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As a Bitters'n'Twisted Loyalty card holder, I was pleased to spot and email pop into my account offering my 50% off a meal at Marmalade as part of it's pre-opening trial. As I was attending the ballet of an eve within the dates it was offered with Caroline C, we thought it would be a great way to grab some pre-theatre dinner without breaking the bank! We booked to go on a Wednesday night at 6:00pm. As soon as we were both seated, we were presented with their "pre theatre" menu (as the A La Carte starts later in the evening). The waitress helpfully explained that 50% would be taken off our whole bill (prompting an order of small glass of red and a single vodka to be doubled up immediately) and took our orders within about 10 minutes of us sitting at the table. The drinks and first course were bought out within 5 minutes! Very impressive. Clearly these guys are aware that their main audience will be theatre goers and thus don't have the time to wait around... Even more impressive was the food itself. Piping hot fresh tomato soup to start and a well presented (and generously sized) fillet of salmon with vegetables for main. It all looked great and tasted even better! The soup was incredibly tomatoey and you could taste the individual flavours (nothing processed here at all). We were in, had enjoyed two delicious courses with a drink, paid and were out within 45 minutes (as we had to get to the Hippodrome on the other side of town). Service was fantastic, food was great and the price of the pre-fix menu is actually darn reasonable (even without 50% off). Our bill came to around £22 (before tip), so would have been under £45 for two courses with a drink each. Not to be sniffed at! My main concern is whether Marmalade will be able to attract a crowd outside of theatre goers? I enjoyed our trip there so much, I took my partner along to try cocktails before catching a play at the REP. The beer wasn't cheap (£4.20 a pint), but there is happy hour available on the cocktails at certain times (as with all B&T venues). Before the show, the venue was busy - but not rammed full. Afterwards, it seemed to be very quiet. I think it will make it a lovely place to go for dinner at around 7pm/7:30pm as it will be relaxing and not too busy - even if you're not watching a play. I would recommend you go and try the newest gem in the REP's crown.
I often meet a friend who works in Brindley Place at Marmalade for a quick lunch and, despite not being very taken with the place to begin with, it is now really is growing on me. I first visited Marmalade during the soft launch week and whilst the food was good, the service was chaotic and we came away saying that we were all glad that we weren't paying full price. I gave it a miss for a long time but when my friend started working in BP, we decided to give it another go as it is pretty much equal distance for both of us. The restaurant is beautifully fitted out and does a great selection of sandwiches and light lunches for around the £8 mark (including chips, soup or salad). The menu changes regularly and the ingredients are always very fresh and feature slightly quirky flavour combinations. The sandwich I had for lunch today was roast chicken with courgette ribbons, chilli and lime dressing and candied pistachios on a lovely fresh slice of bloomer bread (sourced from local bakery Peel and Stone). The portion size was just right for lunch, and it was delicious, I didn't want it to end! The service was also great, the waiter took note of the fact that we said we had limited time and we had plenty time to walk back to our respective offices. We will definitely be back for more soon!
I visited here yesterday late afternoon with a friend for his birthday meal. I've heard such good thing about this place and decided to try it out. We came early 5.30pm as we had a theatre show at 7.30pm in the hippodrome. We expected the pre-theatre menu to be on but to our surprise this wasn't available becasue there was no show on at The REP which was understandable. So we continued with the usual menu. We were welcomed in and shown to our table. The waitress knew by now that we were off to see a show and we only had an hour or so in the restaurant before we had to skate off. This is a tight programme which demands an appropriate level of service, and attention to detail by the staff. The waitress knew about this and made sure we were served as fast as possible. She smiled, laughed with us and was very efficient. We asked the waitress for her recommendations on the food she had great knowledge of the food served and the time it takes to make as we were in a hurry. We made our selections and she left with our order. Eventually the waitress returned and took our drinks order, which was a bottle of prosecco as we were celebrating. The food was reasonably cooked, but not exceptiona as i had imagined it to be. It lacked basic salt and pepper seasoning, both of us had this problem. Indeed it was really only superior quality 'pub food.' That is not to say that the food was of poor quailty but it was simply just ordinary. i had ordered duck samosas which lacked salt, it came with dips but it wasn't enough dip and when i asked for more i was looked at with a blank expression by the second waiter. Those dip never appeared on the table. The Sea bass main came after and it was supposed to be on a bed of sweet potato but it has a more runny creamy texture to it which i didn't like at all. the fish was cooked nicely but the skin wasn't crispy. we weren't offered desserts or coffee and we were asked if we wanted the bill when we finished. I do love a cup of coffee but we decided to head off to the theatre and have one there instead. Overall the service was very good and the waitress made us feel welcomed but the food is the big let down here. Would i come back, yes i would ill give them some time to get their act together (excuse the pun) and then try the food again. I really wanted to enjoy this place but i was let down.
