Good evening Solihull 👋

September is properly underway and if you're already wondering what on earth to do next weekend, today's Spotlight should have you covered.

We've got free days out, outdoor cinema, local food finds, FA Cup drama, a brilliant Solihull story heading all the way to Times Square… and, because you seemed to enjoy these, we've gone hunting for cheap flights from Birmingham again… apparently £39 return to Mallorca is a thing.

Let’s get into it.

— Max

After years of planning, construction and plenty of us driving past wondering when it would finally be finished, Balsall Common's brand-new Aldi is officially open.

The new supermarket on Kenilworth Road welcomed its first shoppers at 8am on Thursday, with Paralympic silver medallist Ali Fewins joining store manager Malcolm Upton and the team to cut the ribbon.

Early birds did particularly well too: the first 30 shoppers were given complimentary bags of fruit and vegetables from Aldi's Super 6 range.

The new store has been built on the former Edwins Autos/service-station site at the northern end of Balsall Common, with 93 parking spaces included as part of the development.

And if you're planning your first middle-aisle expedition, the store is open:

🕗 Monday–Saturday: 8am–10pm
🕙 Sunday: 10am–4pm

It's one of 16 new Aldi stores being opened around the UK as part of the supermarket's £370 million investment in new stores this year.

So after watching it slowly take shape for months... Has anyone been in yet? Hit reply and let me know what you think and, more importantly, what you've already found in the middle aisle.

A previously unused patch of land at Riverside Best Start Family Hub in Chelmsley Wood has been given an impressive makeover.

The brand-new community garden officially opened this week after the project secured £49,828 from the Severn Trent Community Fund.

And this wasn't simply a case of someone deciding what families needed.

151 local children, parents and carers were asked what they wanted from the new space, with creative, sensory and relaxation areas coming out on top.

The finished garden now includes different areas for children to explore and play, alongside somewhere parents and carers can sit and relax, all within a secure outdoor space.

Local community organisations Super SEN CIC and ReImagine Me CIC also supported the project, which forms part of the wider work being done through the Your Future Chelmsley Wood programme.

It's a really nice example of taking a space that wasn't being used and turning it into something families across north Solihull can actually enjoy. 💙

📍 Riverside Family Hub, 289 Bosworth Drive, Chelmsley Wood

👉 Families can pop into the hub to see the new garden and find out more about the activities available there.

Here's a lovely local story to brighten your Sunday.

Seven-year-old Arabella Adler from Solihull is heading to New York after her photo was chosen to appear on the huge screens in Times Square. 🇺🇸✨

Arabella's picture was selected from around 2,700 submissions as part of the National Down Syndrome Society's annual Times Square presentation, celebrating children, young people and adults with Down syndrome from around the world.

Her photo will be one of more than 500 shown in New York on Saturday 12 September and Arabella and her family are making the trip across the Atlantic to see it happen in person.

They'll also join families for a special Buddy Walk through New York before celebrating together in Central Park.

What a brilliant moment for a local family. Have the best time, Arabella! 👏

Closer to home: we also have our very own Solihull Down Syndrome Support Group, a parent-led local charity supporting children and young people with Down syndrome, alongside their families and carers.

They organise activities, bring families together and provide a network for sharing advice, experiences and support across Solihull and the surrounding area.

👉 Find out more about Solihull Down Syndrome Support Group

This one could genuinely be worth five minutes of your week.

As part of Know Your Numbers Week, residents are being encouraged to take a quick blood-pressure check, particularly because high blood pressure often doesn't have any obvious symptoms.

Tanworth Lane Surgery is holding a completely free drop-in blood-pressure clinic this Wednesday 9 September, and you don't need to already have an appointment.

🩺 Wednesday 9 September
⏰ 10am–12.30pm & 2pm–4pm
📍 Tanworth Lane Surgery

Can't make Wednesday?

GPS Healthcare says free blood-pressure machines are also available in the reception areas of all of its Solihull sites, so you can check yours when convenient.

It's quick, it's free and it's one of those little health checks that's very easy to keep putting off.

👉 Find out more about Know Your Numbers Week and how to check your blood pressure

Got a sweet tooth? You’re in luck, today’s edition has a bit of a dessert theme, with two local spots worth saving for your next after-dinner treat.

