4
Disabled traveller joins friends at KIBOU Birmingham for lunch
KIBOU, meaning Hope, is a Japanese restaurant which in August 2013 opened a basement 24 seated eatery in Cheltenham, Cotswold, founded by Emma Graveney. This successful eatery on Regent street, grew quiet quickly, so that in 2020 it moved into larger premises, then two years later, they opened a restaurant at Solihull Birmingham (WE HAVE REVIEWED THIS FOR YOU) which was followed by Bristol, Battersea, Cambridge and Oxford, and now, in October 2026 their newest restaurant was opened on Temple Row, Birmingham city centre.
(We joined them for lunch three days later at. Their newest restaurant )
The attraction for my wife and self, is that their restaurant is situated in the very home we lived in from 1952, through our engagement, MARRAIGE and then moving into Union Chambers in Temple Row, to be the manager of this office block building itself, until the building was sold in 1989, and we lost our home and job when made redundant and moving away to live in Cornwall.
So we were intrigued to see how they have converted the ground floor space into their restaurant.
OUR NEXT REVIEW WILL BE A QUICK HISTORY OF OUR LIVES AT UNION CHAMBERS TEMPLE ROW
Photo 1
Union Chambers stands a hundred yards or so from Snow Hill station, then a short walk across the cathedral grounds onto Temple Row.
Photo 2
The entrance for the ground floor KIBOU restaurant on Temple Row.
Note the red letter box pillar, which is one of the oldest remaining letter boxes, dating from Queen Victorias day.
Photo three and 4
The restaurant is all on the level, with wide open spaces so that pushing a wheelchair is very easy, and photos of happy to be visitors can be taken.
Photo 5
The deco is very pleasant and modern, and seating offers a variety of choice.
Photo 6 and 7
It has an open area to enjoy a sushi kitchen, with food prepared on the spot for you, while you settle into the seated area ready to enjoy your selection.
Photo 8 and 9
Seating is ample, with very comfortable seats, and there is room for wheelchairs and scooters in various spots.
Photo
Much of your selected dishes are prepared by the chefs in the main kitchen area, very clean and tidy, maintained well by the staff.
Photo 11
Areas for leaving your wheelchair or scooter are plentiful and out of the way,
close to your table, and taken care for you by attentive staff.
Photos 12,13 and 14
The food is then prepared by staff and brought to your table.
We chose a variety of small dishes so that we could sample many Japanese dishes.
Photos 15 and 16
The disabled toilet stands on the ground floor, close to the food preparation area, and may be entered with the use of your own radar key, or staff will be pleased to open door for you.
Inside is very clean and maintained well, and most chairs have enough room to spin around.
All in all, a very enjoyable visit, food was beautifully presented, cooked well, and a large selection to choose. The restaurant itself is pleasing on the eye, decorated with typical Japanese style, and an interesting restaurant to visit.
KIBOU, meaning Hope, is a Japanese restaurant which in August 2013 opened a basement 24 seated eatery in Cheltenham, Cotswold, founded by Emma Graveney. This successful eatery on Regent street, grew quiet quickly, so that in 2020 it moved into larger premises, then two years later, they opened a restaurant at Solihull Birmingham (WE HAVE REVIEWED THIS FOR YOU) which was followed by Bristol, Battersea, Cambridge and Oxford, and now, in October 2026 their newest restaurant was opened on Temple Row, Birmingham city centre.
(We joined them for lunch three days later at. Their newest restaurant )
The attraction for my wife and self, is that their restaurant is situated in the very home we lived in from 1952, through our engagement, MARRAIGE and then moving into Union Chambers in Temple Row, to be the manager of this office block building itself, until the building was sold in 1989, and we lost our home and job when made redundant and moving away to live in Cornwall.
So we were intrigued to see how they have converted the ground floor space into their restaurant.
OUR NEXT REVIEW WILL BE A QUICK HISTORY OF OUR LIVES AT UNION CHAMBERS TEMPLE ROW
Photo 1
Union Chambers stands a hundred yards or so from Snow Hill station, then a short walk across the cathedral grounds onto Temple Row.
Photo 2
The entrance for the ground floor KIBOU restaurant on Temple Row.
Note the red letter box pillar, which is one of the oldest remaining letter boxes, dating from Queen Victorias day.
Photo three and 4
The restaurant is all on the level, with wide open spaces so that pushing a wheelchair is very easy, and photos of happy to be visitors can be taken.
Photo 5
The deco is very pleasant and modern, and seating offers a variety of choice.
Photo 6 and 7
It has an open area to enjoy a sushi kitchen, with food prepared on the spot for you, while you settle into the seated area ready to enjoy your selection.
Photo 8 and 9
Seating is ample, with very comfortable seats, and there is room for wheelchairs and scooters in various spots.
Photo
Much of your selected dishes are prepared by the chefs in the main kitchen area, very clean and tidy, maintained well by the staff.
Photo 11
Areas for leaving your wheelchair or scooter are plentiful and out of the way,
close to your table, and taken care for you by attentive staff.
Photos 12,13 and 14
The food is then prepared by staff and brought to your table.
We chose a variety of small dishes so that we could sample many Japanese dishes.
Photos 15 and 16
The disabled toilet stands on the ground floor, close to the food preparation area, and may be entered with the use of your own radar key, or staff will be pleased to open door for you.
Inside is very clean and maintained well, and most chairs have enough room to spin around.
All in all, a very enjoyable visit, food was beautifully presented, cooked well, and a large selection to choose. The restaurant itself is pleasing on the eye, decorated with typical Japanese style, and an interesting restaurant to visit.
For additional detailed accessibility information, please contact: birmingham@kibou.co.uk