Have been twice, once for breakfast once for lunch. Full English was huge! Good sausage and bacon. Nice to have water on the table too. I like the look of the other options especially the french toast. Will be back to try that. Love the cool interior, lots of tiles and lights. Really chilled out for breakfast. Went back for lunch. We had a couple of cocktails to start and these were excellent. We shared chicken thighs, pigs cheek schnitzel, chips and salad. Chicken thighs were lovely! Pigs cheek was fine but was missing that certain something. Good chunky chips. Four stars due to breakfast, atmosphere and breakfast!
Marmalade is the latest venue in the Bitters'n'Twisted family (which also includes The Victoria & Bodega among others). It's located on the ground floor of the Birmingham REP Theatre, next to the foyer, with windows looking out on to Centenary Square. Following the REP's refurbishment (concurrent with the new Library of Birmingham's construction) the space was Searcys Centenary Brassiere & Bar, and more recently REPEats, which was quirkily decorated but had a limited menu. Marmalade is therefore a welcome addition, for theatregoers, visitors to the library next door, and anyone looking for an alternative to the chains which dominate Broad Street and Brindleyplace.
Some friends and I popped in to Marmalade for a quick drink and catch up yesterday. This really is a lovely little bar with two very different areas. One side of the venue has booths which are great for evening get togethers, whereas the other end is more light and airy, and great for lunch. By the time we arrived we were gasping for a cocktail and all ended up ordering Mojito's. This one of my all time favourite cocktails and the staff at Marmalade certainly know how to make them well. The drink wasn't too sweet and was refreshing. It was also a generous size. I do find the toilet situation at Marmalade a little odd. As it is located within Birmingham's REP theatre you need to leave the bar and go to the toilets in the downstairs concourse, which leads on to the central library. It does kill the 'night out' buzz a little bit. The only real negative that I have for this venue was the fact that they were not serving food at 8pm meaning that we had to leave to eat.
I'm really pleased the Biter n'Twisted guys have taken over this spot at The REP. We took advantage of the 50% off food (AND drink!) offer, so It was definitely worth while visiting. I really enjoyed my pre-theatre meal:) The menu is simple, but there is enough choice. The staff were attentive and helpful too and I felt most welcome there. The décor has definitely improved too- the coloured tiles are lovely and it just feels much warmer and more inviting in there now. I am looking forward to going back.
I'd never ventured to the old eatery at the Rep but was quite excited to hear that Bitters & Twisted had taken over, we popped in for a couple of drinks before a show a while back but I thought I'd save my review until I'd sampled the food. We arrived on Thursday evening, after the main pre-theatre rush and after a quick pint while they were getting our table ready we were seated fairly promptly. Service was spot on and we ordered a cheeky cocktail - I went for the peanut butter martini after a few recommendations from people and it didn't disappoint. Creamy and nutty without being overly sweet, the strong peanut flavour was prominent without overwhelming the entire drink. In hindsight it was probably more of a dessert cocktail but who cares! After some quite intense deliberation I decided on the slow cooked beef rib lasagne. Succulent, melt in the mouth shredded beef rib sandwiched between layers of fresh pasta and topped with a rich cheese sauce that was just the right consistency served with a red wine and beef reduction that bursted with flavour. The place looks great too, a lovely looking literary inspired interior that is classy enough but with an amount of slightly quirky charm to balance it out. As expected another great venue from B&T. Good work guys!
I spent a happy 90 minutes on the outside area, people watching and enjoying a rather nice Ale. It was pretty crowded, it was a lovely late summer afternoon and Jeremy Corbyn had a pop-up rally in centenary Square. There wasn't much evidence of champagne socialists, but there were plenty of lager and white wine ones around. Fair play to Jez, he really drew a crowd and he was a rather compelling speaker. Simple messages delivered well. There are not many orators around and he is surely one of them. Back to marmalade - the beer was rather expensive. I guess that's what you expect in a theatre bar. If it wasn't for the show going on outside I would've chosen one of the other bars nearby. I would be willing to give it another chance when I'm next at the Rep.
