Businesses in Sutton Coldfield are being invited to hear from TV presenter and founder of Crafters Companion, in a free event organised to celebrate International Women’s Day.

Sara Davies, entrepreneur, star of BBC’s Dragon’s Den and Strictly Come Dancing, will be speaking to local businesses at an event organised and funded by Visit Royal Sutton Coldfield BID, the town’s Business Improvement District company which has been representing local businesses for 12 years.

The event, which will be held at BMET’S Sutton Coldfield College on Friday 8 March from 5pm to 6pm, is the second ambitious high-profile speaker organised by the BID, following a packed-out appearance by high street guru Mary Portas last June.

BID manager Michelle Baker said: “Sara Davies is a renowned entrepreneur and a highly respected supporter of women in business, so it’s very exciting to be bringing her to Sutton Coldfield for International Women’s Day.

“The event is free and open to BID members, and we expect tickets will go quickly so we urge businesses that would like to attend to get in touch.

“There are exciting regeneration plans for the town centre in the pipeline and considerable investment coming to the town, and the BID will continue to play our part and host events to boost footfall and support local businesses.”

Sara Davies was born in Coundon and growing up around entrepreneurial parents, showed an interest in business from an early age.

In 2005, Sara founded Crafter’s Companion, a crafter’s supply company, while studying at York University.

While on a placement at a small craft firm, she spotted a gap in the market for a device that could create bespoke envelopes for handmade cards and, with the support of her retired engineer father, Sara designed and launched a ground-breaking craft product called The Enveloper.

Soon after, she launched The Enveloper on TV shopping channel Ideal World, selling 1,500 in the first ten minutes and 30,000 units within six months of the initial demonstration.

Today, Crafter’s Companion is a household name in the industry. It has expanded its range of papercraft products to include sewing and needlecraft items, in addition to its own brand of art materials, Spectrum Noir.

The entrepreneur is passionate about championing women in business, mentoring and the North East of England.

In 2021, Sara became an ambassador of the dressing service and coaching charity, Smart Works Newcastle. The charity believes in the power of clothes and coaching to transform a woman’s confidence.

Sara’s first appearance as a Dragon on BBC2’s Dragons Den was in 2019. The youngest dragon to ever enter the den, she quickly successfully invested in a multitude of businesses across various sectors.

Gracechurch Centre owners BPG and SAV have sponsored her appearance in Sutton Coldfield, while wealth management firm Robson Lister ­­- a longstanding BID board member – has sponsored the buffet that will be provided at the College from 4pm-5pm, prior to the entrepreneur’s talk.

Sara’s appearance will be followed by a business networking opportunity and drinks reception at The Townhouse, across the road from the College, from 6pm-9pm.

Owners, managers, or representatives of businesses in the BID area who would like to attend the event should contact Hello@VisitRoyalSuttonColdfield.co.uk

Pictured credit: Jade Mangles and Jodie Blackburn 

The GENESIS G70 Shooting Brake redefines the traditional estate car, targeting a younger audience with its sleek design and premium features. Priced at £41,995, this elegant model boasts a 247PS, 1,998cc, four-cylinder engine, reaching 0-62mph in 6.9 seconds. The interior offers luxurious finishes and advanced technologies, including AI-assisted driver assistance features. With impressive ride and handling, it competes with German market leaders.

See report here

A Sutton Coldfield landmark pub/restaurant will reopen this Wednesday, February 21, after a four-month absence. The Bracebridge in Sutton Park closed suddenly last October.

The Terrace section of the venue will reopen on Tuesday, March 5, with bookings being taken now. Meanwhile, the Sip and Slice, formerly the Kiosk, is open now – for a coffee and cake before and will soon provide a bakery service.

New owners in a ‘community partnership’ deal. Sam and Emma Morgan, of Open Restaurants Group (ORG), have joined forces with award-winning chef, Andrew Sheridan, who is in charge of the menu, a new kitchen and a new menu.