Got a serious sweet tooth? Sugar Lush Desserts on Stratford Road is worth knowing about. Think waffles, cookie dough, cheesecakes, sundaes, milkshakes and gelato, plus plenty of pistachio and kunafa-style treats.

A few that caught our eye:
🍓 Strawberry kunafa waffle
🍫 Dubai sharing platter with waffle bites, brownies and strawberries
🍨 Kinder & Oreo-loaded sundaes
🥤 Some very over-the-top milkshakes

It’s also open late, making it a good shout for an after-dinner treat or post-cinema dessert.

📍 232 Stratford Road, Shirley, B90 3AG

👉 Maybe don’t look at the menu unless you’re prepared to order something

Sticking with dessert... because apparently we're not counting calories this week. 😂

Dream Bitez on Warwick Road in Olton is another local spot that's caught our eye, with a menu packed with waffles, sundaes, milk cakes, shakes and mini pancakes.

The standout?

Their pistachio kanafe mini-pancake sharing tray — mini pancakes loaded with pistachio and kanafe — is currently one of their most popular menu items.

There's also a Kinder kanafe version, pistachio kanafe brownies, Ferrero Rocher waffles, strawberry and white chocolate waffles, milk cakes and some pretty serious-looking sundaes. 🤤

📍 27 Warwick Road, Olton, Solihull, B92 7HS

This feels like one to visit hungry... and probably bring someone to share with.

👉 Dream Bitez Menu

Fancy nosing around somewhere you wouldn't normally get to see?

Heritage Open Days returns from 11–20 September, unlocking historic houses, hidden buildings, unusual tours and family activities across Solihull, Birmingham and beyond, with loads of them completely FREE.

Birmingham Heritage Week runs alongside it too, so there's a huge programme to choose from.

👉 Browse Birmingham Heritage Week
👉 Find Heritage Open Days near you

Here are a few of our favourite finds… 👇

As part of Heritage Open Days, Packwood House is free to visit on Saturday 12 September, 9am–5pm, followed by Baddesley Clinton on Sunday 13 September, 9am–5pm.

Explore Packwood’s house and gardens on Saturday, then head to Baddesley Clinton on Sunday to discover the moated manor, gardens and historic priest holes.

No booking is required for either, just turn up.

👉 Packwood House Heritage Open Day
👉 Baddesley Clinton Heritage Open Day

Bees, honey and a free trip to Winterbourne House & Garden sounds like a pretty good family day out. 🐝

Head over on Saturday 12 September, 10am–4.30pm or Sunday 13 September, 10am–3.30pm for live hive demonstrations, local honey, craft stalls and family activities. Entry is FREE and there's no need to book.

👉 Birmingham Honey Show

Here's something a little different.

New Hall Water Mill in Sutton Coldfield opens on Sunday 13 September, 10am–4pm, with the historic mill to explore alongside a meadow, millpond, children's activities, craft stalls, food and live music. Entry is FREE.

👉 New Hall Water Mill Open Day

Ever wondered what happens above St Martin's in the Bull Ring?

You can climb 50 stone spiral steps into the church's bell-ringing chamber, hear about the centuries-old tradition and watch a ringing demonstration. Free 45-minute tours run 17–19 September from 1pm, with no booking required. 🔔

👉 Visit St Martin's Bell Ringing Chamber

One for anyone who's ever wanted a closer look at the history of firefighting. 🚒

The oldest West Midlands Fire Service station, dating from 1923, is opening its museum for guided tours on 13, 15 & 20 September, with historic fire engines, pumps and equipment to see along the way.

Tours run at 9.30am, midday and 2.30pm and cost £7pp, with under-5s free. Booking is required.

👉 Tour Aston Fire Station

And that's barely scratching the surface…

There are walks, workshops, historic buildings, family days and behind-the-scenes tours happening throughout the ten days.

👉 Have a browse and see what you can discover locally.

