Resorts World Birmingham
Resorts World Birmingham is a large integrated entertainment and leisure complex at the National Exhibition Centre site in Solihull, near Birmingham, England.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Resorts World Birmingham is an integrated entertainment, hospitality, retail and gaming complex located at the National Exhibition Centre in Solihull, near Birmingham, England. Developed by Genting, it was designed as the first European property to use the Resorts World name and combines a casino, shopping, restaurants, hotel accommodation, cinema and other leisure attractions within a single destination. The development occupies approximately 538,000 square feet, or about 50,000 square metres, and is arranged as a seven-storey complex whose architecture was inspired by the form of a cruise ship. The project was conceived as a major addition to the NEC and the wider West Midlands visitor economy. Construction began in February 2013 and was completed in autumn 2015. The reported development cost was £150 million, although this figure is retained here as a historical project description rather than a current financial measure. At the planning stage, the development was expected to contribute approximately £33 million annually to the regional economy and create around 1,100 jobs. Gaming is one of the complex's central components. Genting received a large-casino licence from Solihull Council in June 2011 and obtained planning permission in 2012. The casino occupies roughly 11 percent of the overall site and operates around the clock. Its facilities include slot machines, roulette, blackjack, poker rooms and other conventional casino games. The casino is owned by Genting and forms part of the group's broader Resorts World strategy. The hospitality offer includes a four-star hotel with 182 rooms and six suites marketed at a five-star level. The interior design incorporated advice from a feng shui specialist based in Malaysia, while the bathrooms were imported from Italy. Retail is centred on a covered shopping village with approximately 50 stores arranged along two arcs at the base of the complex. Reported tenants and brands have included fashion, sportswear, gifts, confectionery, books and general merchandise retailers such as Ben Sherman, Carhartt, Hallmark Cards, Kurt Geiger, Levi's, Lindt, Next, Nike, Skechers, Sony, The North Face, The Works, Trespass, Vans and WHSmith. Tenant line-ups can change over time. Food and beverage venues span casual dining, branded restaurants and coffee shops. Reported operators have included Five Guys, TGI Fridays, Zizzi, Las Iguanas, Nando's, PizzaExpress, Miller & Carter, Costa Coffee and Starbucks. The leisure offer also includes a Cineworld multiplex with 11 screens and 1,782 seats, including a purpose-built IMAX auditorium described as the first of its kind in a Birmingham multiplex. Eight screens were reported to support 3D presentation at the time of the reference description. Additional attractions include Hollywood Bowl and Escape Hunt. Business events are served by The Vox, a conference and events facility within the wider complex. It can accommodate up to 900 delegates or guests and can be divided into five halls for conferences, ceremonies and other functions. The site is also associated with the adjacent arena venue now known as bp pulse LIVE, which has used several names during its history, including The NEC Arena, LG Arena, Genting Arena and Resorts World Arena. Resorts World Birmingham therefore functions less as a single retail or hospitality brand than as a destination brand linking multiple entertainment, tourism, gaming and events offerings at the NEC.