Marmalade is a fresh new bistro of Birmingham at The Rep Theatre, in the city centre. And don't think it's just a place to be visited before or after enjoying a show at the theatre. First time I've been to Marmalade was in a quickie visit with a friend for a nice cup of latte. From the seats we've chosen that day, I could see the staffs in the bar keeping the cocktails flowing. It pretty much made my mind to go back there and treat my husband with some rounds of drink. Marmalade is part of the Bitters 'N' Twisted venues, a selective group of successful independent bars like Bodega, The New Inn (Harborne), The Jeckyll and Hyde, The Rose Villa Tavern, Island Bar and The Village. The restaurant is a nice new adding to Broad street area because it's well located and it's serving tourists, office workers, students and of course, The visitors of The Rep and New Library of Birmingham. Just some minutes after getting a table by the enormous windows were enough to realise how Marmalade brings curiosity to people passing by. From outside and inside, the view really fulfils any expectations. Recently refurbished, Marmalade gained the retro chic décor that is really attractive. It's a spacious place, so the furniture displayed there has the important role of keeping a nice harmony of the space. And it does! But it's not just that but nice service is another great feature in Marmalade. A quick chat about cucumber water was a prediction of a really nice afternoon in this restaurant. But the importance of having cucumber water is something that would be better understood if you watch Better Call Saul anyway. So food it's. I was very curious about this menu. But sometimes it`s impossible to resist the "special of the day" deal, so we went for the special lunch deal which included a drink, a rustic sandwich and a side for only £6. It's perfect for an after work meeting or a brunch. And it was a real bargain because the quality of food at Marmalade is outstanding. Having a bagel with smoked salmon and cream cheese seemed appetising for me. And it was really good indeed. My other half had a Bunn's Sausage & Brie Ciabatta which was mouth-watering indeed. Pudding temptations lead me to the Repertory Mess- a delicious pudding that put together almond, meringue, coffee sponge, whipped cream, raspberries and blueberries. Absolutely gorgeous! To make the most of it, don't forget Marmalade has also a pre-theatre menu that self explains the purpose. If going to The Rep, pop to this gorgeous bistro first. After a nice sweet fixing, it was a time to indulge ourselves in a cocktail session. Here it's the list, in an order of preference: 1- Sicilian Sour- amaretto and apricot brandy shaken hard with egg white and lemon juice, served short n' sweet with an apricot garnish; 2- Marmalade Cosmo - Absolut Mandarin vodka, Cointreau, lime and cranberry juice, shaken and strained with orange zest; 3- Fame Martini - Tanqueray gin, Passoa passion fruit liqueur, Cherry Marnier and lime juice shaken and strained in a martini glass and served with a cherry drop; 4- Blackberry julep - Buffalo Trace bourbon, mint and sugar built and churned with blackberries and served short.
I was invited here by Yelp. I didn't pay for my dinner, nor my cocktail. I need to get that out there before the review, I am about being honest, regardless of who pays the bill. Its a nice venue, when you get to it, (through the Rep theatre). I ordered a burger from the menu, (I like to think that I am pretty knowledgeable on burgers - I go to UK Burger Battle and eat stunning burgers). This wasn't one of them. This was a burger ordered medium rare, but arrived very well done. The menu said it came with paprika fries; it didn't. Quoting the menu: Marmalade House Burger,Butter milk Bun, Gruyère Cheese, Bacon and Onion Jam, Gherkin and Paprika Fries * 12.50 Although I didn't pay, IF I had of done, I would not be happy paying £12.50 for a mediocre burger, as far as I am concerned, that isn't acceptable in my opinion. The fries were OK, but not as advertised - which is one of those things that annoy me. I had a Marilyn Monroe cocktail, as did many others on the table, however mine wasn't the same as the others? Its the lack of attention to detail that lets this place down. It was an OK cocktail, but nothing I would write home about. Overall, it was OK. Its a shame, I wanted to really enjoy it, but I don't think I would go back - there are so many others that are far better within the city, I don't think I would feel the need to.
Another Bitter and Twisted outlet, with the expected interesting cocktail list. Service is friendly and warm, and the explanations of the food is always detailed - we were recommended the slow cooked beef lasagna and it didn't disappoint. The atmosphere is quirky - think vintage chintz vs modern utility (!) Why is this not more than a 3...simple fact is that I found it difficult to work out when we could go fro a drink, and when it served food, and it still confuses me to this day. We last went in on a Saturday evening and were left hanging around with staff ignoring us, which didn't feel right. Maybe a particularly busy day...worth a return though.
