After hours
Birmingham’s NEC has changed since the days of Glassex, with plenty of hotels and restaurants right on the doorstep – and without having to travel into the centre of Birmingham each evening.
There are hotels on site to suit every budget, including the Hilton, the Crowne Plaza and the four-star Genting, all an easy walk from the show.
There are also plenty of bars, including the Bottega Prosecco Bar, the Sky Bar, and the World Bar.
There is also choice when it comes to dining, from the High Line New York Bar and Lounge, to Andy Waters’ Brasserie, and TGI Fridays, plus many more High Street eateries, such as Nandos and Starbucks.
If you really want to relax after a long day on the exhibition floor, or indeed if you need prepare for one, you can check into the Santai Medispa, complete with its own 15m-long pool, sauna, fitness suite and state-of-the-art treatment rooms.
Or, you can see a movie at one of Cineworld’s 11 screens, showing the latest releases in 2D, 3D and even IMAX?
And if you fancy a flutter, you could always pop into the Genting Casino, offering roulette, blackjack and poker, as well as VIP rooms and ‘learn-to-play’ sessions for the uninitiated.