This Christmas, why not take your office's festive party to the next level and hire out a huge, Grade-II listed, architectural marvel? Highbury Hall is the former residential mansion of Joseph Chamberlain, once Birmingham's city mayor, and is available to rent for parties and events.
Though it's close to town, the stunning, surrounding landscaped gardens give it a countryside look, so it feels like going on holiday just for the day or night. Your guests won't believe their eyes as they walk up to the sprawling, terracotta-toned facade, a sign of the opulence to come inside.
In the hall, there are several rooms you can rent depending on the size of your party. For all-company affairs, check out the Main Hall which is a double-height room, complete with balcony and glass ceiling. Stand-out features include the grand staircases leading out of the space and the huge chandelier, glittering overhead. If envisioning an evening of canapes and drinks, this is a great space for socialising, or speak to the team about fitting it with banquetting tables.
Or, for sit-down dinners, the Drawing Room is perfect and benefits from natural light in the day, and plenty of atmosphere come evening. With a rich colour palette, it has a regal vibe which works beautifully for the most festive time of year. And, finally, for much smaller groups, the Breakfast Room holds one central dining table, which is lovely for an intimate supper.
Catering is provided in-house and the experienced catering team offers every option you can think of from buffets and canapes to sit down, three-course meals. While the menus may change at Christmas, you can generally expect elevated, British crowd pleasers like roast sirloin of beef with Yorkshire puddings and Shiraz reduction.