Hello Solihull 👋

Before we get into it, a genuine thank you. The messages, the tips, the replies, the "have you seen this?" forwards, we read every single one and they make this newsletter what it is. If we haven't replied yet, we will. Promise.

This week we've got a cracking one. A village pub near Hockley Heath just beat Ginsters, Tesco and Waitrose at the national pie awards (yes, really). Kingshurst is finally getting the investment it deserves. A football team from right here in Solihull has been crowned champions. And there's a hidden café by Earlswood Lakes you really should know about.

Plus live music, a beer festival, places to eat, ways to move your body, and the usual round-up of what's on across the borough this week.

Let’s get into it.

— Max

Construction is set to begin this year on Phase 2 of the Kingshurst Village Centre regeneration, one of the most significant community projects anywhere in the borough. The centrepiece is a brand-new Community, Health and Retail building bringing together a GP surgery, pharmacy, dentist, library, community café and a Co-op under one roof. Six new homes and a new vicarage for St Barnabas' Church are also part of the plans.

It follows Phase 1, which included 25 new homes and improvements to Kingshurst Park, including new play equipment, planting and pathways; small things on paper, but the kind of changes that make a place feel cared for again.

👉 One to watch

We’ve been genuinely blown away by the support for Solihull Spotlight, the messages, the replies, the recommendations, the feedback, the kind words and the “have you seen this?” tips that land in our inbox each week.

If we haven’t replied to you yet, we will. Promise. This newsletter only works because of you. You’re at the centre of it, helping us build something trusted, useful and genuinely community-led for Solihull.

And honestly, the Community Spotlight bits are our favourite part. Hearing about the walks you love, the pubs worth trying, the food spots we need to visit, the local groups doing brilliant things, and the people quietly making Solihull better, that’s what it’s all about.

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A huge congratulations to Solihull Moors Foundation’s U16 Premiership Ability Counts team, who have officially been crowned league champions.

The team were recognised after an outstanding season of commitment, teamwork and determination. The Ability Counts programme gives children and adults with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities the chance to play football, build confidence, make friends and feel part of a team.

👉 Solihull Moors Foundation U16’s Premiership

A Solihull mum-of-two has been honoured with a red bench in her local area of Shirley, after surviving a rare inherited heart condition. The touching tribute helps raise awareness of the importance of cardiovascular research, while also telling a very human local story of family, loss, resilience and hope.

A bench might seem like a simple thing, but this one carries a lot. It’s a reminder that behind the places we walk past every day, there are real people, real stories and real reasons to pause for a moment.

It’s also a timely reminder to look after our own heart health. The NHS Health Check programme is available for people aged 40–74 and can be booked through your local GP.

👉 Read the full story here & find out more about NHS Health Checks here

A quick note from us before this week’s food finds. Last week, we mentioned Indico Street Kitchen as being in Touchwood, but a few eagle-eyed readers kindly let us know that Indico is now only based at The Mailbox in Birmingham, not Touchwood Solihull.

Thank you to everyone who messaged in!

The Fleur de Lys in Lowsonford has long been known for its pies, and now there’s another reason to make the short trip out. At the British Pie Awards 2026, its Lowsonford Pies Butter Chicken Pie picked up Gold in the Fusion Pie category. Not a bad result for a country pub near Hockley Heath.

And it didn’t stop there.

The team also earned Silver for their Beef & Mushroom Stroganoff Pie, plus Bronze for both their Christmas Steak Pie and Butternut Squash & Goats Cheese Pie. So, basically, if you’ve been looking for an excuse to go for a pie, this is it.

It's been drawing crowds from across the Midlands since the 1950s when pies first emerged from the famous kitchen hatch. Owners Nick & Emma Woodhouse call it "David vs Goliath" going up against the supermarkets, and David keeps winning. The full range of award-winning pies is currently on the Specials Menu. Combine it with a walk along the Stratford Canal and you've got a near-perfect day sorted.

👉 Fleur De Lys

Founded by caterers Charles Wheelwright and Laura Ventrella, who have more than 50 years of professional kitchen experience between them, Wave Café is one of those places that feels like it should be talked about more.

They serve breakfast, brunch and lunch, alongside handmade cakes, Sunday lunch and locally sourced coffee from Monsoon Estates. So whether you’re after a slow morning coffee, a proper brunch, a post-walk cake stop, or something a little more substantial, it’s got you covered.

And the location is a big part of the charm.

Wave is just a few minutes’ walk from Earlswood Lakes, which means you can do the full Solihull weekend plan: lake walk, coffee and cake, maybe lunch, then home, feeling like you’ve absolutely made the most of the day.

👉 Wave Café

This section includes events happening soon. For a complete list of all events, you'll have to wait for future editions!

A brilliant week to be a Solihull sports fan.

The headline result comes from Solihull Indoor Bowls Club, who claimed a stunning 16–0 victory over Egham in a national final. It caps off an extraordinary season for the club, which has quietly been producing serious talent, including Tom Holmes, the current English Indoor Bowling Association men’s singles champion, and Emily Kernick, who also competed on the world stage earlier this year.

Over at Damson Park, Solihull Moors have wrapped up their 2025/26 National League season, with manager Chris Millington confirming the retained list. Jacob Wakeling, Conor Wilkinson and Jamey Osborne are among those staying, while Alex Whitmore deserves a special mention after playing every single minute of every game before departing the club.

• 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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