Good Morning Solihull 👋

We’ve got a packed one for you this morning!

A Shirley restaurant has just been named the third-best casual dining spot in the entire UK, there’s a lovely update from Shirley Park, and we’ve found plenty to keep you busy this weekend, whether you fancy a family day out, live music, a morning market, something active or a really good meal.

There’s also been plenty happening in local sport (including one slightly ridiculous eight-man victory for Knowle), The Moors’ first win and if you’d rather escape Solihull altogether, we’ve found return flights from Birmingham from around £40.

Let’s get into it.

— Max

A group of Solihull schools has picked up some pretty impressive national recognition.

Collaborative Education Trust has been named on Great Place To Work UK’s Best Workplaces in Education & Training list for 2026.

The recently formed trust brings together Langley School, Oak Cottage Primary School, Haslucks Green Junior School and Coleshill Heath School.

The recognition is based on anonymous feedback from employees about what it’s actually like to work there, with particularly strong responses around feeling proud of their work and being made to feel welcome when joining the organisation.

Chief Executive Clare Thorpe said the trust sees its staff as its “most valuable asset”, with everyone across its schools playing a role in supporting local children, young people and communities.

A lovely bit of recognition for the people working behind the scenes in some of our local schools. 👏

👉 Discover more of the Collaborative Education Trust / Best Workplace

There’s been another nice update at Shirley Park, where a new plaque has been unveiled to mark the ongoing transformation of its Rose Garden.

Work began back in 2024 to turn the area into a more accessible, inclusive and sensory space, with the project bringing together the Friends of Shirley Park, Love Solihull and Green Room Landscapes.

The new plaque explains the work completed so far and even includes a Braille translation, fitting nicely with the garden’s focus on accessibility.

And the work isn’t stopping there. Volunteers from the Friends of Shirley Park plan to continue planting and maintaining both the cultivated and wildflower areas over the next couple of years, with the aim of creating a peaceful reflection space for visitors and a bit of a haven for local wildlife too.

Families considering secondary school options can have a look around Solihull School this Saturday as the Warwick Road campus hosts its Senior School Open Morning.

Running from 9.30am–12pm on Saturday 19 September, the morning is aimed at families interested in places for pupils aged 11–18.

Visitors can tour the campus, look around the facilities, hear from senior leaders and meet current staff and pupils.

The final tour leaves at 11.30am, and one booking covers the whole family.

📍 Solihull School, Warwick Road, B91 3DJ
📅 Saturday 19 September
⏰ 9.30am–12pm

👉 Book your slot here

Tucked away on Hampton Lane, Fox is a relaxed neighbourhood spot for breakfast, lunch, dinner or Sunday roast.

Expect seasonal British food, a cosy interior and garden, plus Apéro Hour from 4–6pm Thursday to Saturday with selected glasses of wine for £5.

📍 255 Hampton Lane, Catherine-de-Barnes, B91 2TJ

👉 Take a look at Fox

Opposite Dorridge Station, The Forest is a long-standing local favourite for drinks, dinner and Sunday lunch.

The menu focuses on seasonal British dishes, with a smart restaurant, relaxed bar and recently refurbished Oak Room.

📍 25 Station Approach, Dorridge, B93 8JA

👉 Explore The Forest

A huge bit of recognition for a Shirley independent.

Lavang Shirley has been ranked the third-best Casual Dining restaurant in the UK in Tripadvisor’s 2026 Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards.

The Stratford Road restaurant serves Indian and Bangladeshi food, holds a 4.9/5 Tripadvisor rating, and is currently ranked #1 in Shirley.

📍 173A Stratford Road, Shirley, B90 3AX

Third best in Britain isn’t bad for a restaurant right here in Solihull. 👏

👉 Check out their Instagram and menu

🔥 M.O.V.E at Mell Square — Saturday 19 September — FREE
Mell Square is turning into a feel-good fitness space on Saturday as Shirley's Wellbeing CIC hosts two hours of movement, music and community from 11am–1pm. Expect instructor-led exercise, a live DJ, games and plenty of positive energy, with all fitness levels welcome. It’s completely free, although booking is required.
👉 Book M.O.V.E at Mell Square

🌸 Sri Radhashtami Festival — Saturday 19 September
A colourful community celebration comes to Shelly Farm Community Centre from 1–5pm this Saturday. The ISKCON Birmingham Festival Team will mark Sri Radhashtami with live kirtan, worship, talks and a free vegetarian feast, with families warmly welcomed to join the celebrations.
👉 Sri Radhashtami Festival

