Good Morning Solihull 👋

There’s a real feeling of change around town this week.

After years of plans and CGI images, demolition has officially started at Mell Square as the huge Holbeche Place redevelopment gets underway. We’ve got everything you need to know below.

Elsewhere, there’s a brand-new country pub opening in Tidbury Green, a very deserving local police dog is putting his paws up after eight years on the job, and we’ve found return flights from Birmingham to Barcelona for just £34.

And if you’re planning the next couple of weekends, keep scrolling, we’ve got dinosaurs, haunted castles, drive-in Halloween movies, falconry, live music and plenty more.

Grab a coffee and let’s get into it.

— Max

Things are starting to look different in Solihull town centre. Demolition work has now begun at Mell Square, marking the first visible stage of the huge Holbeche Place redevelopment.

The former Mell Square multi-storey car park and petrol station are being demolished to make way for Phase One, which will bring 346 new build-to-rent homes alongside new commercial space.

And this is only the beginning. The wider plans could eventually deliver up to 1,600 new homes, alongside new shops, cafés, restaurants and public spaces, transforming a large part of the town centre over the coming years. The first phase has also received around £20 million of backing from the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Importantly, Mell Square's shops and businesses remain open while demolition takes place, with the council and developers Muse saying they will work to minimise disruption.

It’s a significant moment for Solihull; after years of plans, consultations and CGI images, the transformation is finally becoming real.

💬 What do you think? Are you excited to see the new Holbeche Place take shape, or will you miss the old Mell Square? Hit reply and let us know!

👉 Take a look at the plans for Holbeche Place

After eight incredible years on the front line, West Midlands Police Dog Snow is officially hanging up his harness and putting his paws up for a very well-earned retirement. 🐶

Snow was born at the police dog training centre in Balsall Common in 2017 as part of the force’s appropriately named Game of Thrones litter and has gone on to have quite the career.

From catching burglars and recovering stolen Christmas presents to tracking down suspects and protecting his handler, PC Duncan Johnson, Snow has earned both a Commander’s Award and Chief Constable’s Commendation for his bravery during his years of service.

He celebrated his ninth birthday on 27 September and will now spend retirement at home with Duncan and his family. ❤️

We think eight years chasing criminals deserves an awful lot of treats.

👉 Read more here and enjoy retirement, Snow — you’ve earned it!

A little bit more Solihull success to celebrate! 👏

Tim Deakin and Jonathan Duck, both from Solihull, have been named among Make UK’s 130 Honours, a special list recognising people helping to shape the future of British manufacturing.

Tim, Head of Global Safety and Risk at JLR, was recognised for decades of leadership and innovation in workplace health and safety.

Meanwhile Jonathan, Chief Executive of Amtico, was recognised for championing British manufacturing while investing in people, technology, innovation and sustainability.

They were among just 16 people from across the West Midlands included in the honours.

The list has been created to celebrate Make UK’s 130th anniversary, recognising 130 people across England and Wales making a difference to modern manufacturing.

👏 Congratulations to Tim and Jonathan — another great bit of Solihull representation on the national stage. You can see the full list here.

October is getting busy. From dinosaurs this weekend to Halloween drive-in movies and haunted castles later this month, here are a few dates worth getting in the diary…

There’s a new spot to add to the Solihull food list. The Mallard will officially open its doors at 12pm on Thursday 15 October, following a major transformation of the historic Tidbury Green Farm on Fulford Hall Road.

The Grade II-listed farmhouse, which dates back centuries, has been carefully restored by Brunning & Price into a cosy country pub complete with open fires, oak beams and plenty of character.

Food-wise, expect a regularly changing seasonal menu, while behind the bar there’ll be local cask ales, wines, spirits and plenty more. And with autumn well and truly here, we can already picture an afternoon walk followed by a pint next to the fire. 🍂🍺

📍 The Mallard, Tidbury Green Farm, Fulford Hall Road, Solihull, B90 1QZ

👉 Take a look & book a table

Fancy brunch with a bit more of a party atmosphere? High Line at Resorts World Birmingham is hosting its Through the Decades Bottomless Brunch on selected dates from 10–24 October.

For £45pp, you’ll get a brunch dish plus 90 minutes of bottomless drinks, accompanied by a soundtrack travelling through the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, ’00s and beyond. Think throwback anthems, singalongs and probably at least one song that makes the whole table get up. 🎶

It’s 18+ and looks like a good shout for birthdays, catch-ups or simply an excuse for a Saturday afternoon out.