The venue sits next to one of the Sutton Coldfield beauty spot’s water features – Bracebridge Pool – which gives the venue its name. It will reopen with a ‘new menu full of British pub classics with a twist’. Its neighbouring kiosk, now the Sip & Slice has reopened with coffee and doughnuts and will soon add freshly-baked bread, pastries, and artisan pizzas. 

ORG runs three restaurants which all feature in the Michelin restaurant guide – 8 By Andrew Sheridan, which transferred from Birmingham to Liverpool last April and also holds three AA Rosettes. It was named Best Restaurant in the UK at the British Restaurant Awards in September 2023. It also has two upmarket neighbourhood restaurants: Black & Green, in Barnt Green, Worcestershire, and OXA in Oxton, The Wirral.

Andrew said: “We have spent the last few months getting The Bracebridge ready to reopen which includes the installation of a new kitchen. We’ve also been busy recruiting and training a highly trusted team of staff to deliver our menu of British classics featuring top-quality ingredients, and exceptional service.”

Group chooses town for second centre

A private clinic specialising in menopause has chosen Sutton Coldfield for is second site. In a move to enhance support for menopausal women in the West Midlands, Health in Menopause specialists will introduce both in-person and video consultations tailored to the experiences of every woman in and around the West Midlands area.

Dr. Alice Duffy, BMS Menopause Specialist, established the original Health in Menopause clinic in Nottingham in 2020 responding to the growing needs of women to access the support and treatment required to resolve menopause symptoms and to gain the knowledge and information to allow women to thrive in midlife and beyond.

The clinic was soon full and a need to expand to include the West Midlands became apparent. In 2023, a second location was found.

Housed within the historic Moat House, a Grade II* listed building on Lichfield Road, Sutton Coldfield, the second Health in Menopause site is situated in the scenic Anchorage Road conservation area.

The news comes at a time when MPs from the All Party Parliamentary Group on Menopause are leading the charge in improving menopause care nationwide.

The group, which recently advocated for the inclusion of menopausal discussions in NHS health checks for women over 40, also highlighted a concerning knowledge gap amongst GPs, underscoring the urgent need for improved education and training to ensure timely and accurate diagnosis and treatment for those experiencing menopausal symptoms.

Carolyn Harris MP, chair of the APPG on Menopause, highlighted the struggle many face, saying: “Women often find themselves lost, without a diagnosis, lacking supply for HRT, or without the support they critically need.”

Against this backdrop, the mission of the Health in Menopause clinic, to listen, guide, and enhance wellbeing during this pivotal life stage, becomes even more pertinent.

Dr. Alice Duffy, founder of Health in Menopause and a doctor with over 30 years of experience in women’s health, said: “Menopause is a transformative phase in a woman’s life, full of complexities and challenges but it can be a positive time if women are provided with the correct information.

“At Health in Menopause we provide holistic care, looking at the individual needs of the woman in the context of her personal medical history, her family history, her lifestyle and her culture.

“We aim to support women to reduce their symptoms and improve their long term health.

“With the national discourse emphasising the need for enhanced menopausal care, our dedication only grows stronger.”

For more details or to book a consultation at the Sutton Coldfield clinic, please contact 01216473676.

Series of closures for weeks on A453 for work on HS2

Motorists in Sutton Coldfield face weeks of road chaos as major road closures loom for the next two months. The main A453 route between the town and Tamworth will have a series of closures for construction work to continue on the HS2 high speed rail line.

Despite the northern leg being scrapped, the controversial line still being developed north of the city to just south of Handsacre where trains will go back on the West Coast mainline. 

The route travels from Birmingham to Water Orton and on through Staffordshire.

It crosses the A453 Sutton Road between Bassetts Pole near Sutton Coldfield  and Mike Oak in Tamworth. But that road will soon cross the proposed rail line. 

