeaves and strainers - the jasmine tea is divine! It’s not so expensive if you consider that you get a whole pot of tea (not just a cup), and the atmosphere, and compare that to what you get in starbucks for the same money. Don’t get me wrong - I like starbucks, but sometimes you just need a proper relax and some beautiful tea.

My husband and I stumbled upon this place on a cold day out in Birmingham. We really loved it! Very atmospheric - high ceilings, quiet, polite and unobtrusive service, nice fresh food. I’m pregnant and cutting down on caffeine and they served me the nicest decaffinated tea I have had for five months! That perhaps sounds like faint praise, but believe me, most decaff tea tastes like mud so I could have wept when I tasted this! I don’t mind the Costa Coffees and Starbucks of this world but it is really nice to have something with a bit of character. It was also pleasingly uncrowded compared to Starbucks where the punters practically had their faces squashed up against the windows!I don’t think Hudson’s is a chain and I’m all for supporting local places in difficult times so please support this place if you are passing by.

Overall I think Hudson is really expensive for what it is. After all they are pretty much serving tea, coffee and sandwiches but I find it hard to get out of here without having spent a tenner on lunch! The sandwiches are nice and fresh though. It is lovely to have an old fashioned coffee house and I think they have found a great setting here on Colmore Row. They used to have a much more extensive deli but I think the last time I was in there, they had scaled it down a bit. I find the chairs quite uncomfortable - it’s not a place to lounge around and relax!

Stepping into Hudson's is like stepping back in time to the genteel '20s.

I don't know of anywhere else in or around the city centre that serves such a great range of real coffee in individual cafetieres, or camomile tea, complete with camomile flowers, in a teapot-for-one. It's waiter service at your table too, which means you have the luxury of sitting back and taking in the beautiful interior decor - from the gorgeous high, domed ceiling to the wood-block printed theatrical posters from the Hippodrome's early years.

If you like cool, clean, modern lines and mocha-lotta-choca-latte's, it's not the place for you but if you're craving a quiet, slow-paced and calming cuppa - go to Hudson's.

Not bad but a bit stuff - seems like it is a bit stuck in the 80's. friendly enough but not really where I'd want to go for lunch

Hudson's is located on colmore row, in the heart of birmingham city centre is a family run business, which means you'll always going to get very quality personal service. The food is excellent too and the waiters are only too quick to help if you're unhappy about anything, even if its the type of spoon that you like to use. Highly recommended.