Soho House

I got some good and bad news about Soho House Museum. The good one is: this is one of the most interesting landmarks of Birmingham itself! The bad one is that it's are closed for redevelopment and will just reopen end of June. Well, it's not that bad, actually.

I'm a bit suspicious to talk about this fabulous house that it's also my favourite heritage museum in Birmingham.

Soho House Museum was residence of Matthew Bolton and don't get confused, it's not about Michael Bolton's house!!!

He was a brummie entrepreneur, inventor and founder of The Lunar Society, a group of thinkers that usually met at his house to discuss arts, science, philosophy and other important issues in the 18th century.

The whole history about Matthew Bolton, its fascinating life and the importance of The Lunar Society for the history of Industry Revolution in Midlands can be understood better visiting the Soho House.

This lovely experience includes seeing this gorgeous Georgian house itself , the garden and a visitor centre.

The average adult admission is £ 4 and the visitors centre and garden are for free. They have other options of tour guided during this year so it's better to check the website for more information.

As it's difficult to find a favourite part of Soho House, but I would pick the dinning room, where the Lunar Society meeting were placed, and its quite spooky cellar as the highlights of the visiting.

All rooms of Soho House are perfectly conserved and there is also a huge collection of coins and his works to be seen there. The shop is also wonderful and the staff is very friendly.

I already visited Soho House loads of times and I can't get tired of it. As soon as it is reopen I will be there again, for sure. There is always something new to learn about Matthew Bolton and his house.

Soho House is open!

I can't believe I've not been here. I make a point of visiting the museums around Birmingham so how did I miss this? Part of the Birmingham Museums group, Soho House is an easy drive/bus (possibly walking) distance from the Jewellery Quarter so a good visit to tie in with the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter. They should have a shuttle.

Anyway, Soho House is the old residence of Matthew Boulton, the immensely impressive and influencial engineer and manufacturer who worked closely with James Watt and was part of the Lunar Society. It feels somewhat out of the way, in a residential area but you turn up the drive to see a lovely Georgian house. I had booked onto the first tour that morning, but being a term time Friday it was very quiet and there were only two of us there.

I arrived half an hour early and looked around the exhibition area which gives a great short, sweet but informative background of Boulton and his history as well as the Lunar Society.

The tour itself went around his house, with interesting architectural facts and family background but also focussing on Boulton's works. You can see the dining room where the Lunar Society frequently met, plus bedrooms, drawing rooms and the cellar.

I could go on for too long, so will just say that my highlights were:

- The dining room, where the Lunar Society met. Did you know you can get married there..?
- Boulton's study with the moon globe, and the amazing pastel moon drawing which looks incredibly realistic even though telescopes weren't able to give a very clear picture of the moon.
- the reproduction wallpaper and carpets. I know that sounds odd, but to make the rooms look as authentic as possible, the wallpaper in the drawing room was screen printed onto small squares which is how it would have been done then. There were no records nor traces of the carpets, but Kidderminster carpets, having been around for hundreds of years still retained their pattern books, enabling them to re-create something from the period.
- The clock which keeps time to the stars. It's so accurate that it would be impossible to use as a timepiece as it doesn't take account of sunrise and sunset
- Just finding out a lot more about one of the most influential people in manufacturing. Hats off MB!

The staff were also amazing, very friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and interested.

I didn't go there but the café is pretty substantial and there's a nice little shop too.

Hooray.. Soho House should be open again by the time you read this review!

It's been closed recently for redevelopment but fear not as they won't be changing the key characteristics that make this place so interesting.

Personally I think there's something extraordinary at being able to walk back through time and experience peoples homes from many years before we existed.

This particular house was owned by Matthew Boulton (whose fortune funded the college in the city centre) way back in 1766.

It will be interesting to see what development work takes place as they will be keen not to change any of the key foundations. I particularly like the dining room as I can imagine big banquets and jugs of fine wine being enjoyed.

Opening its doors this month of the 30th June, there is a community day which is free entry so definitely worth popping down to see what they've done with the place.

This stunning Georgian house, which is now a museum, harks back to more affluent times in Birmingham's, somewhat impoverished, district of Handsworth.

It's definitely worth a visit on a nice sunny day to find out more about the Lunar Society and see the interior of the house. As other reviewers have mentioned, the dining room is a must see and the story of the house is very interesting.

Soho House is closed for redevelopment but will reopen on 30th June. I believe it is normally £4 to get in but entry on this day will be free from 11am-4pm (Making a Mint event - see website for details) and should also be free on 1st July (my birthday, don't forget!) so pop down then to save a few quid and have a nice afternoon off from the bustle and craziness of Soho Road.

This is a place of such historical significance that everybody that need to visit. This was the home of one of the most important British Industrialists that ever lived, Matthew Boulton. His house used to be used as a meeting point by the Lunar Men in the famous Lunar Society. At the height of the Industrial revolution, some of the most important names in science used to meet here and discuss their latest inventions and ideas. Highly recommended for everyone, not just those into science but everyone.

Great place to visit. This was the home of Mathew Boulton an important Birmingham industriallialist and entrepreneur. I went with the kids (8,4 & 2) and we had a great time. There is an exhibition centre as well as the main house to look through. The centre is very modern with a few artifacts as well as some interactive activities for the kids. Whilst we were there, there was a spooky halloween activity for the kids as well as a find dash hunt (Mathews dog) which kept the children busy and really made them want to look at everything yeah! The house itself is beautiful and has numerous artefacts set up in the various rooms as well as cellars which again were decorated in a spooky theme and really showed the enthusiam of the staff. Kids had little bags to rummage in the rooms containg different objects with a brief description for them to read. There is a very small tea room but it is quite reasonable and the parking is very limited on the site itself but there is off road parking. The kids had a great time and wait for it....... Its free entry!!!