🧁 Balsall Common Country Market — Saturday 19 September
Fancy a slower Saturday morning? Balsall Common Country Market takes over Jubilee Hall from 10am–12pm, with locally produced food, handmade crafts and plenty of homemade treats to browse. There’s also a café, where a cuppa and cake starts from just £2.20.
👉 Balsall Common Country Market

☕ Sips & Strides — Sunday 20 September — FREE
Coffee and a Sunday morning walk sounds pretty good to us. Sips & Strides meets outside Boston Tea Party Solihull at 9am for a relaxed walk and chat, usually heading around Malvern & Brueton Park. Come alone, bring a friend, or the dog and meet some new faces along the way.
👉 Join Sips & Strides

🎹 Chasing Deer: Seasons — Autumn — Sunday 20 September (£)
Fancy a slightly different Sunday afternoon? Singer-songwriter Chasing Deer is performing an intimate acoustic show around the piano at Seasons Coffee House in Shirley from 2pm. Tickets are £18 and even include a seasonal grazing board of cakes and sweet treats.
👉 Chasing Deer: Seasons — Autumn

🏃 Hampton 2 Lakes Run & Fun Day — Sunday 20 September
Fancy starting Sunday with something active? Hampton-in-Arden's first charity run in years takes runners on a 6.2km route from Hampton Sports Club to Barston Lake and back, with the option to double it to 12km. Afterwards, there’s a community fun day from 12–6pm, with food, entertainment, activities and a raffle, all supporting the British Heart Foundation.
👉 Hampton 2 Lakes Run & Fun Day

📚 Meet local author Anna Byk at GAIL's — Monday 21 September — FREE
Books and baked goods might be our new favourite combination. Award-winning local author Anna Byk will be at GAIL's Solihull from 5.30–7.30pm for its Knead to Read series, chatting about her novel It's Never Really Over, the writing process and getting published. Signed copies will also be available afterwards. Entry is free, but you'll need a ticket.
👉 Knead to Read with Anna Byk

A much-needed three points for Solihull Moors, who beat Barrow 1–0 at Damson Park on Tuesday night to claim their first National League win of the season. Next up is a trip to Yeovil Town tomorrow night, with kick-off at 7.45pm.

👉 Read the full match report here

This might be the local result of the week. Knowle FC beat Atherstone Town 4–3 on Tuesday despite finishing the match with just eight players, after two red cards and a late sin-bin.

Even better, it keeps their league record perfect at seven wins from seven. They’re back at the Robins’ Nest this Saturday against Eynesbury Rovers at 3pm.

There’s another big afternoon at the Robins’ Nest on Sunday as Knowle Women take on Port Vale Women in the Women's FA Cup Second Round Qualifying.

📅 Sunday 20 September
⏰ 2pm kick-off
📍 The Robins’ Nest, Hampton Road

A great excuse to get behind another local side on their FA Cup journey.

A good end to the league season for Earlswood Cricket Club's 1st XI, who chased down 139 to beat Coventry & North Warwickshire by six wickets last weekend.

The 2nd XI also finished strongly, beating Hampton & Solihull after racing to 148/1 chasing 145. 🏏

Part of a local sports team? From football and rugby to hockey, netball, cricket and everything in between, we’d love to feature more local results, stories and upcoming fixtures. Just hit reply and tell us what your club is up to.

Fancy escaping Solihull for a few days? We've had a look at cheap direct flights from Birmingham Airport and there are some seriously tempting fares around this September.

Pizza, pasta, sunshine and a ridiculous amount of history for less than some train fares.

✈️ Birmingham → Rome
📅 Sunday 27 – Wednesday 30 September
💷 From £41 return with Ryanair.

Three nights is plenty of time for the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Vatican City and several completely unnecessary gelatos.

👉 Flights to Rome

Fancy somewhere a little different? Head north for colourful old streets, waterfront views, cosy cafés and plenty of cinnamon buns.

✈️ Birmingham → Stockholm
📅 Saturday 26 September – Saturday 3 October
💷 From £40 return with Ryanair.

At that price, Scandinavia suddenly feels considerably less expensive.

👉 Flights to Stockholm

One for anyone refusing to accept that summer is over.

✈️ Birmingham → Barcelona
📅 Thursday 8 – Saturday 17 October
💷 From £40 return with Vueling.

Think tapas, Gaudí, beach walks and hopefully a final dose of Spanish sunshine before autumn properly arrives.

👉 Flights to Barcelona

Prices checked on 16 September and can change quickly. Cheapest fares may only include a small personal bag.

• 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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