I've been to Marmalade a few times. The location is great and is always bright and inviting. . The menu is as expected for most trendy places and the staff are very friendly and efficient. The plus points with Marmalade is the atmosphere, its well decorated and with the windows covering half the restaurant its a really nice space. The second plus point is the cocktails, I really enjoyed their cocktail menu they have a few really good original creations.
10 years ago
Marmalade is a flexitarian restaurant (i.e. mostly vegetarian, but a few meat options) in the Birmingham city center, located attached to the Rep theater (right next to the Library of Birmingham). I went here with my wife and two friends as part of a yelp event. First off, I should say that I'm an avid meat eater and don't typically go for vegetarian fare. However, Marmalade is the kind of restaurant that makes me want to eat vegetarian (or at least close to it) regularly. As an appetizer I got the coffee infused lamb rump with a prune glaze, sweet potato mash, and edamame beans. It came paired with The Duke of Earl non-alcoholic aperitif which was made with fresh lemon juice, jasmine and peach syrups, and chilled earl grey tea. Both of these were excellent. The lamb was cooked perfectly and the combination of flavors and ingredients was particularly unique. For the main course I got the marmalade garbanzo: chickpea patties served in a Mediterranean stew (with carrots, courgettes, and a couple other veggies) with balsamic glaze. I wasn't sure what to think at first because I thought this meal as a main wouldn't be very filling, but boy was I wrong. It came with three giant chickpea patties (essentially giant falafals) which I almost couldn't finish. They were delicious and were very tasty drenched in the stew sauce, so I powered through. I got the Captain Ahab's Grog, which was recommended with this meal, that consisted of Brugal Dry Spiced Rum, Ginger Preserve, Apricot Liqueur, Plum bitters, and pomegranate juice. This was my favorite beverage of the evening. Additionally, the drink paired particularly well with food and I found myself eating a bite and having a sip immediately afterwards so the flavors would mix. For dessert, I got the coconut panna cotta with pineapple, mint, and chili. Again, there's nothing bad I can say about this. It was delicious. I also got the Eu Te Amo cocktail which consists of Bombay Sapphire gin, Framboise Syrup,lime, and conde villar vegan wine. Now, I don't typically like gin or wine, but despite this I enjoyed this beverage (albeit not as much as the others). Last, but certainly not least, I want to comment on the great customer service we received. Our server, Faye, was attentive, helpful, and just plain nice. I very highly recommend Marmalade and will definitely be back there myself! read more
10 years ago
Finally had the chance to check out Marmalade! I've yet to be disappointed by a Bitters n' Twisted venue... Marmalade is no exception. The standard of food and cocktails is exceptional, and the atmosphere is warm and friendly. The space is brilliantly designed as it occupies a good section of the Rep's lobby, and has a mix of tables and spacious comfortable booths. The food and drink impressed. I usually don't go into menu details, but it's really worth talking about. We started with the coffee-infused lamb, which was absolutely divine. It was paired with an aperitif of cold earl grey tea with jasmine and peach syrup. For the main course, a vegan dish! A new addition to the menu- the 'Marmalade Garbanzo', which is chickpea patties in a mediterranean stew. So good! And filling! Paired with 'Captain Ahab's Grog'-- a rum drink with ginger, apricot, plum bitters, and pomegranate juice! Yum! And finally dessert: a coconut panna cotta with pineapple and hot chilis. Nom nom nom nom. Service was friendly and attentive, and the menu was quite reasonable! Definitely worth going for a pre or post-theatre meal, or any other day of the week for that matter. I'll be back! read more
Sunday morning brunch is a pretty big deal to me...today I decided I would give Marmalade a try after many recommendations. The whole place is a lot bigger than I was expecting with a modern feel and contemporary decor. The outside seating area is very clean and tidy, and has the morning sun hitting it perfectly. I went for my favourite, eggs benedict. The poached eggs were cooked to perfection, and the sauce was creamy and rich. I sat in the sun, finished of my coffee and felt truly ready for my day....which is going to consist of constructing flat pack furniture and I general life admin....only a very good breakfast could prepare you for that! read more