Not feeling particularly historic? Don't worry, there's plenty more happening in and around Solihull over the next couple of weeks. 👇

🎨 The Final Bid: Life Drawing Evening — MAC Birmingham
Fancy doing something a little different on Friday night? Head to MAC Birmingham on Friday 11 September, 6–9pm for an evening of life drawing surrounded by Michael Pinsky's The Final Bid exhibition. It's for ages 18+, some previous life-drawing experience is recommended, and a drink afterwards at KILN is included. Tickets are from £38.95pp.
👉 The Final Bid: Life Drawing Evening

👑 Tudor Day — Knowle Library
Step back in time at Knowle Library on Saturday 12 September with Tudor characters, historic artefacts, children's crafts and a quiz. There are also special workshops for ages 6–11 at 11.15am & 1.30pm, plus guided tours at 12.30pm & 2.45pm. FREE, although workshops and tours should be booked in advance.
👉 Tudor Day at Knowle Library

🎬 Outdoor Cinema — Coombe Abbey
Blankets, camping chairs and a huge screen under the stars… Adventure Cinema takes over Coombe Abbey from 11–13 September. ✨ There's something for almost everyone: The Greatest Showman on Friday (gates 6pm), Frozen Sing-Along on Saturday (12pm), then The Gruffalo & Stick Man (9.30am), Andrea Bocelli (2pm) and Star Wars: A New Hope (6.30pm) on Sunday. Mamma Mia! on Saturday evening is already sold out, and several of the others are running low.
👉 See the Coombe Abbey outdoor cinema line-up

🚗 Brum Transport Fest — Birmingham City Centre
And one to put in the diary for next weekend. A brand-new FREE transport festival takes over Birmingham city centre on Friday 18 & Saturday 19 September, 11am–5pm, with classic cars, buses, museum exhibits, a special Birmingham Superprix display, live entertainment and family activities. No booking needed — just turn up. 🚗🚌🏎️
👉 Brum Transport Fest

What a moment for Knowle FC.

Playing in the FA Cup First Round Qualifying for the first time in the club’s history, Knowle welcomed higher-league Worcester City to the Robins’ Nest on Saturday — live on the BBC.

It looked like their cup run was coming to an end until substitute Tom Kinsey bundled home a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser to make it 1–1 and send the tie to a replay. 🙌

Even better, the occasion attracted a club-record crowd in Knowle for one of the biggest days in their 100-year history.

The Robins now travel to Sixways Stadium on Tuesday 8 September at 7.45pm for the replay.

👉 Read Knowle FC's match report

Looking for a very cheap Tuesday-night activity? How about completely free football? 👀

Solihull Moors welcome Leeds United U21s to Damson Park on Tuesday 8 September at 7pm in the National League Cup and admission is FREE for all supporters.

You do need to claim a ticket in advance, and supporters are also being encouraged to make an optional donation to the Solihull Moors Foundation. A pretty good family evening out for £0. ⚽💛💙

📅 Tuesday 8 September
⏰ 7pm kick-off
📍 Damson Park
🎟️ FREE

👉 Claim your free Solihull Moors tickets

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

Birmingham → Palma
📅 Saturday 12 → Tuesday 15 September
✈️ Ryanair
💰 £39 return

Three nights of late-summer Mallorca for less than £40 return? That's dangerous information to have on a Sunday morning. 😂☀️

👉 Have a look at Birmingham to Mallorca flights

Birmingham → Corfu
📅 Tuesday 8 → Thursday 10 September
✈️ Ryanair
💰 From around £56 return

This one's definitely for the spontaneous among you — two nights in Corfu and potentially one last dose of Greek sunshine before autumn properly arrives. ☀️🇬🇷

👉 Have a look at Birmingham to Corfu flights

Birmingham → Barcelona
📅 Tuesday 15 → Thursday 17 September
✈️ Vueling
💰 £67 return

Two nights of tapas, sunshine and wandering around Barcelona — with direct flights from Birmingham for under £70 return. 🍷🥘

👉 Have a look at Birmingham to Barcelona flights

✈️ Found while putting together today's Spotlight: flight prices move quickly, so these may change after we hit send. The cheapest fares will usually include only a small personal bag, with luggage, seats and other extras costing more.

And if anyone actually books £39 Mallorca because of this newsletter...

please send us a picture from the beach. 😂🏖️

• 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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