TOGETHER WITH

Well, it has been a hot one (understatement)!

Solihull has been baking this week, so if you’ve been hiding in the shade, panic-buying ice lollies or quietly wondering whether it’s acceptable to have the fan on all day… you are not alone!

It’s also been another big week of football. England made a flying start with that 4–2 win against Croatia, before giving us a slightly more familiar “watch through your fingers” evening with the 0–0 against Ghana. Next up: Panama on Saturday night. Come on England!

And before we get into this week’s edition, we’ve got two very exciting winners to announce from our Instagram competition with Knowle Party in the Park.

A huge congratulations to:

🎟️ Laura Owen / @j_and_b_plus_me — winner of 4 x VIP tickets to Symphonic Ibiza
🎟️ Mrs H / @brummie_nurse — winner of 4 x tickets to Knowle Party in the Park

Please email us to claim your tickets and we’ll get everything sorted for you. And stay tuned for more newsletter giveaways coming up over the summer months!

This week, we’ve got garden waste reminders, community shout-outs, defibrillator week, local food finds, a Together With Knowle Party in the Park, and a big list of things to do across Solihull over the next couple of weeks.

Let’s get into it.

— Max

A quick reminder for anyone with a green garden waste bin: Solihull’s current garden waste collection year ends on Tuesday 30 June, with the new subscription year starting from Wednesday 1 July.

The service is optional, but if you want your garden waste collections to continue into 2026/27, you’ll need to renew or sign up through Solihull Council.

The annual fee has been frozen at £49, and new permits can take 10–15 working days to arrive, so it’s worth sorting sooner rather than leaving it until the last minute. Permits need to be stuck on the back of your garden waste bin, underneath the handles, ready for the new collection year.

If you don’t want to pay for the service, the council says residents can still manage garden waste in other ways, including taking it to Bickenhill Household Waste Recycling Centre or using a compost bin.

👉 Renew or subscribe for garden waste collections

This weekend, Knowle Park turns into one of the biggest summer parties in Solihull.

Knowle Party in the Park is back on Saturday 27 June, bringing a full day of live music, festival energy, food, drinks and proper community atmosphere to the heart of Knowle.

And the night before, Symphonic Ibiza takes over the park on Friday 26 June, with Ibiza classics reimagined by a live orchestra and vocalists — one for anyone who loves big tunes, hands-in-the-air moments and a summer night out close to home.

We’re told tickets are now down to the last few, so if you’ve been meaning to book, this is your nudge.

👉 Grab your Knowle Party in the Park tickets

One of our favourite things about Solihull Spotlight is hearing from readers about the places they love most.

This week, Max from Monkspath emailed in to remind us just how many great pubs, cafés and local spots there are around — the kind of places that are easy to overlook when they’re right on your doorstep.

And Ben from Balsall Common also messaged in with a lovely reminder that one of the best things about living around Solihull is how quickly you can find yourself in open countryside. A short walk or drive and suddenly you’re out by fields, lanes, village pubs and big skies.

It’s a good reminder that Solihull isn’t just the town centre. It’s the little patches, villages, cafés, pubs, walks and local routines that make the borough feel like home.

So this is your nudge for the week: try somewhere local you haven’t been for a while. Take the scenic route. Pop into a café you normally walk past. Or send us your favourite local pub, walk, hidden gem or weekend ritual — we’d love to feature more reader recommendations!

👉 Tell us your story by hitting reply

Following Check Your Defib Week, this feels like a good moment for a quick local reminder: do you know where your nearest public defibrillator is?

Defibrillators can make a huge difference in a cardiac emergency, but only if people know where they are and they’re ready to use. You’ll often find them outside community centres, sports clubs, schools, village halls, pubs, shops and other public buildings.

The important thing to remember is this: in an emergency, always call 999 first. The ambulance service can guide you and help direct you to the nearest registered defibrillator if one is available.

But it’s also worth checking in advance where your nearest one is — especially near your home, workplace, gym, school, regular walking route or local pub.

You can use Defib Finder to search by postcode and find nearby registered defibrillators.

👉 Find your nearest defibrillator

A little slice of Australian coffee culture in the heart of Dorridge, Brondi is one for anyone who takes their brunch and flat whites seriously.

Set on Station Road, just a short walk from Dorridge Station, it’s an independent coffee and kitchen spot with a laid-back feel, speciality coffee, fresh brunch dishes and a proper community buzz.

It’s the kind of place that works for a post-school-run coffee, a laptop morning, brunch with friends, or a weekend stop-off before a walk around Dorridge and Knowle.

One for: smashed avo, good coffee, brunch dates and pretending you’re on Australia’s east coast rather than in the West Midlands.

👉 Brondi

Over in Dickens Heath, Mortons is one of those easy “works for almost anything” local restaurants.