To enable works to be carried out a section of the A453 Sutton Road and Drayton Lane, which runs off it will see a series of closures. The A453 Sutton Road will shut overnight between 8pm to 6am every night from next Monday (February 12) to Sunday (March 31).

It will also close for two whole weekends from 8pm on Friday, March 8 to 6am on Monday, March 11. And from 8pm on Friday, March 15, to 6am on Monday, March 18.

While Drayton Lane will be shut from 8pm to 6am from Monday, February 26 t March 1, and also from Monday, March 4 to Friday, March 8, from Monday, March 11 to Friday, March 22 and from Monday, March 25 to Friday, March 29.

Marks and Spencer has announced that its Sutton Coldfield store, the M&S Foodhall located at the Princess Alice Retail Park in New Oscott, will undergo a significant refurbishment. The store will close its doors on February 3rd and remain closed for a month while the refurbishment takes place.

A statement from the company said: “Your local M&S Princess Park store is closing on Saturday 3rd February 2024 to get an exciting new make-over throughout the coming month. This exciting transformation will see a brand-new fresher store, with a new fresh market feel and a new look bakery when we re-open on Monday 4th March 2024 at 9am. During this time, why not follow us on Facebook or TikTok for the latest updates on the progress, and be the first to get news on the exciting new products arriving in your new store when it opens.”

The store will have a new fresh-market feel, providing customers with a unique shopping experience. The new look store will feature modern, stylish, and comfortable seating areas where customers can relax and enjoy their shopping experience.

It will also offer a click-and-collect service for M&S Clothing & Home products, making it easier for customers to shop online and collect their items in-store. Additionally, a brand-new digital Click & Collect service will be introduced to make shopping even more convenient.

The store is scheduled to reopen on March 4, and in the meantime, customers are advised to visit the M&S Foodhall in Mere Green, or other M&S shops in Tamworth, Cannock, or Wednesbury during the closure.

Parents looking to keep their children occoupied this half term have plenty of choice in Sutton Coldfield. The town hall is hosting events this February holiday with  Art Workshops for Children and Cartoon Circus Live!

Do you have children aged 5-14 years old? The town hall is hosting various art workshops led by artistic professionals this half-term. Unleash your child’s artistic potential through painting, drawing, crafting and 3-D modelling.

The events take place on Monday 12, Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 February from 10am-4pm

At the same time the venue on Upper Clifton Road will be presenting Cartoon Circus Live! a show filled with slapstick comedy, illusions, magic and more. This half-term offers the the thrill of the circus on Tuesday 13 February.
Doors open at 12:30 pm for a 1.30pm show.

Visit the town hall website for more information and to book tickets.

You can also book your tickets online, by calling thebox office or by visiting the box office in person:

Online: www.suttoncoldfieldtownhall.com/events

Homes, leisure, retail and commercial plans for major revamp

Sutton Coldfield rundown Gracechurch Shopping Centre is set to get a new lease of life with a multi-million pound investment. Plans to transform the 1970s-built centre with new homes, leisure, retail, commercial and other uses are being backed by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

The WMCA has agreed, in principle, to make the investment in the 250,000 acre shopping centreto help re-energise the town centre in line with the vision set out in the Royal Town Council’s masterplan.

It will be the latest in a series of WMCA investments focused on breathing new life into the region’s town and city centres. 

The decision will now trigger detailed negotiations between the WMCA and the developers, Birmingham Property Group and the London-based SAV Group, to finalise a deal.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, and Chair of the WMCA, said: “It’s wonderful to have good news to share about the well-known Gracechurch Shopping Centre site in Royal Sutton Coldfield. 

“I’m so pleased to see that the new owners have exciting plans to breathe new life into the town centre. 

“We will continue to work in close collaboration with them to help them realise their vision for Gracechurch – benefitting local people through job creation, leisure options and overall regeneration in the months and years ahead.”

