Marmalade is the new bar and bistro that opened last week at The Birmingham Rep Theatre on Broad Street near the ICC complex.

It’s bar and bistro received a lot of Social Media action prior to its launch and since, promising murmurings have been given on its food menu especially the much heralded vegetarian dishes.

Last week Ruth and I visited the bistro for dinner and you can read my thoughts on their aforementioned veggie dishes in a few days time.

As if once wasn’t enough to visit Marmalade Last week I decided coincidently to try their coffee, and why not. The Rep space has always had a cafe and on the whole I remember having a decent coffee their before.

Now Marmalade is owned by Bitters N Twisted who own Bodega, The Victoria, and The Jekyll and Hyde amongst others I thought it would be a good independent bet.

Good news is that it is.

I ordered a flat white, which was well made, creamy with a good sharp coffee under lying flavour, a very good coffee and it looks good in the photos. I was impressed that it came with a glass of water, very European. Excellent.

As a space to work it’s excellent, you are seated in the bar area and the friendly service on this occasion takes over. At £2.50 it is competitively priced. The seating is comfortable with plenty of room if you wish to work seated on a semi circle type seating with a large table.

I thought it was a good space, though small, it felt new, clean and with windows all around was light and airy.

They also serve sandwiches at lunch in the bar/coffee area so if you are peckish then it’s your lucky day. I didn’t see any cake offerings, but that maybe it was hiding, but if not well why not?

As an alternative to the nearby coffee chains of Costa, Starbucks, and Cafe Nero that you find in that Broad Street/ Brindley Place area then the Independent Marmalade is the real deal.

If you are walking through to Brindley Place or just want a small space to sit and take in a pleasant view then this is your place.

And remember it is independent.

I wasn’t disappointed. I hope you won’t be either.

Marmalade bar and bistro
Birmingham Rep Theatre
Broad street
Birmingham
B1 2EP