Hello Solihull 👋

The football World Cup starts this week, which means it’s time to get out your England shirts, forget about every near miss since 1966, and say it with full confidence…

It’s coming home!

This week, we’ve pulled together a quick Solihull World Cup guide, including England’s group games, UK kick-off times, which channels are showing the matches, and where to watch the World Cup in Solihull with a pint, a big screen and hopefully a room full of people singing Three Lions by full-time.

Away from the football, we’ve also got some big local news on the Arden Cross development, a lovely community story behind Solihull’s summer hanging baskets, Age UK Solihull being chosen as one of the Mayor’s charities, plus the usual mix of food finds, family ideas, date night options and things to do around Solihull.

Let’s get into it.

— Max

Some good news for one of Solihull’s biggest future developments: the first plots of land around the planned HS2 Interchange Station are now expected to be available for development from 2030.

That gives Arden Cross, the major regeneration site near the NEC and Birmingham Airport a clearer route towards its first phase.

The long-term vision is for the site to become a new mixed-use district, with homes, jobs, public spaces, commercial space and a major HealthTech Campus linked to the University of Warwick, the NHS and healthcare innovators.

I know we’ve been promised this for a long time, but we can only hope it sticks to this timeline, because if it does, Arden Cross could become one of the biggest changes to Solihull in decades.

The big question now is how quickly the plans move forward, and how the benefits: jobs, transport, housing and investment are felt across the wider borough.

👉 First Phase of Arden Cross

A lovely bit of colour has started appearing across the borough, thanks to the adults at Newlands Bishop Farm in Catherine-de-Barnes.

They’ve been busy growing summer plants from seedlings in the farm’s polytunnel, with the finished hanging baskets now brightening up Solihull and Chelmsley Wood town centres, as well as areas including Knowle, Dorridge and Balsall Common.

The project is a partnership between Solihull Council, Veolia and Newlands Bishop Farm, which supports people with learning disabilities and mental health conditions to develop work-based skills.

It’s one of those simple but brilliant local stories: people learning new skills, taking pride in their work, and making the borough look a little brighter for everyone. So next time you spot a hanging basket in town, there’s a lovely local story behind it.

More good community news this week: Age UK Solihull has been chosen as one of the Mayor of Solihull’s charities for 2026/27.

The newly elected Mayor, Councillor Sardul Singh Marwa MBE JP, and Mayoress Mrs Satnam Kaur Marwa JP, visited the Land Rover Sports and Social Club to make the announcement and meet Age UK Solihull staff and volunteers.

Age UK Solihull supports older residents across the borough, helping reduce loneliness, improve wellbeing and make sure people feel connected and supported. Their work includes information and advice, befriending, tech support, help with money worries and regular social activities around Solihull.

It feels like a really fitting choice — and especially timely with Age UK Solihull also involved in this year’s Solihull Half Marathon. A brilliant local charity doing quietly important work for older people across the borough.

The World Cup is here, and England have landed in Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana and Panama. The good news? England’s first two group games are both 9pm UK kick-offs.The final group game against Panama is a slightly later 10pm kick-off, so maybe book the next morning off if things get dramatic.

Here’s what to put in the diary:

One very important question: where are we watching it? Whether you’re after a proper pub atmosphere, curry with the football, BBQ trays, or somewhere with a big screen and a bit of buzz, here are a few local spots to have on your radar for the opening week.

A strong shout if you want the full matchday pub atmosphere without heading into Birmingham.

The Mason’s Arms is showing World Cup games live, with big screens, cold pints and a beer garden setup that should come into its own if the weather behaves. Definitely one to book ahead for England games, you can imagine this getting very busy once the “it’s coming home” optimism properly kicks in.

👉 Best for: big pub atmosphere, groups, England games and garden-screen energy.

Football and Indian food is a very underrated combination.