History
Resorts World Birmingham was developed by Genting as a large-scale integrated resort at the NEC site in Solihull, near Birmingham. The project followed Genting's successful application for a large-casino licence from Solihull Council in June 2011. Planning permission was subsequently granted in 2012, allowing the company to proceed with a destination combining gaming, retail, hospitality and entertainment rather than a stand-alone casino. Construction started in February 2013. The resulting complex was designed as a seven-storey building of approximately 538,000 square feet, or 50,000 square metres. Its external concept was based on the shape of a cruise ship, reflecting the project's intention to present a broad range of leisure experiences within one self-contained destination. The development cost was reported as £150 million. At the time of development, its promoters expected it to generate approximately £33 million per year for the regional economy and support about 1,100 jobs. The development was completed in autumn 2015 and became the first European property to operate under the Resorts World name. Its casino occupies approximately 11 percent of the site and operates 24 hours a day, offering slots, roulette, blackjack, poker and other traditional casino games. The wider complex added a four-star hotel with 182 rooms and six higher-category suites, along with a retail village of about 50 stores and a broad restaurant and bar programme. Entertainment facilities expanded the destination beyond shopping and gaming. The Cineworld multiplex provided 11 screens and 1,782 seats, with an IMAX auditorium and multiple 3D-capable screens. Hollywood Bowl and Escape Hunt added bowling and interactive puzzle-based entertainment. The Vox supplied conference and ceremony space for as many as 900 people, with five halls that could be configured separately. The complex was also connected with the arena facilities at the NEC, whose venue branding changed over time and included Resorts World Arena before the later bp pulse LIVE name. Resorts World Birmingham consequently developed as a mixed-use visitor destination serving local residents, tourists, cinema and leisure customers, casino visitors, shoppers, diners, conference delegates and audiences attending events at the NEC. Its brand identity is tied to the Resorts World concept and to Genting's ownership of the casino and development, while many individual facilities are operated under separate tenant or partner brands.
- 2015
Complex completed
[1]Construction was completed in autumn, establishing the first Resorts World-branded destination in Europe.
- 2013
Construction begins
[1]Construction of the Resorts World Birmingham complex began in February.
- 2012
Planning permission granted
[1]Planning permission was granted for Genting's proposed development at the NEC site in Solihull.
- 2011
Large-casino licence awarded
[1]Solihull Council awarded Genting a large-casino licence, enabling the proposed integrated resort to include a major gaming operation.
Products and positioning
A destination-scale integrated resort combining gaming, shopping, dining, hospitality, cinema, family entertainment and business events close to Birmingham and the NEC.
Casino gaming · 2015
Genting Casino
The casino is the gaming anchor of Resorts World Birmingham and occupies approximately 11 percent of the overall complex. It operates 24 hours a day and offers slot machines, roulette, blackjack, poker rooms and other established casino games. The casino is owned by Genting and operates under the regulatory and licensing framework associated with the large-casino permission granted by Solihull Council.
Hotel accommodation · 2015
Resorts World Birmingham Hotel
The complex's hotel provides four-star accommodation with 182 rooms and six suites positioned at a five-star level. Its design incorporated guidance from a feng shui specialist in Malaysia, and the bathrooms were imported from Italy. The hotel forms part of the resort's broader offer for leisure visitors, casino guests, NEC audiences and conference delegates.
Retail · 2015
Shopping Village
The covered shopping village is arranged along two curved arcs at the base of the complex and has been described as containing approximately 50 stores. Its reported tenant mix has included fashion, footwear, sportswear, gifts, confectionery, books, electronics and general merchandise brands. Individual occupiers may change as leases and the retail mix evolve.
Cinema · 2015
Cineworld multiplex
The cinema facility has 11 screens and a reported total capacity of 1,782 seats. Eight screens were described as having 3D capability, while the largest auditorium includes a 282-seat IMAX screen. The venue was identified as the first purpose-built IMAX screen in a Birmingham multiplex at the time of its development.
Food and beverage · 2015
Restaurants and bars
The destination includes a broad food-and-beverage mix spanning casual dining, branded restaurants, steakhouses, fast-casual operators and coffee shops. Reported brands have included Five Guys, TGI Fridays, Zizzi, Las Iguanas, Nando's, PizzaExpress, Miller & Carter, Costa Coffee and Starbucks. The exact tenant line-up is subject to change.
Conferences and events · 2015
The Vox
The Vox is the complex's conference and events facility. It can accommodate up to 900 delegates or guests and can be divided into five halls, allowing the venue to support conferences, ceremonies and other business or social events in different configurations.
Leisure attractions · 2015
Hollywood Bowl and Escape Hunt
Additional attractions broaden the resort's appeal beyond gaming and shopping. Hollywood Bowl provides ten-pin bowling, while Escape Hunt offers interactive escape-room experiences based on collaborative puzzles and timed challenges.
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