- Mr Plane Guy
- May 23
- 7 min read
Clubrooms Birmingham Review: Nice Views Babs, But Where’s The Luxury?
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click and buy, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps support the blog and funds my ongoing airport lounge “research.”
After my genuinely chaotic experience at the No1 Lounges lounge at Birmingham Airport, I was desperately hoping Clubrooms would restore some faith in Birmingham Airport lounges.
And to be fair?
It WAS better.
But honestly?
It still didn’t quite deliver the premium airport lounge experience I expected.
Clubrooms Birmingham is located near Gate 54 in the newer section of Birmingham Airport’s departures area, making it one of the closest lounges to many of the departure gates.
Birmingham Airport Was Exceptionally Busy Again
Before even reaching Clubrooms, Birmingham Airport itself already felt completely overwhelmed.
Security queues were stretching through the terminal yet again.
I ended up paying £7 for Fast Track security just to avoid the worst of it… and even then it still took around 30 minutes to get through. That’s WITH Fast Track.
At this point, Birmingham Airport during busy periods genuinely feels like an airport operating beyond comfortable capacity.
And unfortunately, that pressure seems to spill directly into the lounges too.
Clubrooms Birmingham Airport: First Impressions
The first thing I noticed walking into Clubrooms?
It smelled AMAZING.
Honestly, the scent was probably one of the nicest things about the entire experience.
The decor itself also looked genuinely premium:
dark elegant finishes
soft lighting
lovely runway views
lots of natural daylight
a calmer atmosphere than the main terminal
At first glance, it absolutely feels more premium than the standard No1 Lounge experience.
But then you started noticing the details.
Clubrooms Birmingham Felt a little Untidy
The lounge looked like it had been heavily “used” throughout the day.
Food crumbs were everywhere. Tables weren’t being cleared quickly enough.
Some seating areas felt grubby.
And while the design itself is lovely, the overall experience didn’t feel polished or elevated.
It felt like the lounge was struggling to keep up with passenger demand.
You could sense the staff were stressed and overwhelmed. In fact, staff were actively apologising for how busy things were.
The Service Was Actually Excellent
Now to be fair, the service itself was genuinely very good.
The staff were friendly, professional and doing their best under pressure.
This definitely wasn’t a case of lazy service. If anything, it felt like there simply weren’t enough staff for the number of passengers inside. And that’s an important difference.
Because the people working there were trying HARD.
The Food at Clubrooms Birmingham
One of the biggest selling points of Clubrooms is supposedly the upgraded dining experience. Unfortunately?
The food just didn’t hit the spot for me.
I ordered the ratatouille bake with a cheesy crumble. It arrived around 30 minutes later and resembled a 'Tesco No Frills' microwave meal. Only less tasty!
Maybe I simply chose badly from the menu, but nothing on the menu really appealed to me.
Clubrooms Birmingham Menu, Cocktails & Lounge Details
One thing Clubrooms Birmingham definitely gets right visually is the overall presentation.
With proper table service and a more restaurant-style approach compared to the standard buffet chaos you often find inside UK airport lounges.
And unlike many standard airport lounges, Clubrooms is designed as a quieter adults-focused space.
Children under 12 are generally not permitted, which definitely helps create a calmer atmosphere compared to the family-heavy No1 Lounge.
Inside the lounge, you’ll find:
runway views
table service
cocktails and premium spirits
quieter seating spaces away from the main terminal crowds
The drinks menu includes:
Kir Royales
Aperol Spritz
Old Fashioneds
Bloody Marys
wines
premium spirits
bottled beers
Although tragically…
No espresso martinis during my visit.
Breakfast options can include:
Eggs Benedict
Eggs Florentine
Pastries
Cooked English breakfast dishes
Here is a Vegetarian breakfast I had at Clubrooms London Gatwick South Terminal
Later in the day, the menu shifts towards:
Fish goujon sandwiches
Mediterranean chicken pasta
Soup of the day
Salads
Cakes and sweet treats
The menu SOUNDS far more luxurious than my actual food experience ended up being.
That’s partly why the review feels so mixed for me. Because visually, Clubrooms Birmingham absolutely LOOKS like one of the best airport lounges in the UK. The decor is stylish. The runway views are fantastic. The cocktails feel more elevated and the whole members-club aesthetic works really well. But once the lounge gets busy, some of that premium atmosphere starts slipping away.
