Good morning, Solihull! ☀️

The school holidays are in full swing, Solihull town centre has its very own beach, and this week brought some exciting news for independent businesses, local makers and anyone who has ever dreamed of seeing their products on the shelves of a town-centre shop.

We've also found a seriously good new pizzeria in the town centre, one of the best brunches in Knowle, and plenty to fill your August, from a rooftop kids' disco to comedy, outdoor cinema and Solihull Pride.

Let's get into it.

— Max

If you have ever wandered through Solihull town centre and thought, “One day, I’d love to see my products in a real shop,” this could be the opportunity you have been waiting for.

Indespoke, a new concept store designed specifically for independent brands, makers, founders and creatives, has officially opened at 30 Mill Lane in Solihull town centre.

Rather than operating like a traditional shop, Indespoke brings a collection of smaller businesses together under one roof. Visitors can browse products from independent brands, discover the stories behind the people who created them and support businesses that may previously have traded mainly online or at occasional markets and pop-up events.

For the businesses involved, it offers much more than shelf space. Participating brands can access a physical retail presence, pop-up opportunities, business support, an online marketplace listing and a wider community of makers and entrepreneurs.

The Solihull opening is Indespoke’s second concept space, following the launch of its first location at Birmingham’s Great Western Arcade.

👉 Discover Indespoke

Are you a local brand thinking about getting involved? Hit reply and tell us. We would love to hear about your business and follow your journey.

A huge congratulations to Blythe Rose Solihull, which has been named Care Home of the Year at the 2026 West Midlands Business Awards. 🏆

The specialist dementia care home, based at Blythe Valley Park, was recognised for the countless ways its team goes above and beyond to support residents and their families.

As Macc Care explained, there was not one single moment behind the award, but thousands of smaller acts of kindness, compassion and exceptional care carried out by the Blythe Rose team every day.

It is another impressive achievement for the home, which also received a Good rating across all five areas in its latest Care Quality Commission assessment, covering safety, effectiveness, care, responsiveness and leadership.

A thoroughly deserved award for a team making a real difference to people living with dementia in Solihull.

Congratulations to everyone at Blythe Rose! 👏

Brilliant news for young people across the borough: the Solihull Youth Bus has extended its hours and is now travelling to seven additional Solihull neighbourhoods.

The bus will visit:

Blythe Valley, Castle Bromwich, Cheswick Green, Dickens Heath, Kingshurst, Shirley and Smith’s Wood.

These locations join the existing stops in Chelmsley Wood and Marston Green, with the extended timetable keeping the Youth Bus on the road throughout the week.

For anyone who has not come across it before, the bus takes activities and youth support directly into neighbourhoods where young people might not have easy access to a traditional youth club.

More than 400 young people aged 11 to 17 have already taken part in over 100 hours of workshops, including graffiti art, filmmaking and aerial hoop sessions.

The programme is delivered in partnership with Streets Studios and the Meriden Adventure Playground Association, with trusted youth workers also on hand to offer advice, guidance and a safe place to spend time.

A welcoming space, creative activities and something positive to do during the school holidays, exactly the kind of local initiative worth celebrating.

👉 View the Youth Bus timetable

Solihull has a proper Neapolitan pizzeria and it's a good one. Red Hot Mamma landed on Station Road as the fourth opening from the family behind the much-loved Leamington, Warwick and Stratford branches, and it's already picked up a Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice award for sitting in the top 10% of restaurants.

The pizza credentials are serious: 100% Caputo flour, dough fermented for a minimum of 48 hours, San Marzano tomatoes and fior di latte on almost everything. The Salami Trio (Napoli, Calabrese and Siciliano) is the crowd-pleaser, but keep an eye out for the goat's cheese, Calabrian salami and hot honey number if you like a sweet-heat kick. And the interior is worth the visit alone: bold, colourful and gloriously over-the-top in the best way.

Open seven days a week, with 20% off collection orders if you'd rather takeaway. Buon appetito!

👉 Red Hot Mamma

Tucked just off Knowle High Street, Swan Yard has quietly built a reputation as one of the best brunch spots in the borough, the kind of place where regulars will warn you, with complete sincerity, not to leave without an almond croissant.

Run by Hayley, Paul and their team, it's a proper family-feel independent: sourdough breakfast baps built on award-winning Lashford sausages and Manor Oak bacon, American-style pancake stacks with maple syrup, smashed avocado with chilli and lemon on sourdough, and a counter of cinnamon rolls and pastries that's dangerous to walk past. The coffee holds its own too, and they're known for being genuinely clued-up on gluten-free options, rarer than it should be.

