A busy borough with so much going on!

It may be January and the hype and excitement surrounding Christmas has died down, but there’s no need to get blue in our borough!

We’ve got numerous independent stores in pretty high streets to explore along with shopping malls full of all your favourite stores. There is also no end of outdoor activities to take part in and historic buildings and gardens to visit. If you prefer to stay indoors in these winter months, then why not try some of the state-of-the-art interactive games and events going on…

Retail therapy

You may have shopped ‘til you dropped before Christmas but what beats a bit of retail therapy? And our region is full of some of the best offerings in the nation! We’ve got all the chain stores you’d expect plus lots of independent retail outlets across the region. From delights in Dorridge such as luxury bakehouse and coffee shop Boho Bakehouse or boutique clothes shop Decadence, to the Chelmsley Wood Indoor Market and Balsall Common Country Market there are all kinds of options. You might want to take a look at the Knowle directory for more independent shopping inspiration before heading out for a lovely day browsing there!

Touchwood in the town centre has some great independent shops including Crystal Chain and Cheshires for jewellery lovers, the bean-to-bar chocolate shop, Cenu Cacao and for Cookie fiends Cookie Cottage. Also, no trip to Touchwood would be complete without a stop-off at John Lewis – it is definitely a shopaholic’s favourite!!

Mell Square is another place to head for great shopping. Charlie Browns Menswear is a recently opened designer men’s clothing store and for the ladies, there is Lesley Ashworth Accessories, an independent womenswear specialist. All the shopping will get you thirsty so pop by Black Orange Cafe, an independent Hong Kong style coffee shop. Don’t forget to treat your canine companion with a little something from Snooty Pooch, a charity dog café – where you can actually head even if you don’t own a dog, they have some for you to pet!

Fill your face

There are two new independent restaurants in Solihull town centre. Red Hot Momma is an authentic Neapolitan pizza restaurant and The Steamhouse is a trendy bakery and coffee shop specialising in bagels and bagel sandwiches.

Fun and games

If you’re a fan of virtual reality then a trip to Vortex gaming at Resorts World will be right up your street. You can spend a few hours or most of the day entering a whole range of VR Spheres.

Another gamer’s delight is Rocket League. The Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) will host its first arena event of the year in Solihull at bp pulse LIVE and tickets are now on sale via Live Nation and AXS. Fans will be able to look forward to RLCS Major 1 Birmingham on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 March.

Hit new heights!

Head to Flash Climbing Centre, a bouldering centre located in the heart of Solihull, if you fancy yourself as a climber or want to try something new this year. With an array of different walls to suit all levels – from beginner to experienced climber – and a dedicated training area with all the equipment you could need to whip yourself into shape, either specifically for climbing, or just to use as a regular gym.

Go crazy!

Join in the fun at Spinners Solihull. Challenge your friends to crazy golf, duckpin bowling, clayshot or electric darts. You can also enjoy great food such as artisan pizzas served with fine cocktails. Located in Touchwood Shopping Centre, Spinners is open from noon daily and 11am on Saturday and Sunday.

Lunch at Newlands Bishop Farm

Berry’s Café at Newlands Bishop Farm is a fantastic place to visit. It provides a wide range of excellent light lunches, food, coffees all while supporting work-based learning and employment opportunities to adults with learning disabilities.

Bask at the Barn

You can spend the entire day at The Barn at Berryfield, set in the rolling hills of Meriden near Coventry. The Barn at Berryfields is home to an a la carte restaurant, private function room, bar, artisan bakery, cafe & butchery, outside seating and seasonal events. Be sure to check what’s going on and plan an amazing visit.

Surreal Solihull

From 7 March to 31 May, Surreal Solihull will be taking place. Honouring the legacy of Emma Bridgwater, the great surrealist artist and poet who called Solihull home, this vibrant outdoor exhibition brings together newly commissioned works of 30 talented artists from Solihull and the West Midlands and will take place outdoors in the High Street.

Lunar New Year celebrations

On Saturday 1 February, there will be a range of entertainment taking place at Touchwood to celebrate the Lunar New Year. From Lion dances to choirs and dancing teams – download the whole schedule here and make sure you don’t miss out on the fun.

Nighttime fun

The Solihull area definitely doesn’t go to sleep after dark! Our nighttime economy is bustling – we’ve got a great selection of bars – both high street favourites and independent choices – and numerous award-winning restaurants for fine dining options or smaller plates and casual dining places. If you fancy a bit of dancing then Popworld is a fun choice.

So, whatever your plans are this year, visit Solihull, we’ve got it all – there’s never any ‘down’ time here!