As a Bitters'n'Twisted Loyalty card holder, I was pleased to spot and email pop into my account offering my 50% off a meal at Marmalade as part of it's pre-opening trial. As I was attending the ballet of an eve within the dates it was offered with Caroline C, we thought it would be a great way to grab some pre-theatre dinner without breaking the bank! We booked to go on a Wednesday night at 6:00pm. As soon as we were both seated, we were presented with their "pre theatre" menu (as the A La Carte starts later in the evening). The waitress helpfully explained that 50% would be taken off our whole bill (prompting an order of small glass of red and a single vodka to be doubled up immediately) and took our orders within about 10 minutes of us sitting at the table. The drinks and first course were bought out within 5 minutes! Very impressive. Clearly these guys are aware that their main audience will be theatre goers and thus don't have the time to wait around... Even more impressive was the food itself. Piping hot fresh tomato soup to start and a well presented (and generously sized) fillet of salmon with vegetables for main. It all looked great and tasted even better! The soup was incredibly tomatoey and you could taste the individual flavours (nothing processed here at all). We were in, had enjoyed two delicious courses with a drink, paid and were out within 45 minutes (as we had to get to the Hippodrome on the other side of town). Service was fantastic, food was great and the price of the pre-fix menu is actually darn reasonable (even without 50% off). Our bill came to around £22 (before tip), so would have been under £45 for two courses with a drink each. Not to be sniffed at! My main concern is whether Marmalade will be able to attract a crowd outside of theatre goers? I enjoyed our trip there so much, I took my partner along to try cocktails before catching a play at the REP. The beer wasn't cheap (£4.20 a pint), but there is happy hour available on the cocktails at certain times (as with all B&T venues). Before the show, the venue was busy - but not rammed full. Afterwards, it seemed to be very quiet. I think it will make it a lovely place to go for dinner at around 7pm/7:30pm as it will be relaxing and not too busy - even if you're not watching a play. I would recommend you go and try the newest gem in the REP's crown. read more
I often meet a friend who works in Brindley Place at Marmalade for a quick lunch and, despite not being very taken with the place to begin with, it is now really is growing on me. I first visited Marmalade during the soft launch week and whilst the food was good, the service was chaotic and we came away saying that we were all glad that we weren't paying full price. I gave it a miss for a long time but when my friend started working in BP, we decided to give it another go as it is pretty much equal distance for both of us. The restaurant is beautifully fitted out and does a great selection of sandwiches and light lunches for around the £8 mark (including chips, soup or salad). The menu changes regularly and the ingredients are always very fresh and feature slightly quirky flavour combinations. The sandwich I had for lunch today was roast chicken with courgette ribbons, chilli and lime dressing and candied pistachios on a lovely fresh slice of bloomer bread (sourced from local bakery Peel and Stone). The portion size was just right for lunch, and it was delicious, I didn't want it to end! The service was also great, the waiter took note of the fact that we said we had limited time and we had plenty time to walk back to our respective offices. We will definitely be back for more soon! read more
I visited here yesterday late afternoon with a friend for his birthday meal. I've heard such good thing about this place and decided to try it out. We came early 5.30pm as we had a theatre show at 7.30pm in the hippodrome. We expected the pre-theatre menu to be on but to our surprise this wasn't available becasue there was no show on at The REP which was understandable. So we continued with the usual menu. We were welcomed in and shown to our table. The waitress knew by now that we were off to see a show and we only had an hour or so in the restaurant before we had to skate off. This is a tight programme which demands an appropriate level of service, and attention to detail by the staff. The waitress knew about this and made sure we were served as fast as possible. She smiled, laughed with us and was very efficient. We asked the waitress for her recommendations on the food she had great knowledge of the food served and the time it takes to make as we were in a hurry. We made our selections and she left with our order. Eventually the waitress returned and took our drinks order, which was a bottle of prosecco as we were celebrating. The food was reasonably cooked, but not exceptiona as i had imagined it to be. It lacked basic salt and pepper seasoning, both of us had this problem. Indeed it was really only superior quality 'pub food.' That is not to say that the food was of poor quailty but it was simply just ordinary. i had ordered duck samosas which lacked salt, it came with dips but it wasn't enough dip and when i asked for more i was looked at with a blank expression by the second waiter. Those dip never appeared on the table. The Sea bass main came after and it was supposed to be on a bed of sweet potato but it has a more runny creamy texture to it which i didn't like at all. the fish was cooked nicely but the skin wasn't crispy. we weren't offered desserts or coffee and we were asked if we wanted the bill when we finished. I do love a cup of coffee but we decided to head off to the theatre and have one there instead. Overall the service was very good and the waitress made us feel welcomed but the food is the big let down here. Would i come back, yes i would ill give them some time to get their act together (excuse the pun) and then try the food again. I really wanted to enjoy this place but i was let down. read more
