The Roundhouse has closed in part, issuing an ‘important notice’ to followers
14:07, 12 Jun 2025Updated 16:07, 12 Jun 2025
The Roundhouse(Image: Kirsty Bosley)
This article has been amended to clarify which parts of The Roundhouse have closed.
A Birmingham National Trust property has cancelled all tours and closed its visitors centre immediately amid a review.
The Roundhouse on Sheepcote Street is a treasured city asset which hosts walking tours and canal kayak tours of Birmingham and its waterways.
The venue made the change on Wednesday, June 11, issuing an ‘important notice’ on its website and social media pages.
Read more: Shop closes as Birmingham charity makes sad admission
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The notice reads: “All our tours are currently on hold and the Visitor Centre is closed during this time.
“If you’ve already booked a tour, we’ll be in touch via email and refund the cost of your booking.
“Ristorante Café Arena is open as normal. We apologise for any inconvenience.”
A spokesperson for Roundhouse Birmingham, told BirminghamLive: “We have paused all tours and activities while we review the leisure activity offer at Roundhouse Birmingham.
“While the visitor programme of guided walks, kayak tours and boat trips has been well received, increasing costs outside our control have presented some financial challenges.
“Anyone who has already booked onto a tour or experience will be contacted directly and their payment will be refunded.”
The statement continued: “The Roundhouse Birmingham charity has worked to restore the historic Roundhouse building and open part of it as a base for outdoor activities.
“Other parts of the building are used as office space or let to local business tenants which are unaffected by the review and will remain open as usual, including the Ristorante Café Arena.”
The site’s restaurant is run by Pavarotti’s former private chef, Shawky El Sayed and his family.
Ristorante Caffe Arena opened to the public for the first time in early 2024 – here’s more on that.
The Roundhouse was first built in 1874 as stables and stores for the Birmingham Corporation’s Public Works Department, given its prominent position between the London North Western Railway line and the Birmingham Canal.
It’s now Grade II-listed, renovated fully in 2020 and now the hub from which heritage enterprise and independent charity Roundhouse Birmingham operates tours and activities.
The charity was created by the Canal and River Trust and the National Trust to preserve the site for future generations.