Clubrooms Birmingham Opening Times
At the time of writing, Clubrooms Birmingham generally operates daily from early morning through to evening departures, although hours can vary depending on flight schedules and seasonal demand.
The lounge is accessible via:
Priority Pass
Direct booking through No1 Lounges
selected premium airline passengers including Qatar Airways, Air France KLM and Air India
It’s also worth noting that Clubrooms Birmingham won:
“Best Luxury Airport Lounge UK 2024”
at the International Business Magazine Awards. And with Aspire and LUXE lounges opening soon at Birmingham Airport, it’ll be interesting to see whether Clubrooms raises its game further once more competition arrives.
I actually covered Birmingham Airport’s upcoming lounge expansion plans in more detail here:👉 Birmingham Airport’s Lounge Upgrade Plans Look Seriously Impressive
Is Clubrooms Birmingham Worth It?
This is where the review gets tricky.
Because despite all my criticisms, Clubrooms is STILL significantly calmer and nicer than the standard No1 Lounge experience next door. The runway views are excellent.
The natural light is lovely. The seating is more comfortable.
And pre-booking through Priority Pass for around £15 made access fairly easy and decent value overall.
But…
Did it feel truly premium?
Not really.
Birmingham Airport Lounges Need More Competition
This was my biggest takeaway after visiting both lounges.
There simply doesn’t appear to be enough lounge capacity at Birmingham Airport right now for the level of demand.
And because of that:
lounges feel overcrowded
staff feel overwhelmed
food quality suffers
cleaning standards slip
and the overall experience loses that “luxury escape” feeling people are paying for
The good news?
That may soon change.
With Aspire and LUXE lounges opening at Birmingham Airport soon, there’s finally going to be genuine competition.
Is Priority Pass Birmingham Still Worth It?
Despite these experiences, I still think Priority Pass can absolutely be worth it at Birmingham Airport.
But expectations matter.
If you’re expecting:
a peaceful luxury experience
restaurant-quality dining
premium cocktails
flawless service
…you may leave disappointed during busy periods.
But if you simply want:
somewhere quieter than the terminal
runway views
drinks included
somewhere to sit before your flight
…it still has value.
Because honestly… once airport travel starts feeling this relaxing, it’s very hard to go back.
Final Boarding Call: My Honest Clubrooms Birmingham Airport Verdict
Clubrooms Birmingham wasn’t a bad experience.
But it also wasn’t the elevated premium lounge escape I hoped for either.
The staff were genuinely excellent, but the overcrowding, untidiness and underwhelming food stopped it from feeling special.
And ultimately?
That’s the issue with Birmingham Airport right now overall.
Everything feels just slightly too busy. Slightly too stretched. Slightly too overwhelmed.
Maybe Aspire and LUXE will finally raise the standard when they open.
Because Birmingham Airport lounges desperately need a reset before the summer rush properly begins.
Check the latest Priority Pass discount here before the current offer changes
Because honestly… once airport travel starts feeling this relaxing, it’s very hard to go back.
Are you flying with easyJet from Birmingham Airport?
Read my full Ryanair cabin baggage guide and find out how strict Ryanair really are with bag checks
And if you’re flying regularly from Birmingham: Check my easyJet Plus Card review, is it worth £249?
Thinking about lounge access? Read my honest Priority Pass review and whether it’s actually worth the money
Discover the hidden Priority Pass benefits most travellers never use
Flying from Manchester instead? Check my full Manchester Airport lounge reviews and comparisons
Read my guide to the best UK airport lounges and which ones are genuinely worth paying for
Hello I’m Paul a travel and flight expert, I spent most of my career working in and around planes with 15 years providing top-notch service with a London-based airline. I became an expert in travel after soaring across the Atlantic up to 10 times a month!
I’m now, producing travel content, reaching millions of viewers monthly. Reporting on travel news, sharing travel tips, reviews, and deals with a sprinkle of humour and a whole lot of authenticity!
I hope you enjoyed Clubrooms Birmingham Review: Nice Views Babs, But Where’s The Luxury? Do let me know in the comments if you have any questions about it.
Airport lounges, free upgrades, travel chaos and the occasional meltdown. Real travel, not influencer nonsense.
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