A new bar terrace is the centrepiece of a major £6 million refurbishment of Birmingham’s Hyatt Regency Hotel.

The new bar, styled on a traditional tavern, includes a terrace onto Bridge Street and forms part of plans to encourage more city residents into the hotel.

It is the first major investment since the Hyatt Hotels Corporation – the company which first opened the hotel – bought it out of administration in 2012 for about £27 million.

The £6 million investment will see the entire hotel refurbished in line with a new theme focused on Birmingham’s history as “the city of a thousand trades”.

Mario Flanagan, general manager of the Hyatt Regency Birmingham, said: “The bar is a really exciting part of our plans for the hotel.

“It is not just going to be a place to drink, it will tell the story of Birmingham.

“The concept will be like a tavern. People love to be in a pub which brings back memories, and we are aiming to bring back elements from the past with a modern twist.

“We are also bringing a fire place back into the bar area, with art reflecting the West Midlands and ceramics, which the region is known around the world for.

Artist impression of the new bar, styled on a traditional tavern at the Hyatt Regency Hotel
Artist impression of the new bar, styled on a traditional tavern at the Hyatt Regency Hotel

“The main change, which is subject to planning, is a bar terrace looking over Bridge Street.

“It will be nicely heated, with a retractable roof – a lovely atmosphere to have cognac, cocktails or a cigar.”

Work has already started on the refurbishment programme, which will also see all 319 rooms suites and the hotel’s eight conference rooms and ballroom improved.

A number of local suppliers have been appointed to support the refurbishment, including Kidderminster-based Brintons which has supplied 860 square metres of carpet to the hotel.

Already floors five to 20 have been completed, and subject to planning permission being secured the entire scheme will be completed by August.

Mr Flanagan said he expects to secure planning permission for the terrace this week.

He added: “We have changed the concept of the entire hotel, focused around telling the story of Birmingham. We are reflecting the Lunarmen, the city of a thousand trades – everything about Birmingham.

“There are artworks from local artists throughout the hotel reflecting this.”

He continued: “The focus is on through traffic. We want to bring the city of Birmingham back into the hotel.

“Hotels traditionally always created barriers, but we are focusing on bringing people in and showing they don’t have to come from the hotel.

“It is also putting something modern and classy onto Broad Street.”

Artists impression on the new Hyatt terrace tavern

The former owner of the 24-storey venue, Hyatt Regency Birmingham, owned by Gulsham Bhatia and her son Asif, collapsed in 2011 after failing to make loan repayments to Barclays.

Hyatt Hotels stepped in a year later, and Mr Flanagan said it was a major boost for Birmingham that the brand had thrown its weight behind the city.

He said he has noticed an upturn in trade for the hotel since he started eight months ago, and is on course for one of its best years on record in Birmingham.

He added: “Hyatt made a commitment to the city of Birmingham 25 years ago.

“Since then, the Hyatt sold off its shares to a separate entity, and in 2011 that entity went into administration, and subsequently Hyatt stepped in and bought the hotel.

“Hyatt has made a significant investment in purchasing the building, and now this refurbishment.

“For an international company like Hyatt to make that leap is quite significant for Birmingham.”