Hello Solihull 👋
Well… that one hurt.
After all the hope, nerves and “maybe this is our year” energy, England’s World Cup journey came to an end last night with a 2–1 semi-final defeat to Argentina. A tough one to take, but what a run and I think we can all agree the team gave us plenty to cheer, drama, late nights and a rollercoaster of emotions along the way; we can be proud!
Thankfully, there’s still plenty to lift the mood locally this week, with one of Solihull’s biggest weekends of the year ahead.
Solihull Summer Fest returns to Tudor Grange Park this Saturday and Sunday, bringing music, food, drinks and festival atmosphere right into the heart of town. Add in the Touchwood beach, Marston Green Family Fun Day, The Core’s summer activities, Solihull Fire Station’s open day and loads more happening across the borough, and it’s shaping up to be a brilliant few days to get out and support local.
So whether you’re nursing the football disappointment, planning a family day out, or getting ready for a big weekend, we’ve got you covered.
Let’s get into it.
— Max
Local Solihull News
😊 Solihull named among the happiest places to live in the country
After last night’s football result, this might be exactly the bit of good news we all needed to hear.
Solihull has been named among the happiest places to live in the country, with a report earlier this year putting the town third overall in its rankings.
The research, called The Later Life Happiness Index, looked at how well different places in England support quality of life for older adults. Solihull performed particularly strongly, claiming third place overall and recording the fourth highest happiness score in the country. Residents also live to an average age of 82 years, ranking fifth nationally, with the town recognised for good care home provision too.
And it’s not hard to see why. From our parks and green spaces to our independents, schools, community groups, coffee shops, restaurants and brilliant local people, Solihull has that mix of town, village and community that makes it feel like home.
Whether you’re walking through Brueton Park, grabbing a coffee in Knowle, heading into Touchwood, enjoying a meal in Shirley or supporting a local event, there’s plenty to be proud of.
A lovely reminder that even after a tough night for England, there’s still a lot to smile about here in Solihull.
✨ Solihull Community Spotlight ✨
🎨 Summer Holidays at The Core — Solihull Town Centre
A brilliant one for families looking ahead to the school holidays.
The Core is bringing back its Summer Solidays programme, with a packed line-up of creative activities, workshops, shows and family-friendly fun over the summer. From singing workshops and young filmmakers sessions to theatre, dance, storytime, crafts and more, it’s a great way to keep children busy, creative and trying something new locally.
There are sessions for different age groups, including Disney singing for ages 7–11, pop workshops for ages 11–16 and young filmmakers activities during August.
A lovely reminder that you don’t always need to travel far for brilliant summer holiday ideas, there’s plenty happening right in the heart of Solihull.
🚒 Solihull Fire Station Open Day — Streetsbrook Road — Sat 18 Jul
Solihull Fire Station is opening its doors this Saturday for a free family open day.
Running from 11am to 3pm on Saturday 18 July, the event is a chance to meet the local fire crews, see the fire appliances up close and enjoy an action-packed community day at the station. West Midlands Fire Service has confirmed that its open days are free to attend, with no RSVP or tickets needed.
It’s a brilliant opportunity for families to learn more about the work of our local firefighters, ask questions, and give children a closer look at the engines and equipment they see out and about across Solihull.
A proper community day out and a lovely way to support the people who help keep the borough safe.
Where to eat in Solihull
🍜 Wagamama x Buldak — Touchwood — Limited Time
Viral Korean spice sensation Buldak has teamed up with Wagamama for a limited summer menu, bringing the heat to Touchwood.
Expect bold flavours, fiery noodles and a proper kick, definitely one for the spice lovers, the brave, and anyone who’s ever watched a Buldak challenge and thought, “I could do that.”
A fun one to try while it’s here for summer.
🥘 It’s Lahore — Solihull
A local favourite for anyone craving proper flavour, It’s Lahore brings bold Pakistani street food, grills, curries and comfort dishes to Solihull.
