Sutton Coldfield’s Gracechurch Centre has confirmed its Christmas opening hours for 2026, giving shoppers key dates for late-night shopping, Christmas Eve, Boxing Day and the New Year period.
The shopping centre announced its festive schedule on Instagram, advising shoppers to plan ahead as Christmas approaches.
A spokesperson for the centre said: “Planning your festive shopping? Here are our Christmas opening hours to help you make the most of the season.”
Christmas opening hours
Date
Opening Hours
December 3
Late-night shopping until 7pm
December 10
Late-night shopping until 7pm
December 17
Late-night shopping until 7pm
December 19, Saturday
9am–5.30pm
December 20, Sunday
10.30am–4.30pm
December 21
Late-night shopping until 7pm
December 22
Late-night shopping until 7pm
December 23
Late-night shopping until 7pm
December 24, Christmas Eve
9am–5pm
December 25, Christmas Day
Closed
December 26, Boxing Day
9am–5.30pm
December 27, Sunday
10.30am–4.30pm
December 28
9am–5.30pm
December 29
9am–5.30pm
December 30
9am–5.30pm
December 31
9am–5.30pm
January 2
9am–5.30pm
January 3, Sunday
10.30am–4.30pm
Late night shopping
For shoppers looking to beat the Christmas rush, Gracechurch Centre will offer extended late-night shopping until 7pm on several key December dates:
December 3
December 10
December 17
December 21
December 22
December 23
These extended hours are ideal for picking up gifts, festive essentials and last-minute Christmas purchases in Sutton Coldfield.
Christmas Eve, Boxing Day and New Year hour
On Christmas Eve, Gracechurch Centre will be open from 9am to 5pm, though individual store hours may vary.
The centre will reopen on Boxing Day, December 26, from 9am to 5.30pm. The same hours will apply on December 28, 29, 30 and 31.
Sunday opening hours during the festive period are 10.30am to 4.30pm, including December 27and January 3.
For the New Year period, January 2 will run from 9am to 5.30pm.
Check individual hour before travel
Gracechurch Centre has advised that individual retailer opening hours may vary. Shoppers should check directly with specific stores before travelling.
“We look forward to welcoming you this festive season,” the spokesperson added.
A major campaign is underway to bring permanent public CCTV cameras back to Sutton Coldfield town centre, with local business leaders appealing for capital funding to make the long-awaited project a reality.
The Visit Royal Sutton Coldfield Business Improvement District (BID), which represents 340 town centre businesses, is leading the charge to secure a permanent, long-term CCTV solution for the area.
Currently, the town centre operates without a permanent public system, relying on just two temporary cameras installed by Birmingham City Council in July 2025 after a two-year gap in coverage.
While the temporary units were welcomed as a positive interim measure, the BID is now focused on a more robust and reliable solution to ensure public safety and provide reassurance for businesses and visitors.
The plan: modern digital CCTV for key locations
After months of collaboration, Birmingham City Council has provided a formal quotation of approximately £45,000 to replace three obsolete analogue cameras with modern digital equipment. The proposed system would offer:
24/7 monitoring: Live, year-round surveillance from Birmingham City Council’s operations centre.
Police integration: Direct liaison with West Midlands Police to ensure rapid response to incidents.
Zero ongoing costs: The city council has confirmed there will be no recurring charges for monitoring or recording under its existing public space CCTV arrangements.
This fully developed and costed proposal has garnered strong support from both the BID and local law enforcement.
Police endorsement: a “significant strengthening” of security
West Midlands Police has thrown its weight behind the initiative, highlighting the critical role surveillance plays in modern crime prevention.
“A modern, fully operational public CCTV network would significantly strengthen our ability to prevent crime, disrupt anti-social behaviour and bring offenders to justice. The Sutton Trinity neighbourhood police team fully supports the installation of upgraded public CCTV in Sutton Coldfield town centre,” a police spokesperson confirmed.
The funding hurdle and future ambitions
Despite the plan being ready to deploy, the project hinges on securing the initial capital investment for hardware and installation. The BID is actively engaging with key stakeholders to bridge this gap.