Have been twice, once for breakfast once for lunch. Full English was huge! Good sausage and bacon. Nice to have water on the table too. I like the look of the other options especially the french toast. Will be back to try that. Love the cool interior, lots of tiles and lights. Really chilled out for breakfast. Went back for lunch. We had a couple of cocktails to start and these were excellent. We shared chicken thighs, pigs cheek schnitzel, chips and salad. Chicken thighs were lovely! Pigs cheek was fine but was missing that certain something. Good chunky chips. Four stars due to breakfast, atmosphere and breakfast! read more
11 years ago
Marmalade is the latest venue in the Bitters'n'Twisted family (which also includes The Victoria & Bodega among others). It's located on the ground floor of the Birmingham REP Theatre, next to the foyer, with windows looking out on to Centenary Square. Following the REP's refurbishment (concurrent with the new Library of Birmingham's construction) the space was Searcys Centenary Brassiere & Bar, and more recently REPEats, which was quirkily decorated but had a limited menu. Marmalade is therefore a welcome addition, for theatregoers, visitors to the library next door, and anyone looking for an alternative to the chains which dominate Broad Street and Brindleyplace. read more
10 years ago
Some friends and I popped in to Marmalade for a quick drink and catch up yesterday. This really is a lovely little bar with two very different areas. One side of the venue has booths which are great for evening get togethers, whereas the other end is more light and airy, and great for lunch. By the time we arrived we were gasping for a cocktail and all ended up ordering Mojito's. This one of my all time favourite cocktails and the staff at Marmalade certainly know how to make them well. The drink wasn't too sweet and was refreshing. It was also a generous size. I do find the toilet situation at Marmalade a little odd. As it is located within Birmingham's REP theatre you need to leave the bar and go to the toilets in the downstairs concourse, which leads on to the central library. It does kill the 'night out' buzz a little bit. The only real negative that I have for this venue was the fact that they were not serving food at 8pm meaning that we had to leave to eat. read more
11 years ago
I'm really pleased the Biter n'Twisted guys have taken over this spot at The REP. We took advantage of the 50% off food (AND drink!) offer, so It was definitely worth while visiting. I really enjoyed my pre-theatre meal:) The menu is simple, but there is enough choice. The staff were attentive and helpful too and I felt most welcome there. The décor has definitely improved too- the coloured tiles are lovely and it just feels much warmer and more inviting in there now. I am looking forward to going back. read more
I'd never ventured to the old eatery at the Rep but was quite excited to hear that Bitters & Twisted had taken over, we popped in for a couple of drinks before a show a while back but I thought I'd save my review until I'd sampled the food. We arrived on Thursday evening, after the main pre-theatre rush and after a quick pint while they were getting our table ready we were seated fairly promptly. Service was spot on and we ordered a cheeky cocktail - I went for the peanut butter martini after a few recommendations from people and it didn't disappoint. Creamy and nutty without being overly sweet, the strong peanut flavour was prominent without overwhelming the entire drink. In hindsight it was probably more of a dessert cocktail but who cares! After some quite intense deliberation I decided on the slow cooked beef rib lasagne. Succulent, melt in the mouth shredded beef rib sandwiched between layers of fresh pasta and topped with a rich cheese sauce that was just the right consistency served with a red wine and beef reduction that bursted with flavour. The place looks great too, a lovely looking literary inspired interior that is classy enough but with an amount of slightly quirky charm to balance it out. As expected another great venue from B&T. Good work guys! read more
I spent a happy 90 minutes on the outside area, people watching and enjoying a rather nice Ale. It was pretty crowded, it was a lovely late summer afternoon and Jeremy Corbyn had a pop-up rally in centenary Square. There wasn't much evidence of champagne socialists, but there were plenty of lager and white wine ones around. Fair play to Jez, he really drew a crowd and he was a rather compelling speaker. Simple messages delivered well. There are not many orators around and he is surely one of them. Back to marmalade - the beer was rather expensive. I guess that's what you expect in a theatre bar. If it wasn't for the show going on outside I would've chosen one of the other bars nearby. I would be willing to give it another chance when I'm next at the Rep. read more
