Hello Solihull 👋

Half-term’s done, routines are back… and now we all need one or two easy plans in the diary so the week doesn’t blur into “work, food shop, bed.” And after that little glimpse of sun on Tuesday / Wednesday, you’d be forgiven for starting to believe spring is warming up in the wings.

Here’s your quick midweek hit: one genuinely useful, money-saving council scheme you can do in 2 minutes, plus a couple of proper “go on then” plans for Friday / The Weekend, and a food nudge that might just become your new favourite.

In today’s edition:
• A free, no-obligation way to potentially cut your energy bill (opens now)
• Friday plans: Local tribute night + a proper quiz night in Knowle
• Food spots: a bakery worth driving for (and a hidden Solihull brunch gem)

— Max Markham

Solihull Council has partnered with Switch Together Energy (previously “Big Community Switch”) to negotiate fixed-rate tariffs with vetted suppliers and it’s free to join with no obligation to switch. Registration opened Monday 23 Feb and runs until Friday 15 May 2026.

I’ve personally used this 2 years ago and switched to Octopus Energy, which saved our family £100s off our annual energy bill. Last year, honestly, it wasn’t cheaper for us to switch, but great to benchmark that we weren’t over paying and Solihull Council do all the hard work for you! You just say yes or no when there’s a deal on the table, no obligation!

If you’ve been meaning to sort your tariff but can’t face the admin, this is a decent “low-effort” option to look at.

👉 https://www.solihull.gov.uk/your-future-solihull/switch-together

If you’ve got a birthday or one of those “I should probably bring something nice…” moments coming up, this week’s sponsor Build Your Bake is one to have saved. They do custom brownies, rocky roads, cupcakes (and more) that are ideal for gifting, taking into the office, or just upgrading your weekend snack situation.

👉 Ordering is easy just drop them a message on Facebook and they’ll sort the details with you: https://www.facebook.com/buildyourbake

This is your “go on then” Saturday night: Soul & Motown tribute at The Lake at Barston, Sat 28th Feb, doors open 7pm. Proper live band energy, and it runs into a disco/late bar after. Great for date night or a group night when you want something a bit more special than the usual pub loop.

👉 https://www.thelakeatbarston.co.uk/events/soundations-motown-show-280226/

This one’s very Solihull: Quiz Night at Knowle British Legion, Fri 27 Feb, doors open 7pm, £13 including a fish & chip supper. If you want a proper local Friday night with zero effort, this is the one. Go with mates, go as a couple, or rock up with your “one person who knows everything” and ride their coattails.

👉 https://visitknowle.co.uk/events/

If you’re up for a mini drive for something that feels like a treat: Silver Tree Bakery (Water Orton Lane) is a proper destination bakery, the kind of place that makes a simple coffee run feel like a little weekend ritual.

Go for fresh pastries, loaded brownies, proper cakes, and my personal favourite, The Roastie Toastie (only on Sundays!) and a coffee you’ll actually enjoy sitting down with. Perfect for: a post-parkrun reward, a “let’s get out of the house” morning, or turning up to family lunch looking like you’ve got your life together.

A tucked-away local brunch spot at 6 Farmhouse Way, Shirley (B90 4EH), perfect if you want that “let’s catch up properly” vibe without battling town-centre crowds.

Expect the kind of place that’s ideal for a slow coffee, a proper breakfast, and an easy hour or two of chatting, great for a mid-morning reset, a casual date, or a low-key meet-up with friends when you just want somewhere calm, cosy, and reliable.

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

👉 Tickets & times: https://www.thecoretheatresolihull.co.uk/whats-on/all-shows/the-spongebob-musical/

👉 https://www.thenec.co.uk/whats-on/what-university-what-career-live/

Having a week off in the 6 nations might do England some good after back to back defeats against Scotland and Ireland. Here are what the local teams are up to this week.

Do one “town-centre lap” you’ll actually enjoy
Coffee + a 30-minute loop (Touchwood → Mell Square → back). Low effort, high reset. (check for pop-ups/seasonal bits before you go)

• 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.