Parents can forget about keeping the kids occupied this Easter, when families can enjoy an immersive nature-inspired experience at The Belfry Hotel and Resort, near Sutton Coldfield.

The brand-new Woodland Adventure playground—nestled within the resort’s scenic woodlands—offers thrilling activities, from climbing towers and zip wires to sunken trampolines and swooping slides, perfect for kids who love outdoor exploration.

A Playground Inspired by Nature

Designed to reflect the resort’s native woodland wildlife, the playground is divided into three exciting zones:

• The Owl’s Roost – Soar down slides and swing like an owl in flight.
• Hoppers Hollow – Jump on trampolines and dash through tunnels.
• Squirrel Play – Climb, scramble, and balance like a woodland squirrel.

Paul Travers, Head of Operations at CAP.CO (the team behind the playground’s design), says:
“Our bespoke play experiences blend local narratives with adventure. The Belfry’s Woodland Adventures is packed with multi-sensory play, making it a unique family attraction.”

More Easter Family Fun at The Belfry

• After exploring the woodland, families can enjoy:
• Go-karting – Race around the track for high-speed excitement.
• Toptracer Range – Perfect your golf swing with tech-driven practice.
• The Green – Outdoor games including badminton, volleyball, and football.
•  Mini Golf, Swimming & Indoor Game Zone – Fun for all weathers.

Sudden closure at Mere Green eatery

A well-known Sutton Coldfield restaurant has closed its doors suddenly, seven years after its opening, with the loss of a number of jobs.

Pierre’s in Mere Green, formerly Bistrot Pierre, was among eight restaurant closures nationwide, including Bistrot Pierre in Birmingham city centre’s Gas Street, in a deal to save the remaining 10 locations. 

Five of the closures are in the Midlands, including restaurants in Kidderminster, Leamington Spa, and Coventry.

The closures have led to the loss of 158 jobs. The company cited rising minimum wage and national insurance costs imposed by the government as reasons that made smaller locations “unviable.” 

They also stated that the administrators will provide support to those affected by the job losses.

The French-themed chain had recently changed its Bistrot Pierre in Mulberry Walk, Mere Green into a “Pierre’s” last September. 

This change was intended to shift away from formal dining and create a “more informal drinking and eating venue.”

The revamp included complete refurbishment and a new look and a new menu.

Sutton Coldfield is to host a new Victorian-themed Christmas market later this year, it has been announced.

Following on from the 22-day festive market in 2024, Visit Royal Sutton Coldfield BID and market operator LSD Promotion have announced a new format for this year.

Organisers have said the 2025 market will run across two weekends, each spanning four days, taking on board feedback after last year’s market.

The first event will be held from 11 to 14 December, followed by the second from 18 to 21 December.

With a Victorian theme throughout, the market will offer an array of gifts, handmade crafts, seasonal food and mulled drinks, all in an inviting, festive atmosphere.

Each stallholder will be dressed in Victorian attire, adding to the immersive experience.

A variety of Victorian-inspired entertainment will also take place – including traditional Christmas carols, street performers, living statues, stilt walkers, story tellers, magic shows and festive rides. 

Michelle Baker, manager of Visit Royal Sutton Coldfield BID, said: “We saw the positive impact that the 22-day Christmas market had on Sutton Coldfield last year.

“The community’s strong support showed that a festive attraction is something our town needs in order to compete with other towns, but we also wanted to respond to feedback.

“We believe this new eight-day format with a new Victorian theme, will bring something fresh and magical to our town, and we look forward to delivering a truly memorable experience for all.”

LSD Promotions will be responsible for booking all traders for the market, while Visit Royal Sutton Coldfield BID will be organising the entertainment schedule, ensuring that the market offers an authentic and immersive Victorian experience.

Sutton Coldfield fun event to aid Amnesty International

Brainboxes and bright sparks are invited to test their wits at Sutton Coldfield Amnesty International Group’s annual quiz night.

Aiming to raise money for Amnesty International’s human rights work worldwide, the event takes place at Sutton Coldfield Football Club in Coles Lane B72 1NL on Friday, March 28.

Quizmaster and Sutton Coldfield Amnesty International chair Andrew Hindle says: “It’s very much a general knowledge quiz with questions on just about everything!

“We also have a raffle so it’s a fun night for everyone. Our quiz is one of our most popular events and we’d love to see some new faces join us this March. There’s no need to book, just turn up on the night.”

Doors open at 7pm with a 7.30pm kick-off. Entry costs £5 per person with teams a maximum of six people. Drinks and snacks are available at the bar.

Sutton Coldfield Amnesty International Group meets at 8pm on the second Tuesday of every month (except August) in the Conference Centre, Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 69 Lichfield Road, Sutton Coldfield, B74 2NU.

New members are always given a warm welcome. For more information see http://www.amnesty.org.uk/groups/sutton-coldfield

Founded in 1961, Amnesty International fights abuses of human rights across the globe. Find out more at https://www.amnesty.org.uk/

Temporary move to Sutton Coldfield

Sutton Coldfield’s Good Hope Hospital will now host an Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) which has moved on a temporary and emergency basis from High Street Erdington.

North Birmingham UTC stopped operating at Erdington Health and Wellbeing Centre and is now fully operational at Good Hope Hospital. It will operate between 8am and 8pm, seven days a week.

The new location at Good Hope Hospital provides patients and UTC colleagues with better security and more modern facilities, while it will also support in reducing pressure on the hospital’s A&E department by ensuring patients who inappropriately attend A&E can be triaged and treated more quickly to the UTC.

UTCs provide urgent medical help when it’s not a life-threatening emergency and patients can access any of the six UTCs that operate across Birmingham and Solihull by contacting NHS 111 online or over the phone.

Patients can access, via NHS 111, any of the six UTCs in operation across Birmingham and Solihull, including Erdington UTC which is based at Stockland Green Primary Care Centre.

Faith Button, chief delivery officer at NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB, said: “We remain deeply committed to the provision of healthcare services across our city and borough, including Erdington and Erdington UTC remains in operation.

“I want to stress that this is a temporary relocation which has been carried out on an emergency basis and this decision is not one which has been taken lightly.

“We are confident that the new location at Good Hope Hospital will lead to better experiences for our communities and we would encourage anyone who needs urgent healthcare to make use of it via NHS 111.”

The permanent future location of North Birmingham UTC will be decided as part of a strategic review of all UTCs across Birmingham and Solihull, which is in its preliminary stage.

As part of this review, the NHS will be engaging and consulting with communities across the area to ensure their vies play a key part in the NHS’s strategic thinking and decision-making process.

Meanwhile, the public is urged to use the right service at the right time including pharmacists, GPs and NHS 111 and 111 online if they need advice and support for health conditions. They should only call 999 or attend A&E in life-threatening emergencies.

Pharmacists can suggest treatments that do not need a prescription for a range of conditions and most offer a service called Pharmacy First which means they can provide prescription medicine for seven conditions without the need to see a GP or make an appointment.