Michelle Baker, BID manager at Visit Royal Sutton Coldfield BID, emphasised the urgency of the situation. She said:
“Public safety is non-negotiable, and permanent CCTV is essential in any well-managed town centre. We have a fully developed and costed proposal that is ready to be delivered. Birmingham City Council will operate and monitor the system at no additional cost. What we need now is the capital investment to make it happen.”
In the absence of direct funding from Birmingham City Council, the BID has formally raised the issue with the Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council, the town’s Pride in Place Board, and local MP Andrew Mitchell to identify a way forward.
While reinstating the three original cameras is the immediate priority, the BID has outlined a longer-term vision to expand coverage to other key areas, such as Birmingham Road, which currently lacks public CCTV despite a high concentration of bars and restaurants.
How to support
The BID is calling on local partners, stakeholders, and the community to support the campaign. By securing this essential infrastructure, Sutton Coldfield can ensure a safer, more welcoming environment for everyone.
For more information or to discuss funding contributions, contact the Visit Royal Sutton Coldfield BID.
Pictured: From left – Cllr Nitish Raut, deputy mayor of Royal Sutton Coldfield, Dave Taylor, photographer of ‘Where’s Mine?’ and 2025 entrant, Emily Hannigan, matron at Good Hope Hospital and Simon Jarvis, hospital executive director at Good Hope Hospital
An award-winning photography exhibition designed to capture the “essence and soul” of the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield has beenofficially hailed as a resounding success—bringing warmth, color, and comfort to patients and visitors at Good Hope Hospital.
What began as a community competition has evolved into a living art gallery within the hospital’s Treatment Centre. The ‘Soul of Sutton’ exhibition, spearheaded by the Town Council and Mayor Cllr Cindy Yip, now features 22 stunning photographic entries from local residents, with the dual purpose of showcasing local talent and improving the wellbeing of those receiving medical care.
From competition to community healing
The initiative launched in 2024 when photography enthusiasts were invited to submit images that best represented the spirit of Sutton Coldfield. After receiving a high volume of high-quality entries, the Town Council sought a way to share the work beyond a traditional gallery setting.
Simultaneously, Good Hope Hospital was actively looking to “brighten up the walls” of its Treatment Centre to bring comfort and joy to patients, visitors, and staff. A partnership was formed, and the corridor—one of the busiest thoroughfares in the hospital—was transformed into a public gallery.
Simon Jarvis, Hospital Executive Director at Good Hope Hospital, commented: “The corridor between the Treatment Centre and the main hospital building is well-used by patients, staff and visitors. The stunning photography on display really brightens up this busy thoroughfare and further strengthens the strong ties between our hospital and the local community.”
New entries for 2025 expand the collection
Following the success of the initial 13 entries displayed in 2024, a further nine images from the 2025 competition have now been installed.
Featured residents and contributors include: Alison Matthews, Dave Taylor, Kathryn Sawbridge, Keith Wright, Harriet Birdsell, Neil Dance and Sutton Park Grange Care Home.
Tackling social isolation: The story behind ‘Where’s mine?’
One of the standout additions to the 2025 exhibition is Dave Taylor’s image, ‘Where’s mine?’. Taken at Coffee#1 in Sutton Coldfield, the photograph depicts Dave’s friend Colin enjoying a drink and a snack with his Australian Shepherd, Jake.
Dave’s motivation for entering the competition was deeply personal. Having visited the hospital previously, he and his family saw firsthand how the 2024 exhibition lifted spirits.
“We saw the images from the 2024 competition and thought they really brightened the treatment centre up and gave us something nice to focus on during our visits there,” Dave explained.
“I wanted to enter the 2025 competition in the hope that this new collection continues to bring enjoyment to other people attending Good Hope Hospital.”
His image intentionally highlights the importance of social spaces in Sutton Coldfield and their role in tackling social isolation—a theme that resonates strongly with the “Soul of Sutton” brief.
‘Seasons of Friendship’ brings care home residents into focus
Sutton Park Grange Care Home submitted ‘Seasons of Friendship at Sutton Park Grange Care Home’, a photograph that the team says “truly captures the spirit of our residents.”