Marmalade is a fresh new bistro of Birmingham at The Rep Theatre, in the city centre. And don't think it's just a place to be visited before or after enjoying a show at the theatre. First time I've been to Marmalade was in a quickie visit with a friend for a nice cup of latte. From the seats we've chosen that day, I could see the staffs in the bar keeping the cocktails flowing. It pretty much made my mind to go back there and treat my husband with some rounds of drink. Marmalade is part of the Bitters 'N' Twisted venues, a selective group of successful independent bars like Bodega, The New Inn (Harborne), The Jeckyll and Hyde, The Rose Villa Tavern, Island Bar and The Village. The restaurant is a nice new adding to Broad street area because it's well located and it's serving tourists, office workers, students and of course, The visitors of The Rep and New Library of Birmingham. Just some minutes after getting a table by the enormous windows were enough to realise how Marmalade brings curiosity to people passing by. From outside and inside, the view really fulfils any expectations. Recently refurbished, Marmalade gained the retro chic décor that is really attractive. It's a spacious place, so the furniture displayed there has the important role of keeping a nice harmony of the space. And it does! But it's not just that but nice service is another great feature in Marmalade. A quick chat about cucumber water was a prediction of a really nice afternoon in this restaurant. But the importance of having cucumber water is something that would be better understood if you watch Better Call Saul anyway. So food it's. I was very curious about this menu. But sometimes it`s impossible to resist the "special of the day" deal, so we went for the special lunch deal which included a drink, a rustic sandwich and a side for only £6. It's perfect for an after work meeting or a brunch. And it was a real bargain because the quality of food at Marmalade is outstanding. Having a bagel with smoked salmon and cream cheese seemed appetising for me. And it was really good indeed. My other half had a Bunn's Sausage & Brie Ciabatta which was mouth-watering indeed. Pudding temptations lead me to the Repertory Mess- a delicious pudding that put together almond, meringue, coffee sponge, whipped cream, raspberries and blueberries. Absolutely gorgeous! To make the most of it, don't forget Marmalade has also a pre-theatre menu that self explains the purpose. If going to The Rep, pop to this gorgeous bistro first. After a nice sweet fixing, it was a time to indulge ourselves in a cocktail session. Here it's the list, in an order of preference: 1- Sicilian Sour- amaretto and apricot brandy shaken hard with egg white and lemon juice, served short n' sweet with an apricot garnish; 2- Marmalade Cosmo - Absolut Mandarin vodka, Cointreau, lime and cranberry juice, shaken and strained with orange zest; 3- Fame Martini - Tanqueray gin, Passoa passion fruit liqueur, Cherry Marnier and lime juice shaken and strained in a martini glass and served with a cherry drop; 4- Blackberry julep - Buffalo Trace bourbon, mint and sugar built and churned with blackberries and served short. read more
I was invited here by Yelp. I didn't pay for my dinner, nor my cocktail. I need to get that out there before the review, I am about being honest, regardless of who pays the bill. Its a nice venue, when you get to it, (through the Rep theatre). I ordered a burger from the menu, (I like to think that I am pretty knowledgeable on burgers - I go to UK Burger Battle and eat stunning burgers). This wasn't one of them. This was a burger ordered medium rare, but arrived very well done. The menu said it came with paprika fries; it didn't. Quoting the menu: Marmalade House Burger,Butter milk Bun, Gruyère Cheese, Bacon and Onion Jam, Gherkin and Paprika Fries * 12.50 Although I didn't pay, IF I had of done, I would not be happy paying £12.50 for a mediocre burger, as far as I am concerned, that isn't acceptable in my opinion. The fries were OK, but not as advertised - which is one of those things that annoy me. I had a Marilyn Monroe cocktail, as did many others on the table, however mine wasn't the same as the others? Its the lack of attention to detail that lets this place down. It was an OK cocktail, but nothing I would write home about. Overall, it was OK. Its a shame, I wanted to really enjoy it, but I don't think I would go back - there are so many others that are far better within the city, I don't think I would feel the need to. read more
10 years ago
Another Bitter and Twisted outlet, with the expected interesting cocktail list. Service is friendly and warm, and the explanations of the food is always detailed - we were recommended the slow cooked beef lasagna and it didn't disappoint. The atmosphere is quirky - think vintage chintz vs modern utility (!) Why is this not more than a 3...simple fact is that I found it difficult to work out when we could go fro a drink, and when it served food, and it still confuses me to this day. We last went in on a Saturday evening and were left hanging around with staff ignoring us, which didn't feel right. Maybe a particularly busy day...worth a return though. read more