Cllr Ian Courts, leader of Solihull Council, and portfolio holder for housing and regeneration at the WMCA, said: “Our town centres and shopping areas are at the heart of our communities and it’s important that we help them to prosper so they offer the retail, homes and services local people need.

“The WMCA is playing an active role across the region, investing in centres like Sutton Coldfield, to support our local economy as well as providing new homes for our people.”

Anton Nikolaenko, investment director of SAV group, said: “We have been working closely with Frontier and the WMCA and are grateful for their support of our ambitious proposals in Royal Sutton Coldfield.”

Emilios Tsavellas, development director at SAV Group, added: “The Gracechurch Centre holds enormous potential, and Andy Street has been integral in facilitating conversations within the WMCA and with other key stakeholders.

“We look forward to continuing our work with the WMCA to ensure that our proposals are delivered and integrated with other plans in Royal Sutton Coldfield and the wider region.”

Cllr Simon Ward, leader of Sutton Coldfield Town Council, said: “It is great to see such a significant vote of confidence in the regeneration of Royal Sutton Coldfield town centre.

“Andy Street has been a strong supporter of our plans since we began this journey six years ago.

“We look forward to working with BPG/SAV to deliver their ambitious and exciting plans, which will boost retail, bring in new and exciting leisure and food offers, and mean The Royal Town becomes a real destination for visitors.”

Access to funding for the project was provided by Frontier Development Capital Ltd, a fund manager working closely with property developers to arrange investments from the WMCA’s Commercial Investment Fund (CIF) and Residential Investment fund (RIF). 

Second Sutton Park venue to get makeover ad rebrand

A second Sutton Park hospitality venue is set for a huge facelift if plans are agreed by Birmingham City Council. The landmark Park House in Sutton Park, home of the Toby Carvery is set to be replaced by a new restaurant if city planners give the go-ahead.

It follows the closure and imminent reopening of Bracebridge restaurant, also in Sutton Park and adjacent to Bracebridge Pool.

The Carvery, near Town Gate, will become a Mitchells & Butlers Browns restaurant.

According to a Birmingham Mail report, the company, which leases the Grade II listed building from Birmingham City Council, has applied for listed building consent to make alterations, including a new floor, and external redecoration, as well as for permission to make changes to the rear extension.

A planning, design and heritage statement by JTS Partnership on behalf of M&B, reveals the proposed changes to what was an 18 th century mill house, which has had several extensions and changes since. 

The statement says: “Little remains of the layout and footprint of the original mill house. The few original features are potentially limited to fireplaces and ceilings.” The plan is to turn the carvery into a Browns Bar and Restaurant, like the one by the Bullring in Spiceal Street in the city centre.

The exterior of the venue will be redecorated in colors appropriate to the late 19th-century additions in the Tudor style. The applicants assure that the internal changes to the historic core will not impact the heritage significance of the building.

Sutton Coldfield Town Hall hosts celebration of female anthems

From  Quatro to Joplin, Cher to Turner, Pink to Blondie, Heart to Benatar, fans of female rock are in for a treat next week in Sutton Coldfield.

Women in Rock will be on stage at Sutton Coldfield Town Hall next Friday, January 12. 

Since 2016, Women in Rock have been wowing audiences across the UK & Europe with their sell out show. Having just returned from a hugely successful global tour on board celebrity cruises, they are back in the UK and ready to take you on a journey featuring soaring vocals, choreography, audience interaction, striking costumes and backed by a band of world-class musicians, Women in Rock has built a reputation one of the most enjoyable music shows now touring the UK theatres.

The show celebrates decades of the world’s greatest female rock legends with the set list featuring one classic after another and has something for everyone.

Tickets can be booked online at: https://www.suttoncoldfieldtownhall.com/whats-on/concerts-shows/13503/

Call the box office on  0121 296 9543 (open Mon-Fri 10 am-4pm ) or visit Sutton Coldfield Town Hall, Upper Clifton Road, Sutton Coldfield, B73 6DA

The show starts at 7:30pm.