“It’s a privilege to have our photograph included in this exhibition at Good Hope Hospital,” a spokesperson said. “We hope it brightens someone’s day in the wider community of Sutton Coldfield.”
Alison Matthews: Finding beauty in Sutton Park
Amateur photographer Alison Matthews has two pieces featured in the exhibition: ‘Beautiful Blues’and ‘Proud Park Swan’. A regular walker in Sutton Park, Alison uses photography as a tool for both mental and physical health.
“I get real pleasure in sharing my photography and I am thrilled to be part of this exhibition at Good Hope Hospital,” said Alison.
“I am just a happy amateur who loves finding beauty in and around Sutton Coldfield, particularly in Sutton Park. Regular walks with my camera are what keeps me healthy, in mind as well as body! This is a great opportunity to share a little of that with patients and staff.”
Personal achievement and community pride
Keith Wright, creator of ‘Maypole Installation, Holly Knoll, Sutton Park, May 2025’, spoke about what it means to be selected for a public exhibition.
“Participating in an exhibition, after being selected in a competition, confirms a personal achievement and instils a sense of pride. Producing photographic images to a set task or theme is an enjoyable challenge for any photographer.
“Many of us, friends or family (or someone who knows us), will pass through the hospital. The printed photograph gives us time to look, experience, enjoy and discuss.”
A unique story to yell
Cllr Cindy Yip, Mayor of the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield, served as judge for the 2025 competition and praised the depth of talent on display.
“It was a privilege to view the entries and select winners for the 2025 Soul of Sutton competition, each one with a unique story to tell about our Royal Town.
“This is a great space to showcase the talent of local residents. Congratulations again to all the featured artists.”
Why this matters: The power of art in healthcare
The ‘Soul of Sutton’ exhibition is a prime example of the therapeutic power of visual art in healthcare environments. By replacing blank clinical walls with scenes of local nature, community life, and cherished pets, Good Hope Hospital has created a “positive distraction” for those undergoing treatment.
Residents have reported that the images provide comfort and a sense of familiarity during what can be a stressful hospital visit.
About the ‘Soul of Sutton’ Initiative The ‘Soul of Sutton’ competition is an annual event run by Sutton Coldfield Town Council. It invites residents to submit photographic works that celebrate the people, places, and spirit of the Royal Town. Winning entries are displayed publicly to foster community pride and cultural engagement.
Visiting the Exhibition The exhibition is located in the corridor between the Treatment Centre and the main hospital building at Good Hope Hospital. It is freely accessible to patients, visitors, and staff during hospital opening hours.
The festive season is officially aglow in Royal Sutton Coldfield. This year’s display features 230 energy-efficient LED lights across the town, providing brighter illumination while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to traditional bulbs. You can see the sparkling Christmas lights in the following locations:
Sutton Coldfield Town Centre
Boldmere High Street
Mere Green
Walmley
Wylde Green
Falcon Lodge
Minworth
Whitehouse Common
Chester Road, Kingsbury Road, Walsall Road
Beeches Walk, Church Hill Parade, Clarence Road, Dugdale Crescent, Hollyfield Road, Little Boldmere
King Edward Square
Festive Christmas Trees, funded by the Town Council, are also located at: Dugdale Crescent, Falcon Lodge, Harvest Fields, Mere Green, Minworth, Walmley, and Wylde Green.
🅿️ Free festive parking and travel scheme until Jan 4, 2026
To complement the lights and boost the local economy, the Town Council is running a free holiday parking and travel initiative.
Parking details:
Days & Times: Thursdays from 4pm, Fridays from 4pm, and all day on Saturdays and Sundays.
Participating Car Parks
Station Street
Upper & Lower Reddicroft
Mill Street
Anchorage Road
South Parade
Duke Street
The scheme also includes free bus travel and cycle hire within the area, making it seamless to visit Royal Sutton Coldfield’s town centre and local shopping parades this Christmas.