Tap & Tandoor is showing big games at its Solihull venue, so this is a good one if you want something a little more interesting than standard matchday chips. Think craft beer, cocktails, mixed grills, curries and plenty of big-screen tension when England inevitably make it more stressful than it needs to be.

👉 Best for: curry, craft beer, and a slightly tastier way to watch the football.

The Farm is a handy Shirley option if you want food first, football second or you’re trying to keep everyone happy in one place.

It’s the kind of venue that works well if some of the group are there for the match and others are mainly there for the meal, the drinks and the general World Cup buzz. Worth checking directly for which games they’re showing and whether they’re taking bookings for England fixtures.

👉 Best for: a more relaxed food-led World Cup plan in Shirley.

If the World Cup being in North America has you thinking BBQ, Hickory’s is leaning right into that energy.

Expect big screens, cold beers, smoky BBQ and a more laid-back matchday feel than the shoulder-to-shoulder pub crowd. A good one for families, groups, or anyone who wants ribs, brisket and football without having to fight for a view of the screen.

👉 Best for: BBQ, beers, families and a more relaxed matchday setup.

A little further out, but Assembly Leamington could be worth the trip if you want more of a big-screen event feel.

They’re showing England World Cup games live on their giant screen, with free-entry tickets listed for some fixtures. One for the people who want the chants, the big crowd, the big screen and the full “this could be our year” experience.

👉 Best for: big-screen energy, groups and making a proper night of it.

Children’s Outdoor Yoga — Baddesley Clinton
A gentle outdoor session for little ones in the lovely grounds of Baddesley Clinton. Expect a mix of movement, storytelling and relaxation, with children stretching like trees, jumping like frogs and hopefully leaving a little calmer than when they arrived. Booking is essential and normal admission applies.

👉 Children’s Outdoor Yoga at Baddesley Clinton

Umberslade Estate — Tanworth-in-Arden
An easy family afternoon with coffee, pizza and space for the kids to play. The Coffee House is open daily, the Pizza Barn opens later in the week and at weekends, and the outdoor playground is available for customers, so you can grab a drink, time it for pizza and let the kids burn off some energy.

👉 Umberslade Estate

Becketts Farm — Wythall
A Solihull-area classic for breakfast, brunch or a relaxed weekend mooch. Becketts Farm has a farm shop, restaurant, coffee shop and plenty of local produce to browse, making it a good low-pressure option when you want to get out without booking a full day of activities.

👉 Becketts Farm

Social Climbing — Solihull
Something active for families, teens or grown-ups who fancy trying something different. Social Climbing is an indoor bouldering centre on Vulcan Road, with beginner-friendly sessions and no ropes or harnesses needed, just a bit of courage and maybe a promise not to look down too much. First visits from £15.

👉 Social Climbing Solihull

Joe Carnall Jr — Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath
A Friday night gig for the indie fans. Joe Carnall Jr heads to Hare & Hounds in Kings Heath, celebrating 20 years of Milburn’s Well Well Well. It’s a little outside Solihull, but close enough for a proper live music night without turning it into a full city-centre mission. Tickets from £23.

👉 Joe Carnall Jr at Hare & Hounds

Frankie Goes to Bollywood — Birmingham Rep — Wed 10 to Sat 13 June
A colourful, high-energy musical at Birmingham Rep this week. Frankie Goes to Bollywood brings music, drama and plenty of sparkle, following a British South Asian woman swept into the world of Bollywood cinema. One for anyone who fancies something bold, bright and a little different. Tickets from £35.
👉 Frankie Goes to Bollywood at Birmingham Rep

Lola Young — O2 Academy Birmingham — Sat 13 June
A strong live music pick for the weekend. Lola Young plays O2 Academy Birmingham on Saturday night, bringing one of the UK’s most distinctive new voices to the city. One for anyone looking for a proper Saturday night gig. Tickets from £47.20.
👉 Lola Young at O2 Academy Birmingham

• 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.

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