Marmalade

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.

Great Sunday roast. The veggy Wellington was amazing and gravy is beautiful. We be going back soon

I’ve been here several times since it opened earlier in 2015 and never written a review! I know!
This is a long curved bar that seems to carry on the length of the Birmingham Rep Theatre. Previously a venue connected directly to the theatre it is now part of the Bitter’s N Twisted group.
In the summer I ate outside here and had the halloumi which was great. I the autumn I came for afternoon cocktails. And this week I came in the evening in a big Unilocal group and had even more cocktails.
There’s lampshades galore and the venue feels warm and friendly.
However it is missing that 5^th star as I’m a bit confused about the food menus. Which seem to change from theatre to pre theatre and back throughout the day.
I’m coming back for breakfast!

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 décor. 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!

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.

We popped in yesterday for a quick drink in Marmalade, the newest of the Bitter and Twisted venues. I had heard mixed reviews of the venue for different reasons so wanted to make up my own mind really.
Now i can only comment on what the place is like when its quiet as it was a Sunday afternoon but it seems really nice to me. Its got a great décor and a nice atmosphere. Laidback motown soundtrack in the background. As usual good beer and cocktails were on offer.
I’m not really sure how well the bar would work when it is busy, the actual serving point itself is quite small and I can only envisage that it would get quite clogged quite easily. it might be a bit of a pain to be drinking /​eating here when the Rep is showing something so it is very purposeful in that sense.
I will be coming back to check it out, hopefully when something is going on at the Rep as well.

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 Unilocal’ 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!

I went during the very first few days and was very impressed. I had a lovely mail meal with sides to die for and my dessert was dreamy. The service was really good too considering it was still feeling it’s feet after opening. I really need to visit again and see if it has got even better!

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!

Marmalade is a fantastic bistro style restaurant and bar located right by the Birmingham library. Ambience and décor give this place a lavish and classy feel to it. The bar is located in front as you walk in the main entrance. They have ShipYard American ale on draught and its very delicious. Spirits, wines and bottled world beers available. The cocktails are great too with a range of classics as well as creative ones. The food menu is great with fish, meat and vegetarian choices. I had the 7oz sirloin steak which was hung for 28 days and tasted really tender and juicy. The presentation of the food was awesome with my chips served in a mug and the meal on a wooden board. My dessert of gingerbread cheesecake was so divine and tasty i was tempted to lick the plate clean. There is a pre theatre menu available also which is ideal for anyone going to The Rep next door. Prices are not bad for the quality of the food. I highly recommend a visit here.

I will be going back for sure.
When I arrived the bar was full of empty glasses — this is never a good start in my eyes, however I soon realised that I had arrived at a VERY busy time and the few staff they had were doing the best they could — and with a smile on their faces and so the night just got better and better.
Drinks are a tad on the pricey side (£4.20 for a vodka & coke)
We were seated promptly and given a good amount of time to choose our main meals. Whilst waiting for the meals to arrive we were served our cocktails (may I suggest you try the Marilyn Monroe), I had a very tasty Quinoa, Broccoli, Sweet Potato, Olives, Coriander, Toasted Butter Bean, Cannelloni Bean Salad — absolutely splendid.
The staff were friendly and polite and even had the odd retort to our jokes.
Then it was time for dessert, Martini Sorbet-​Vermouth and Lemon, cherries and Honeycomb, this was nice and light as I’m not a huge fan of desserts.
I had a thoroughly enjoyable evening, the atmosphere was comfortable and relaxed but the meal did seem to take a while to arrive but then we were a party of 8 and all the food was served together rather than just as each was ready.
Quick tip — Can you spot the picture that has been hung upside down?

I was invited here by Unilocal.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.

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.

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!

After hearing good reviews, I thought it was about time I organised a girlie dinner for a Saturday evening to see what all the fuss was about.
The bar attenders at the bar were efficient, and happily made lots of cocktails for us prior to going to our table. The cosmopolitan that I had was pretty darn good.
There were seven of us dining and we were immediately shown to our table. Unfortunately it was only set for five and there weren’t enough chairs — not a good start but hey ho.
I already knew what I wanted to order, having looked at the menu before I arrived. A juicy burger and paprika fries. Our waitress looked after us well and the atmosphere was relaxed. Luckily the restaurant wasn’t too busy either, although a busy restaurant helps make the atmosphere.
We were all pleased with our mains, and they arrived in good time. My beef burger was very tasty and wholesome — a lovely treat. Would definitely order this again!
I managed to squeeze in a dessert — plum and apricot crumble with rum raisin ice cream — which was delicious and a great way to round off the meal.
As the restaurant is part of the REP theatre, every now and again a tannoy would come on announcing the start of the performance and intervals. Very handy if you happen to be having the pre-​theatre menu, and a friendly reminder is given to let you know when the performance is starting.
Looking forward to returning and trying out the rest of the menu.

Tried pre-​theatre at this new-​ish venue at which we’d previously enjoyed a cracking lunch. Dismal. Think school dinners. The pre-​theatre menu in NO WAY reflects the quality of the a la carte menu. Only the ambience, the Passori Rosso, a passable crème brûlée and the convenience (we were here for Jeeves & Wooster) saved this meal from disaster.

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.

So I admit it — I’m a bitters & twisted girl & have been for a good percentage of my adult life! I ve had far too many dates in the Jekyll, I used to call Island bsr my local & have an absurdly high number of points on my loyalty card! So the opening of Marmalade was something I needed to check out.
We headed up on the first Saturday it was open, just after the pre theatre rush. The staff were attentive & friendly, service wasn’t particularly speedy but we were relaxed about this as were in no rush. The décor is lovely, cosy plaid curtains & a range of ways to dine-​long tables for groups or more intimate tables with a fab view across Centenary Square.
The restaurant offers two menus, a pre-​theatre served until 7.30 & an a la carte after made up of the usual starter, main, desserts but also including a good selection of dishes that come in large or smaller plates depending on your appetite.
I was eating healthy so of course I chose to share the duck samosas with my partner in crime. They were really tasty if a little naughty! To pull it back I had sea bass with sweet potato hash with beetroot. I was a little disappointed by the sweet potato hash — it was lacking in flavour other than the taste of beetroot & perhaps as I like nt veg I would have ordered a size but the fish was tasty. I decided to have a small dessert as I was still hungry after my meal & wanted to cleanse my palate after the strange tasting main. I had a sorbet with cherries which had a sugary alcoholic liqueur drizzled over it. It was nice enough but a little too sweet for me. The lasagna that my fiancé had was incredible — sooo tasty so that’s what I’m having next time!
I popped to the pre theatre meal with my friend a couple if days later — the team seemed like they were into the swing of things by then! I had a ham hock to start which was very tasty & pork for main which I enjoyed although it wasn’t as interesting as some of the dishes on the a la carte. It arrived very quickly which is a positive for pre theatre dining. Each of the meals above were 50% off for the first week of opening therefore they were incredible value… but neither meal set my world on fire!
I was sooooo excited by the opening of Marmalade & I really wish I could give it 3.5 stars — perhaps I ll have to keep going back until it gets a ⁵⁄₅.

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.

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.