🗣️ Supporting the town centre
Cllr Simon Ward, leader of Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council, said:
“I’m pleased to see the Town Council continuing to support our town centre through initiatives like the Festive Lights and Festive Travel Scheme. This outlines our commitment to local businesses and helps attract more visitors, making travel easier for shoppers during the busiest time of year.”
Plan Your Visit: Experience the festive magic, enjoy free parking on weekends and evenings, and support Royal Sutton Coldfield’s brilliant local businesses this holiday season.
Christmas Trees are also funded by the Town Council at Dugdale Crescent, Falcon Lodge, Harvest Fields, Mere Green, Minworth, Walmley and Wylde Green.
BMet (Birmingham Metropolitan College) which includes Sutton Coldfield College, James Watt College and Matthew Boulton College, honoured the outstanding achievements of its graduates, students, and staff at its annual graduation ceremony, held at the iconic Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
The celebratory event was attended by graduates, their families and friends, and BMet staff. It featured special guest appearances from the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Zafar Iqbal, MBE, JP, and award-winning athlete Jamie McAnsh, who delivered an inspiring keynote speech to motivate the new graduates.
Recognising Excellence: A Night of Awards
Alongside the formal graduation proceedings for Higher Education (HE) students, the ceremony saw 48 awards presented to deserving students, staff, and employer partners. These accolades celebrated a wide range of accomplishments.
Key awards presented included:
Academic Excellence Award
Inspirational Student Award
Outstanding Engagement Award
Innovation in Curriculum Award
Student Support Champion Award
The Resilience and Determination Award was proudly sponsored by the Morgan Hunt Recruitment Agency. In addition, Fellowship Awards were given to employers Roxanne Blackwood from fashion brand Kimmiu, and Louise Pinnington and Karen O’Donovan from Edge Creative, in recognition of their invaluable support in helping BMet students progress in their careers.
The event was further brought to life by two captivating performances from Performing Arts students from BMet’s Sutton Coldfield College.
Award Winner Spotlights
Karen Hemmings, Department Manager for Early Years at BMet, graduated with a Leadership Certificate in Post Compulsory Education (Cert Ed) and also received the Resilience and Determination Award.
“I’m very excited about being at this awards ceremony,” Karen said. “It means a lot to me to have achieved what I have at this later stage of my life. The support I have received whilst studying has been invaluable from teachers, as well as family – some of which are here with me today! I’m so thankful to everyone who has helped me along the way.”
Elijah Lewis graduated from his HND Cloud Networking Course and achieved an Inspirational Student Award.
“I’m so very happy to be recognised for my hard work and it has been a long time coming!” Elijah commented. “It feels like a testament to all my efforts. My action plan of studying computing at BCU is now one step closer and I feel I am on the path to securing a career in Cyber Security.”
Roxanne Blackwood, Founder and Creative Director of Kimmiu, received a Fellowship Award for her work in championing BMet and developing employability skills for students.
“Winning the award today is a huge honour in what has been a mutually beneficial journey,”Roxanne stated. “As well as helping learners on their career paths, I have learnt how to tailor my work in ways that can be meaningful and motivating to a target group of people. I have personally grown a lot and developed during my time working with BMet.”
Explore Higher Education at BMet
Their HE provision includes:
Foundation Degrees
Higher Level Apprenticeships
Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs)
Higher National Certificates (HNCs)
Higher National Diplomas (HNDs)
To find out more about the range of higher education courses at BMet, visit the official BMet website.
Shoppers and visitors to Royal Sutton Coldfield are set for a major festive boost, as a popular scheme offering free parking, discounted bus travel, and free cycle hire returns this November..
While the scheme will be welcome, residents are reminded that free parking only applies to council-run car parks at certain times and not private car parks in the town.
The travel initiative, which comes through a £52,000 investment from Sutton Coldfield Town Council, is supported by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).
It is designed to support both local residents and the town’s businesses during the crucial festive trading period, making it cheaper and easier to enjoy everything the town centre has to offer.
Free parking details
In a significant move, free parking will be available in key Birmingham City Council-owned town centre car parks from Thursday, 13 November 2025, until Sunday, 4 January 2026.
The free parking schedule is as follows:
The offer applies on Thursdays and Fridays from 4pm onwards and all day Saturdays and Sundays at the following car parks in the town.