Morning coffee? Yes. Brunch? Absolutely. Lunch with family? Sorted. Dinner, cocktails, pizzas, Sunday roast or a catch-up with friends? Also covered.

With its bright, relaxed feel, open kitchen and tree-shaded terrace, Mortons has become a bit of a Dickens Heath favourite — the kind of place you can pop into casually, but also book for a proper meal out.

One for: brunch, date night, Sunday lunch, cocktails, or a reliable local dinner.

👉 Mortons Kitchen, Bar & Deli

Sun-print Workshop — Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens — Sat 27 Jun
A calm, creative workshop in the beautiful surroundings of Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens. Birmingham artist Jake Lever leads a hands-on cyanotype session, showing you how to make striking blue “sun prints” using one of photography’s most historic processes. Sessions run in the morning and afternoon, with tickets priced at £45.

👉 Sun-print Workshop at Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens

Soundbath in the Walled Garden — Baddesley Clinton — Fri 3 Jul
A peaceful evening soundbath in the Walled Garden at Baddesley Clinton. Expect gongs, crystal bowls, drums and chimes in a relaxing outdoor setting, with the session designed to help you properly switch off under the trees. Bring a mat, cushion, blankets and your cosiest clothes. Tickets are £22pp and booking is essential.

👉 Soundbath at Baddesley Clinton

Exhibition on Screen: Frida Kahlo — The Core Theatre — Mon 6 Jul
A big-screen journey through the life, work and world of Frida Kahlo, shown at The Core Theatre on Monday 6 July at 7pm. The documentary explores the woman behind the bright colours, floral crowns and iconic self-portraits, with access to her work, home, studio and story. Tickets are £12, plus transaction fee.

👉 Frida Kahlo at The Core

Norton Day — National Motorcycle Museum — Sat 27 Jun
A free day out for motorcycle fans at the National Motorcycle Museum, celebrating one of Britain’s most iconic motorcycle names. Expect Norton displays, guest speakers, trade stands, club activity, prize giveaways and a chance to see the famous White Charger fired up. A great local one for bike lovers, families and anyone who enjoys British motoring history.

👉 Norton Day at the National Motorcycle Museum

Solihull Dining Club — Tudor Grange Park — Sat 4 Jul
Digbeth Dining Club rolls into Tudor Grange Park for a full afternoon of street food, bars, music and summer atmosphere. Expect a line-up of independent traders, plenty of space to sit out, and an easy family-friendly feel in the heart of Solihull. The event runs from 12–6pm, with tickets from £3 for adults and £1.50 for children.

👉 Solihull Dining Club

Touchwood Mela — Touchwood, Solihull — Sun 5 Jul
A colourful celebration of South Asian culture, music, food and community in Solihull town centre. Touchwood Mela brings performances, workshops, drumming, dancing and family-friendly entertainment to Theatre Square, with hosts including Mya Khan from BBC WM and Jas Rohel from On Your Radio. A brilliant one to drop into if you’re in town.

👉 Touchwood Mela

Shirley Carnival — Shirley Park — Sat 11 Jul
A proper community day out in Shirley Park, with rides, stalls, the Shirley Dog Show and a fun Viking theme for 2026. This year’s attractions include Ridgeside Falconry, the Brumvik Viking Enactment Group and the Shirley Pipe Band — and visitors are invited to get involved by dressing up for the theme.

👉 Shirley Carnival

Swimming — The Lakes at Lavender Hall, Berkswell
A lovely summer reset just outside Solihull, with open-water swimming, lakeside sauna sessions, paddleboarding, kayaking, Wild Wellness and a café on site. Swimming and sauna sessions need to be booked online before arrival, and it’s one for confident swimmers looking for a countryside dip rather than a casual splash about.

👉 Swim at Lavender Lakes

Dosthill Quarry — Tamworth
A proper open-water swimming spot for anyone who fancies something a bit different this summer. Dosthill Quarry offers bookable swim sessions in clear quarry water, with options for adults and juniors, plus hot drinks afterwards if you need warming back up. A good one for triathletes, open-water regulars or anyone wanting to try a more adventurous swim.

👉 Open Water Swimming at Dosthill Quarry

Solihull Summer Fest — Tudor Grange Park — Sat 18 & Sun 19 Jul
One of the biggest weekends in the Solihull summer calendar returns to Tudor Grange Park for two days of feel-good festival energy. This year marks the festival’s 10th anniversary, with a packed weekend of live music, food, drinks and big summer atmosphere right in the middle of town.

👉 Solihull Summer Fest

Solihull Pride — Mell Square — Sat 8 Aug
Solihull Pride returns to the town centre for a colourful celebration of LGBTQ+ culture, diversity and community. The Pride Parade is set to run through Solihull town centre at midday, with the wider event taking place around Mell Square from late morning into the afternoon. A joyful one to get in the diary.

👉 Solihull Pride

• 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/

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