Pictured above: Cool for kids - enjoying Staying Cool's
penthouse apartment at The Rotunda in Birmingham are (from left)
David Richards (5), Jasmine Skipp (10), and Amber Skipp
(12)
Five-star city breaks for families with young children have been
launched at one of Birmingham's most iconic buildings by leading
independent serviced apartment operator Staying Cool.
Cool for Kids offers families the perfect luxury breaks in
stylish accommodation on the top two floors of the city's landmark
20-storey Rotunda building.
Not only will guests stay in some of the coolest apartments in
the city, children under eight get a dressing-up box chock full of
goodies to play with during their stay, colouring paper and pens to
keep them busy and a personalised keepsake.
Staying Cool managing director Tracey Stephenson said more young
families than ever were booking the luxurious apartments, which are
named after cars made at nearby Longbridge, because of the
incredible flexibility they offer.
"We weren't aiming at the family audience when we opened," she
explained, "but we have been quite astounded by the number of
bookings by families with young children.
"It makes absolute sense, of course. There is more room than a
hotel room, so the children are able to play as usual and there is
a fully-equipped kitchen where you can prepare snacks or a meal and
warm milk whenever you need to. You don't even have to do the
washing-up!
"You can also put the children to bed in their room, crack open
a bottle of wine and relax on the balcony, which overlooks the
fabulous cityscape of Birmingham.
"Staying in our serviced apartments offers families a
home-from-home environment and all the flexibility they need,
certainly much more than if they were in a hotel."
Staying Cool's Rotunda apartments, which feature in the
Frommer's Guide to England With Your Family, are conveniently
located in the heart of the city centre, with the Bullring shopping
centre right on its doorstep and New Street and Moor Street
railways stations just a short walk away.
The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, ThinkTank and Millennium
Point, the Sealife Centre, National Indoor Arena, Town Hall and
Symphony Hall are all close by, while cinema lovers can see the
latest movies at several theatres in the city centre.
Families booking the Staying Cool apartments, which feature
stunning en-suite bedrooms and luxurious Poggenpohl kitchens with
Baby Gaggia espresso makers, can take advantage of free cots;
washer dryers; a selection of games, as well as an Apple Mac
computer and free wi-fi.
"With all the facilities in the apartment and everything else
that Birmingham has to offer, it is no wonder that Staying Cool is
seeing a rise in inquiries from families who want to combine an
exciting city break with a stunning, central location," says
Tracey.
The instantly recognisable building, which has been part of the
cityscape since the 1960s, was refurbished by multi-award winning
developers Urban Splash and Glenn Howells Architects.
In March 2011, Staying Cool was awarded Birmingham's first
five-star accommodation rating for its one and two-bedroom
apartments and penthouse suites, which are located on the top two
floors of the Rotunda.
The apartments radiate from the natural curve of the building.
Each has a wall of floor to ceiling glass with fully opening French
windows, which offer some incredible views of Birmingham from 200ft
high.
All feature high-specification furniture, with specially
commissioned stylish sofas by British furniture team, Naught One,
while furniture designer Lou Rota has produced bespoke versions of
her Polymorph chair.
Staying Cool's reception and concierge service - which it runs
with Urban Splash - can help families by organising theatre and
cinema tickets, as well as advising on what to see and do, which
means guests can make the most of every minute of their stay.
Apartments cost from £99 up to £500 per night for
the penthouses on special occasions such as Valentine's Day and New
Year's Eve.