Station Street
Upper Reddicroft
Lower Reddicroft
Mill Street
Anchorage Road
South Parade
Duke Street
Expanded travel options
Building on the success of last year’s scheme, the offer extends beyond just parking. Residents have a choice of sustainable and cost-effective ways to get into town:
Free and discounted travel: Individuals* can sign up for two weeks of free bus travel followed by ongoing discounted fares through the Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) scheme.
Free cycle hire: Residents can also cycle into the town centre for free using the West Midlands Combined Authority’s public bike hire scheme, which the Town Council helps to fund.
How to acces the bus travel offer
To take advantage of the free and discounted bus travel, residents must sign up for the Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council mailing list by 10am on Monday, 10th November 2025. Further details and a unique access code will be sent via an e-newsletter after this date.
*Please note: If you have applied for this specific bus transport offer in a previous year, you will not be eligible for the new free and discounted bus tickets.
Supporting Sutton’s town centre
Councillor Simon Ward, Leader of Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council, emphasised the scheme’s importance: “Whilst it’s great to see new investment with work starting on new stores and the Gateway Scheme, we fully recognise the need to support the town centre’s diverse range of businesses through the crucial festive period.”
He added, “Subsidising free car parking and promoting free bus and cycle hire will make it cheaper and easier for people to travel into the town centre and make the most of our fantastic festive offer. We also want to give visitors a choice of different ways to travel, including opportunities to try more sustainable options.”
The popular Boldmere Christmas Festival, including its popular lights switch-on event, has been officially cancelled for this year. The organisers, Boldmere Futures, cite severe funding shortages after their grant from Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council was dramatically reduced.
A History of declining funding
The community interest company has seen a steep decline in financial support from the council over recent years. After receiving generous grants of £9,605 in 2022 and £10,000 in 2023, the funding was cut to £7,000 last year. For the 2025 financial year, the grant has been slashed to just £3,000.
The £10,000 funding gap
The cancellation stems from an unsustainable financial gap. The Boldmere Christmas Festivalcosts approximately £22,000 to stage, while it only generates around £12,000 in revenue. This leaves a funding shortfall of roughly £10,000 that has historically been covered by council grants and sporadic sponsorships.
Paul Long, Chairman of Boldmere Futures, expressed his disappointment: “Despite reaching out to local businesses and exploring other grants like the Plan for Neighbourhoods, the financial shortfall made it impossible to proceed this year. Even if funds were found today, it’s too late for 2024.”
Long emphasised the event’s vital role in “boosting community spirit and supporting local businesses in Sutton Coldfield.”
Council response and future of the festival
In a statement, Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council explained that its grants are “competitive and often oversubscribed,” and are allocated based on the information provided by applicants.
The council also confirmed that Boldmere Futures has decided not to take the reduced grant for this year and will instead focus on other community projects.
Discussions are ongoing to secure proper funding with the aim of restoring the Boldmere Christmas Festival and lights switch-on in 2026. However, the future of this key Sutton Coldfield event remains uncertain pending a viable, long-term financial solution.
Sutton Coldfield’s newly re-developed police station has finally opened. Existing police buildings on the Anchorage Road side of the site, have now been redeveloped with the addition of a former small business property next door.
This has created a bespoke new location for neighbourhood teams, emergency response officers, local crime investigators, offender management and other policing functions which were dispersed around the site previously.
One of the key developments was the creation of a public contact office where people can talk to us if they prefer face to face over telephone and online options.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon said the new station would be a base for the local neighbourhood team for emergency force response and investigators.
He added: “It will also be a public contact office where members of the public can attend face to face and speak to a police officer.
“This is all part of my commitment to rebuild community policing and ensure a reassuring police presence in Sutton Coldfield.”
Cash from the sale of the old site – which will also pay for the new station – will be reinvested into policing, safeguarding officer numbers and services at a time when budgets are under continued pressure locally and nationally.
The sale of surplus buildings on the Lichfield Road side of the site provides good value for the public purse and local people.
The old station cost over of £500,000 each year to run, excluding annual maintenance costs and essential upgrades such as those needed to its 66-year-old heating system as well as critical safety and security systems.