Dog-friendly, no reservations needed, and open seven days a week (Mon–Sat 8am–5pm, Sunday 9am–3pm). Ideal for a post-walk brunch after a wander round Knowle. Pop in and tell them Solihull Spotlight sent you.

👉 📸 Swan Yard Coffee

An evening of big laughs in the heart of Solihull, with award-winning comedian Stephen K Amos headlining the latest Funny to the Core show. The performance takes place on Saturday 1 August at 8pm, with tickets priced at £20 plus a transaction fee.

👉 Funny to the Core at The Core Theatre

Get the little ones dancing at this family-friendly party inside the rooftop Secret Garden at Resorts World. The afternoon includes a live DJ, children’s disco, music and plenty of family fun, running from 11.30am until 3pm on Tuesday 4 August.

👉 Kids Party in the Secret Garden

Collectors and history enthusiasts can browse coins, medals, banknotes, tokens and other collectables at the Midland Coin Fair. The event takes place on Sunday 9 August from 9.30am to 3.30pm at the National Motorcycle Museum in Bickenhill, next to the NEC. Admission is typically £4 per person, children enter free, and free parking and on-site refreshments are available.

👉 Midland Coin Fair at the National Motorcycle Museum

Cinema under the stars is coming to Swanshurst Park for four summer evenings, with films including Dirty Dancing, Grease, Mamma Mia, Top Gun: Maverick, Wonka, Inside Out 2 and The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The outdoor cinema runs from Friday 7 to Monday 10 August, with adult tickets from £13.95 and children’s tickets from £10.95. Seating is included.

👉 Birmingham Outdoor Cinema at Swanshurst Park

Pack a picnic, bring a blanket or folding chair and enjoy Shakespeare beneath the summer sky as Illyria brings As You Like It to Brueton Park. The open-air comedy follows four pairs of soulmates through the Forest of Arden, with plenty of romance, mistaken identities and laughter along the way. Gates open at 5pm for a 6pm performance, with tickets priced at £20 for adults and £12 for children, plus a transaction fee. The show is suitable for all ages and will go ahead come rain or shine.

👉 As You Like It at Brueton Park

Test your knowledge on everything from Kate Bush to Harris Tweed beneath the stretch tent on the Archery Lawn. The adults-only quiz runs from 5.15pm until 9pm on Friday 14 August, with teams of up to six and entry by a minimum £2 donation on the door. Places must be reserved in advance.

👉 Summer Quiz at Castle Bromwich Historic Gardens

Lace up your trainers or head into town to cheer on thousands of runners as Run Solihull returns for its sixth year. The closed-road event starts and finishes in Malvern Park, with the half marathon beginning at 9am, the 5K at 9.35am and the Junior Race at 11.45am. Entry costs £49 for the half marathon, £36 for the 5K and £10 for the Junior Race, with the event supporting Acorns Children’s Hospice.

👉 Run Solihull 2026

Celebrate inclusivity, diversity and community spirit as Solihull Pride brings a colourful day of entertainment to the town centre. The free, family-friendly celebration runs from 11am to 5pm, with the Pride Parade setting off at 12pm and travelling through the High Street, Touchwood and Mell Square. There will also be live performances on the Mell Square stage, hosted by Phil Oldershaw, alongside community activities and entertainment throughout the day. Parade participants should register in advance.

👉 Solihull Pride 2026

Discover one of the world’s fastest-growing sports as the English Open Pickleball Tournament takes over three halls at the NEC. More than 60 courts will host six days of fast-paced matches, bringing together leading players from the UK and overseas, alongside a central vendor village where visitors can browse equipment and learn more about the sport. The tournament runs from Tuesday 11 to Sunday 16 August in Halls 6, 7 and 20, with spectator tickets expected to cost between £10 and £25.

👉 English Open Pickleball Tournament at the NEC

• Bin collections: https://digital.solihull.gov.uk/BinCollectionCalendar/
• Council news + updates: https://www.solihull.gov.uk/news
• Travel disruptions (West Midlands): https://disruptions.tfwm.org.uk/

Thanks for reading Solihull Spotlight 💙 let’s chat again on Sunday! Hit reply and tell me what you want more of next week: family, events, food, deals, walking routes, live music, sport, or hidden gems.

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