Staying Cool at the Rotunda receives Five Star rating

Staying Cool – the hip independent serviced apartment operator – has received Birmingham’s first ever five star accommodation rating for its one and two bed and penthouse apartments on the top two floors of the landmark Rotunda.

Staying Cool opened in the much loved and iconic sixties cylindrical tower in May this year to rave reviews from guests and the media alike. The apartments were quality assessed by Visit Britain on Friday and awarded five stars this week.

“It was always our intention to design and run a five star property,” said Creative Director, Paul Taylor. “It’s not so much about the five stars per se but about positioning ourselves as the very best place to stay in the city.

“Our approach is to distinguish ourselves from the mass-market and the run-of-the-mill. We are fussy about the choice of development, the interior design, the brand of coffee… everything is picked with care and attention to detail. Unlike other serviced apartment companies and most hotels, we really go to town creating a stylish and comfy home-from-home for our guests. We mix design classics, specially commissioned pieces and recycled or refurbished furniture; there is always an element of individuality in each of our apartments that we hope makes us stand out from the crowd.”

The refurbishment of the former 1960s office block was carried out by multi-award winning developers, Urban Splash, and Glenn Howells Architects.

“We had been working with Urban Splash in Manchester for several years and received the city’s first five star rating for a serviced apartment two years ago. So when we saw Splash’s plans for Rotunda it was pretty much a no brainer. Together we have created a very unique and individual place to stay,” said Marketing & Operations Director, Tracey Stephenson. “The hours of planning and preparation have paid off!”

“We had been genuinely impressed by Staying Cool’s operation at Urban Splash apartments in Manchester. We both share a passion for great design and top quality service so it made perfect sense for us to work together at The Rotunda in Birmingham,” said Nathan Cornish, managing director, Urban Splash Midlands. “We’re absolutely delighted about the five star rating.”

Rotunda is a very special development. It is much loved locally and has been an integral part of the cityscape since the sixties. The apartments radiate from the natural curve of the building. Each has a wall of floor to ceiling glass with fully opening French windows, giving great views of Birmingham some 200ft up. Lucky penthouse guests get their own, large open air balcony on the top floor.

Design wise the apartments – all named after Longbridge cars from the factory’s heyday – combine contemporary cool with swinging sixties style. Lounges feature specially commissioned stylish sofas by fab Brit furniture team, Naught One, in grey felt with bespoke coloured stitching, as well as Pierre Cardin’s colourful 1960s chairs.

Designer Lou Rota has produced Staying Cool versions of her Polymorph chair – an environmentally friendly rework of the Robin Day classic. Staying Cool also commissioned photographer Nick Smith to produce a series of sixties-inspired fashion photos that invoke the decade, to hang larger than life on the walls. Lighting is by Tom Dixon and Artemide.

As well as the kudos of staying in the reborn Rotunda – guests enjoy free wifi, an Apple computer in each apartment, a Bose iPod dock and Gaggia espresso maker with organic milk and freshly ground coffee. A range of organic breakfasts, champagne, wine and other drinks are available to order.

Staying Cool’s reception and concierge service – which it co-runs with Urban Splash – can help with theatre and cinema tickets and advise on what to see and do.

The apartments cost from £129 to £375 per night – five star quality at four star prices. Further information and bookings can be found at Stayingcool.com.