📍 High Line, Resorts World Birmingham
💷 From £45pp

👉 Find out more & book

🦖 Natural History Museum presents Dinosaurs Live! — Warwick Arts Centre — Sunday 11 October
Dinosaurs are taking over the stage at Warwick Arts Centre! For the first time since 1881, London’s Natural History Museum is taking its dinosaurs on tour, with a one-hour family show travelling through the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods as lifelike dinosaurs come alive on stage. It’s recommended for ages 3+, with tickets £21 adults / £20 under-16s and a family discount available.
👉 Dinosaurs Live! at Warwick Arts Centre

🌿 Free Garden Tour — Castle Bromwich Historic Gardens — Saturday 17 October
Fancy discovering a little more about one of the area’s hidden gems? Join a one-hour guided wander around Castle Bromwich’s historic Baroque gardens, hearing about their 350-year history, plants and how the gardens were rescued and preserved. The tour starts at 11am and is technically free, although normal garden admission applies (£6 adults / £5 concessions) and donations towards the walk are welcomed. Booking is recommended as groups are limited to 12.
👉 Introduction to the Gardens Tour

🤠 Dolly Parton Tribute Night — Shirley Royal British Legion — Saturday 17 October
Get ready for Jolene, 9 to 5, Islands in the Stream and plenty more country classics as a Dolly Parton tribute takes over Shirley Royal British Legion. It promises a proper feel-good local night out with Dolly favourites followed by more music to keep you dancing. Doors are advertised from 7pm, with the tribute performance around 9pm, and tickets are around £13.75 including booking fee.
👉 Dolly Parton Tribute — Shirley

🎬 Hatton’s Haunted Drive-In — Hatton Country World — From Saturday 17 October
Halloween movie nights are back at Hatton! Their popular Haunted Drive-In Cinema opens for 2026 on Saturday 17 October, where you can park up, tune the film into your car radio and watch on the big screen. Opening night brings Hotel Transylvania at 5:30pm for families, followed by Beetlejuice at 8pm. Tickets are £40 per car, so pack it with your favourite people and it can make for a pretty affordable Halloween night out. Further screenings run on 24, 29, 30 & 31 October.
👉 Hatton’s Haunted Drive-In Cinema

👻 The Haunted Castle — Warwick Castle — Saturday 24 October–Sunday 1 November
Warwick Castle is getting a spooky makeover for half term, with more than 15 live shows and attractions, mysterious mazes, eerie entertainment and over 1,100 years of haunted history to explore. New for 2026 is a family-friendly Scarecrow Disco and the mysterious Spirit Hotel, alongside plenty of Halloween characters and surprises around the castle. A brilliant big day out if you’re looking ahead to half term.
👉 The Haunted Castle at Warwick Castle

🦉 Junior Falconry Experience — Castle Bromwich Historic Gardens — Sunday 25 October
Got a budding wildlife enthusiast — or perhaps a little Harry Potter fan? Tora’s Falconry is bringing owls and birds of prey to Castle Bromwich for a 90-minute hands-on experience for under-16s. Children can learn about the birds, safely hold them and even have a go at flying a small owl or falcon. Sessions run at 11am and 1:30pm, with just 12 child places per session. Child tickets are £20 including one accompanying adult, and garden entry for the day is included.
👉 Junior Falconry Experience

⚽ Moors hit the road
After Tuesday night’s National League Cup clash with Newcastle United U21s, attention turns back to the league for Solihull Moors, who travel to Worthing on Saturday 10 October (3pm). The Moors are looking for some consistency after an impressive 4–2 win at Woking was followed by a 2–0 home defeat to Halifax.

🏒 Double-header for the Barons
It’s a busy one for Solihull Barons this weekend. First up is a trip to Telford Tigers N2 on Saturday at 6pm, before they return to Hobs Moat Road on Sunday at 5:30pm to face Hull Jets in the cup. Two games, two nights — plenty of local ice hockey action to get behind.

🏑 Silhillians back in action
There’s hockey action too, with Old Silhillians Men’s 1st XI travelling to face University of Warwick on Saturday at 4pm, while the Men’s 2s host Worcester at 1:30pm at Silhillians Sports Club.

👏 Good luck to everyone representing Solihull this weekend!

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 October.

🇪🇸 Barcelona — £34 return
Tapas, rooftop bars, Gaudí and hopefully a little October sunshine. We spotted direct Ryanair return flights from Birmingham to Barcelona for just £34pp, departing Wednesday 14 October and returning Saturday 17 October. That’s three nights in one of Europe’s best city-break destinations for less than the price of a meal out.
✈️ Birmingham → Barcelona
📅 14–17 October
💷 From £34 return pp
👉 Search the Birmingham–Barcelona deal

🇭🇺 Budapest — £63 return
Or how about an autumn escape to Budapest? Direct Ryanair flights were showing at around £63 return, flying from Birmingham on Sunday 11 October and returning Wednesday 14 October. Spend three nights exploring the thermal baths, ruin bars, riverside sights and some of Europe’s best-value food and drink.
✈️ Birmingham → Budapest
📅 11–14 October
💷 From £63 return pp
👉 Search the Birmingham–Budapest deal

• 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.

P.S. Want your business in front of local Solihull readers? Reply with SPONSOR and I’ll send over our options.

Thank you for being a part of Solihull Spotlight. If you've been enjoying Solihull Spotlight, one thing you can do to help us out, is forward this to a friend. When they subscribe using your personal link below, you’ll earn rewards from us as a thank you. Here's what's on offer: