TOGETHER WITH

Hello Solihull 👋

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads, grandads, stepdads, father figures, carers and anyone spending today with the people they love.

And a gentle thought, too, for anyone finding today difficult. These calendar moments can be lovely for some and really hard for others. If today feels heavy, please do reach out to someone you trust. Solihull Bereavement are there if you need someone to talk to.

Today is also the summer solstice, which means we’ve officially reached long-evening, ice-lolly weather. But with some very hot weather forecast next week, it’s also one to take gently. Drink plenty of water, avoid the strongest sun where you can, check in on older relatives or neighbours and keep pets cool.

This week’s edition is all about making the most of Solihull: Armed Forces Week, England v Ghana pub watch, heatwave-friendly family ideas, two local walks, KIBOU’s Birmingham buzz and a big weekend in Knowle.

Let’s get into it.

— Max

A little Solihull Spotlight first this week, our very first birthday shout outs!

A big happy birthday to Sangita hope you’ve have a lovely day and get properly spoiled!

And an extra special happy 80th birthday to Mary! What a milestone! Wishing you a wonderful celebration filled with family, friends, cake and plenty of birthday love from across Solihull.

Want a birthday shout-out in Solihull Spotlight? Forward this edition to three local friends. If they subscribe using your personal referral link at the bottom of this email, reply and tell us who you’d like to celebrate.

A new local campaign called Solihull IRL has launched, encouraging families, schools, community groups and young people to have a bigger conversation about childhood in the age of smartphones and social media.

The message is simple but important: children need more time to connect, play, talk and build confidence. It’s all about giving people more support, better information and more confidence to help children spend time outdoors, join clubs, meet friends, try new activities and enjoy the offline moments that make childhood feel like childhood.

It also feels very timely, with the National conversation around under-16s and social media moving quickly this week.

The campaign has been developed with local young people, schools, community organisations and health partners, and feels like the kind of idea that could spark a really positive Solihull-wide conversation.

Worth a read if you’re a parent, teacher, coach, grandparent, scout leader, sports volunteer or anyone involved with young people locally.

👉 Solihull IRL

This week’s Solihull Spotlight is brought to you by Symphonic Ibiza, coming to Knowle Park on Friday 26 June.

Think huge Ibiza club classics, a live orchestra, incredible vocalists, summer evening energy and one of those nights where Knowle suddenly feels a little bit Balearic.

Expect iconic 90s and 00s dance anthems, big strings, big vocals and plenty of hands-in-the-air moments, all performed live in the park.

If you’re looking for a Friday night plan that feels special without heading into Birmingham, this is a very strong shout.

👉 Get tickets for Symphonic Ibiza Knowle

Solihull’s Skills for Success team will be running summer workshops to help Year 11–13 students feel a bit more confident about whatever comes next.

The sessions cover useful, real-world stuff like CV writing, interview preparation, apprenticeship applications, college and university applications, and understanding the different routes available after school or sixth form.

With GCSEs, A-levels and results season all around the corner, this feels like a very handy one to forward on to any parents, carers or teenagers who are starting to think about the next step.

Whether it’s college, university, an apprenticeship or work, a little bit of support at the right time can make a big difference.

👉 One to bookmark for the summer

Clean Air Day took place this week, and the good news is that Solihull’s air quality monitoring is looking positive.

But it’s a useful reminder that small choices can add up.

Walking into town instead of driving, cycling to the park, leaving the car at home for shorter journeys, or making the most of the green spaces we’ve got across the borough, none of it has to be dramatic, but it all helps.

And with so much happening locally over the next week, it’s a good excuse to get outside, stretch the legs and enjoy Solihull in the sunshine.

A Solihull favourite with a bit of Birmingham buzz incoming.

KIBOU has become one of the standout food spots on Solihull High Street, bringing colourful, Tokyo-inspired dining to the town centre, think handmade sushi, ramen, katsu curry, bao buns, gyozas, tempura, Japanese cocktails and, if you’re going big, one of their signature Volcano Rolls.

It’s the sort of place that works for a lot of occasions: a date night, a birthday meal, a lunch that turns into “shall we get another plate?”, or a pre-drinks dinner when you want something a bit more fun than the usual.

And here’s the interesting bit, KIBOU is also getting ready to open a new restaurant in Central Birmingham this summer, which makes the Solihull site feel like we got in early.

A nice reminder that some of the best food spots in the region are already right here on our doorstep.

👉 KIBOU Solihull

A proper village pub for anyone wanting a countryside feel without going too far from Solihull. The Bulls Head sits on the edge of Earlswood, making it a lovely stop after a walk around the lakes or through Clowes Wood. Expect home-cooked pub food, a cosy interior, dog-friendly welcome and plenty of “shall we just stay for one more?” energy. One for Sunday lunch, a post-walk pint or an easy summer evening meal outside.

👉 The Bulls Head, Earlswood

Funny to The Core: Stephen Bailey — The Core Theatre — Fri 26 Jun
The Core’s monthly comedy night returns to The Studio on Friday, with comedian and presenter Stephen Bailey headlining. A good Friday night option if you fancy live comedy without heading into Birmingham. The show starts at 8pm and tickets are £20.

👉 Funny to The Core

Plan Ahead: Outdoor Theatre at Brueton Park — This Summer
One for the summer diary rather than next week. The Core Theatre is bringing outdoor theatre to Brueton Park, including The Sword in the Stone on Saturday 25 July and Shakespeare’s As You Like It on Wednesday 12 August, performed by Illyria. Tickets are £20 for adults and £12 for children, and dogs are welcome on leads — very Solihull summer evening energy.

👉 Outdoor Theatre at Brueton Park

Toddlers & Under-5s: Mini Mugs Fun House — Shirley
A lovely one for parents, grandparents and childminders with little ones to entertain. This Shirley play village is designed around imaginative play, with mini role-play areas, soft play, a baby area and a café for grown-ups who need coffee while the children explore. A handy weekday option for toddlers and under-5s who need to burn off some energy somewhere safe and cosy.

👉 Little Village, Shirley

Knowle Locks Canal Walk — Knowle — Approx. 3 miles
A gentle, mostly flat canal walk with shade, water views and a very decent pub finish. Start near Grimshaw Hall off Hampton Road and pick up the Grand Union Canal towpath, following the water towards Knowle Locks. The flight of five locks is a lovely spot to pause, especially if you’ve got kids who enjoy watching the narrowboats work their way through. Head back along the towpath into Knowle and finish at The King’s Arms for a canalside drink or bite to eat. A simple summer walk that feels calm, local and very easy to enjoy.

👉 Knowle Locks Canal Walk

Earlswood Lakes & Clowes Wood Loop — Earlswood — Approx. 4.7 miles
One of the prettiest local loops if you want water, wildlife and woodland shade in one go. Start at Earlswood Lakes and wander around Windmill Pool, Terry’s Pool and Engine Pool before heading into Clowes Wood, where the paths feel cooler and quieter on a hot day. It’s a good one for families, dog walkers and anyone who wants a proper countryside reset without travelling far. Finish at The Bulls Head in Earlswood for food, drinks and a well-earned sit down outside.

👉 Earlswood Lakes & Clowes Wood Loop

England v Ghana — Pub Watch — Tue 23 Jun
England are back in World Cup action on Tuesday night, with a 9pm kick-off against Ghana on BBC. After that very enjoyable 4–2 opener against Croatia, this feels like one to watch with a pint, a big screen and a room full of people quietly convincing themselves it might actually be coming home.

👉 England v Ghana

RIDE Tommy Godwin Challenge — Solihull School — Sun 28 Jun
A brilliant local cycling challenge starting and finishing at Solihull School, honouring Tommy Godwin, the 1948 Olympic cycling medallist. Riders can choose between a 47-mile Classic route or a 62-mile Champion route, heading out through the Warwickshire and Worcestershire countryside with signed routes, aid stations and support along the way. Entry starts from £43.50, with funds supporting Action Medical Research.

👉 RIDE Tommy Godwin Challenge

Planet Ice Solihull — Hobs Moat Road — All week
A chance to cool down, a hot-day option for families, teens and anyone who fancies swapping the sunshine for skates. Planet Ice Solihull has public skating sessions, lessons and skate hire available, with skating aids also available for little ones or nervous beginners. Check the timetable before heading over, as session times vary by day.

👉 Planet Ice Solihull

Knowle Party in the Park — Knowle Park — Sat 27 Jun
A full summer festival day in the heart of Knowle, with gates opening at 11am and live music running from midday through to 10:30pm. Expect big tunes, local atmosphere, food and drink vendors, and a proper community festival feel. This one is ticketed, and advance booking is strongly recommended.

👉 Knowle Party in the Park

Armed Forces Week — Solihull Town Centre — Mon 22–Sun 28 Jun
A week of free events across Solihull town centre to honour the Armed Forces community, from serving personnel and veterans to cadets, reservists and military families. Activities will take place around Mell Square, Touchwood and the wider town centre, with community displays, live music, family-friendly moments and opportunities to show support. A lovely one to pop into if you’re in town next week.

👉 Armed Forces Week

The Autism & ADHD Show — NEC Birmingham — Fri 26–Sat 27 Jun
A useful National event for parents, carers, teachers, professionals and anyone wanting to better understand autism and ADHD. The show brings together expert talks, advice, resources, support organisations and practical guidance under one roof at the NEC. Tickets range from free to paid options, and it could be a really helpful one to share with families, schools or local groups.

👉 The Autism & ADHD Show

Lily Allen — bp pulse LIVE — Fri 26 Jun
A big Friday night arena gig at bp pulse LIVE, with Lily Allen heading to Birmingham for one night only. Expect a proper mix of sharp pop, big singalong moments and a crowd ready for a summer night out. One for fans who fancy a city-centre gig without travelling too far from Solihull.

👉 Lily Allen at bp pulse LIVE

• 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 Thursday! 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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