Whether you’re after a casual midweek bite, a family meal or something packed with spice and colour, it’s a great one to have on your local food list.
Perfect for: big flavours, sharing dishes and a relaxed meal with plenty of choice.
What’s coming up in Solihull
🎉 Marston Green Family Fun Day — Marston Green Recreation Ground — Sat 18 Jul
A brilliant community day out for all the family, with Marston Green Recreation Ground hosting the 4th annual Family Fun Day. Expect stalls, activities, entertainment and plenty going on across the afternoon. The event runs from 12pm to 4pm, so it’s a lovely local one to pop along to before or after your Saturday plans.
🎨 Summer Streets Studio — Chelmsley Wood & Marston Green
A creative youth arts programme designed for young people aged 11–17, bringing artists and youth workers into the community to create meaningful opportunities over the summer. Streets Studio focuses on meeting young people where they are, helping them build confidence, try something creative and access wider support.
🐐 Attwell Farm Park Summer Holidays — Beoley — From Sat 18 Jul
A great family day out just a short drive from Solihull, with Attwell Farm Park launching its summer holiday programme from 18 July to 31 August. Expect animals, indoor and outdoor play, summer events and, new for 2026, live pantomime on the farm including The Wizard of Oz, Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel.
🍔 Easy Streat — Mell Square — Summer Dates — First date: Thu 13 Aug
Street food is landing in the heart of Solihull, with Easy Streat bringing some of the Midlands’ finest food vendors to Mell Square this summer. Expect a rotating line-up of local flavours, casual eats and a nice reason to head into town for lunch, dinner or an after-work bite.
📚 Packwood’s Book Bonanza — Packwood House — Fri 24 to Sun 26 Jul
A lovely one for book lovers, with Packwood House hosting its Book Bonanza in the Barnyard. Browse a huge range of books, from fiction and children’s reads to rare and special-interest titles, all in the beautiful surroundings of Packwood. The event runs from 10am to 4pm, and is free, although normal admission applies.
🦖 Dinosaur Adventure Live: Danger on T-Rex Mountain — The Core Theatre — Tue 28 Jul
A roar-some family theatre show stomping into The Core this summer. Expect life-like dinosaurs, big Jurassic energy and plenty of excitement as little explorers come face to face with prehistoric giants. There are two performances at 11:30am and 2pm, with tickets from £18.
🏖️ The Beach at Touchwood — Theatre Square — From Sat 18 Jul
The Costa Del Solihull is back. Touchwood’s popular summer beach returns to Theatre Square from 18 July to 31 August, bringing free family fun into the town centre. Expect sand, summer vibes, DJ sets, bubble shows and family activities throughout the holidays.
⚽ Solihull Moors update
A tough pre-season test for Solihull Moors, as they were beaten 3–0 by Birmingham City at Damson Park in the Arthur Cup. Blues continued their pre-season preparations with the win, while Moors will take the minutes and experience as they build towards the new campaign.
Off the pitch, there’s positive news too, as Soho Tavern are announced as the Moors’ new back-of-shirt sponsor for the 2026/27 season. The West Midlands favourite will feature on the back of the home shirt, bringing together two local names with strong community roots.
A tough result, but plenty still building as pre-season continues.
Ones for the diary
🏳️🌈 Solihull Pride — Town Centre — Sat 8 Aug
Solihull Pride returns for 2026, bringing another vibrant celebration of inclusivity, diversity and community spirit to the town centre. Save the date — we'll have more details closer to the time.
🥋 The Karate Kid The Musical — Alexandra Theatre — Tue 21 to Sat 25 Jul
The 80s classic is heading to the stage, with The Karate Kid The Musical coming to the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham. Expect nostalgia, big songs, underdog energy and all the heart of the original story brought to life in a new way.
A great school-holidays pick for families, theatre fans and anyone who grew up loving Daniel LaRusso and Mr Miyagi.
THE QUICK LOCAL CHECKLIST (so you don’t get caught out)
• 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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