The decision to close the former station on Lichfield Road was made in March 2018 following careful scrutiny at a public meeting of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
As part of that decision, a pledge was made to maintain a police presence in the town.
The re-development was delivered on time and to a tight budget, using local businesses employing local people.
The old station was largely vacant due the way the force works in the 21st century and my commitment to keep officers out on the streets serving their communities. The building was also very expensive to run.
There’s no doubt that the redeveloped footprint is smaller than the old facility but there is no reduction in officer numbers serving the town. It is people with the right skills and equipment which keep people safe, not bricks and expensive empty rooms which cost a fortune to heat and maintain.
A Sutton Coldfield centenarian care home resident has inspired nurses at Birmingham’s Royal Orthopaedic Hospital (ROH) with memories of her service during the Second World War
Now 101 years old, Joy McCliskie is a resident at Mercia Grange, a Care UK care home.
She worked as a nurse at the hospital from 1940-1948. During her time at the ROH Joy worked on the wards and in the later years in the outpatients’ department, then located on Broad Street.
Much of her nursing career took place during the war, a very different time to be a nurse than it is today.
Sophie and Helen, two nurses currently working at ROH, were enthralled by Joy’s memories of working during those years, from the use of frames for turning spinal patients to warming beds with stone hot water bottles and wearing tin hats when on night duty.
Michael McNelis, Home Manager at Mercia Grange, said: “Giving older people an opportunity to reminisce is at the heart of everything we do, so when the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital team reached out to us, we were excited to invite them in for a chat.
“Joy’s time with Sophie and Helen brought back many happy memories for her, and we hope it will inspire many others to follow in her footsteps.”
An ROH spokesperson added: “While the daily roles of nurses may have changed over the decades, nursing remains the lifeblood of the NHS.
“Our nurses work incredibly hard to care for the many patients who are treated at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, delivering compassionate care and helping patients regain their mobility, independence and quality of life.”
About the ROH
The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest specialist orthopaedic units in Europe, offering planned orthopaedic surgery to people locally, nationally, and internationally.
The Trust is an accredited Veteran Aware organisation and a Disability Confident Leader. Ranked eighth in the 2024 UK Inclusive Top 50 Employers list, the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital is the highest-ranking NHS organisation for its commitment to diversity and inclusion.
You can follow the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital on social media:
Charges for parking at Sutton Park are set to go ahead, but Birmingham City Council has announced revised charges after a public outcry.
Parking fees at three of the city’s most desirable parks: Sutton Park, Lickey Hills Country Park, and Sheldon Country Park. This decision arises from the council’s persistent financial difficulties, as they seek new revenue streams following significant budget cuts and a second consecutive rise in council tax.
A recent public consultation revealed that a majority of residents are against the proposed parking charges. Despite the considerable opposition, the Labour-run council maintains that these fees are crucial for covering the costs associated with park maintenance. They recognize that parking charges can be “controversial and unpopular,” yet stress that the income generated will not entirely cover maintenance expenses, necessitating ongoing taxpayer support.
In response to public feedback, the council has made minor adjustments to the proposed fees:
Sutton Park & Lickey Hills Country Park:
£1 per hour (up to 4 hours)
£5 for all-day parking
£52 for an annual permit
Charges apply 9 am–6 pm, 365 days a year, with a 30-minute free grace period.
Sheldon Country Park:
£0.75 per hour (up to 3 hours)
£3.50 for all-day parking
£52 for an annual permit
Same operating hours and grace period as above.
The council argues that implementing parking fees at major parks is “common practice” throughout the UK and aligns with “national best practice.”
They believe that the revised fees could help alleviate the impact on local businesses while attracting more visitors. The council aims to balance the need for revenue with the desire to maintain accessibility to these premium green spaces.
However, critics express concern that these charges may discourage individuals, particularly lower-income families, from enjoying the parks. There is apprehension that local businesses, which depend on park visitors, could face adverse effects due to diminished foot traffic.
What do you think about Sutton Park charges? Do you believe it’s truly justified?