I've been to Marmalade a few times. The location is great and is always bright and inviting. . The menu is as expected for most trendy places and the staff are very friendly and efficient. The plus points with Marmalade is the atmosphere, its well decorated and with the windows covering half the restaurant its a really nice space. The second plus point is the cocktails, I really enjoyed their cocktail menu they have a few really good original creations. read more
10 years ago
Great Sunday roast. The veggy Wellington was amazing and gravy is beautiful. We be going back soon read more
Marmelade opened in February 2015, as the seventh venue of local bar heros Bitters 'n' Twisted. The restaurant has been completely refitted, replacing the bland décor (and food) that occupied the space previously with a cool, kitsch, hip relaxed vibe. The exposed wires dangling from the ceiling are instantly noticeable; a look that is cropping up in a few places and (like anything fashionable) may well be passé fairly soon. But for the moment it's 'in'. B'n'T have done a good job in mixing the fashionable décor with comfort (something that is missing from some of the hippest venues). I had visited Marmelade one before for a swift pre-theatre drink, but didn't really hang around long enough to get a good feel for the place. As such I was pleased to be invited for a 'Yap on Yelp' meal to celebrate International Workers Day, that our gathering preceded. In the hour leading up to our rendezvous, I had indulged in sharing some salted caramel chicken wigs with Vicky O. as well as some tapas at the newly refurbished Arco Lounge. So upon arrival it's fair to say that I was far from ravenous. We entered through the bar area, and it was clear to see that we had arrived just at the end of their rush. Customers were making their way into the theatre as the public-address system (Tannoy), called them in. The waiters were busily clearing tables at a rate that filled up the bar with glasses, waiting to be washed. We had a brief wait in the comfortable bar area before being called to our table. We all had a cocktail as an apéritif; the favourite amongst our group seemed to be the Marilyn Monroe. This was a mixture of Absolut vanilla vodka and Chambord black raspberry liqueur, topped with Prosecco and served with a fresh raspberry garnish. All I can say is, it went down very quickly and smoothly. Onto mains: not wanting anything too heavy (like steak) after already eating, I opted for the chicken skewers. For £12.95 I received two skewers of chicken, onion and peppers, that were served hanging over a plate of fries. There was a metal ramekin of melted butter on top that melted down through the skewers and dripped onto the fries. The dripping butter was certainly effective in making one salivate, and probably helped prevent the chicken from drying up too. It certainly wasn't dry; it was juicy and tender. My only qualm is that I'm quite and advocate of plates. Call me old fashioned if you like, but I find plates to be rather practical for serving food on. The hanging skewers certainly looked impressive dripping with butter, but there were less practical to eat. I tried with a fork to push the food down onto the plate from the hanging position, only a few times it would miss the plate. Afterwards, I tried unhanging the whole skewers and placing them on top of the fries, only they were much longer than the diameter of the plate. Other than the issues with eating vertical food, the meal was very good. For dessert I opted for something light as I already rather stuffed; a Martini Sorbet, which was light, refreshing, and had just the right amount of booze. No plate again, but I felt the martini glass was adequately fitting for a martini sorbet after all. Had I had a larger appetite I would have ordered the chocolate brownie sundae. Adam L did order one of these and it was presented as some cake and cream stuffed into a mason jar. I'm sure it tasted delicious, but the presentation was a little off for me on that one. Just because mason jars are cool for some reason, doesn't mean that we have to find ever increasingly bizarre things to stuff inside them. I know I may come across as a whiny old git that doesn't get the hip style of today, but I did really enjoy my meal at Marmalade and I shall almost certainly be back. It's actually really nice to have a decent bar in this part of the city, where visitors to the library, the Ikon gallery, the cinemas up Broad Street, or the REP theatre itself may want to stop for a drink or bite to eat and no longer have to 'slum it up Broad Street'. I applaud Bitters 'n' Twisted, without whom our city would be a much more boring place. I like the fact that each new venue they open has it's own style and isn't just a carbon copy of a previous venue. I do hope that they expand further as I can't wait to see what the theme of their next place will be! read more
11 years ago
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Review Highlights - Marmalade
Marmalade - bars - Updated June 2026
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