Local News 3 - What's On In Sutton Coldfield

Good Hope Hospital Opens New Clinical Research Facility

Patients in Sutton Coldfield and surrounding areas will have greater opportunities to take part in potentially life-changing medical research following the opening of a dedicated clinical research facility at Good Hope Hospital.

The new facility, located in the hospital’s former CU27 ward, provides a purpose-designed environment for clinical trials and medical studies, helping researchers explore new approaches to patient treatment and care.

Previously, research participants were seen in different parts of the hospital, including existing wards, depending on the availability of space.

The new dedicated facility will provide a more consistent and comfortable setting, while allowing the hospital to expand the range of research opportunities available to local patients.

A Special First Patient

Among the first to benefit is 95-year-old Joan, who has become the facility’s first research participant.

Joan is taking part in a stroke study led by consultant Dr Yadava, investigating how two different medications may affect cognitive function following a stroke.

For Joan, having the research facility close to home has made a significant difference. Travelling further afield would not have been practical, meaning she might otherwise have missed the opportunity to participate.

Her involvement highlights one of the new facility’s most important benefits: making medical research more accessible to people in their own communities.

Expanding Research at Good Hope

The opening represents another step in the development of clinical research at Good Hope Hospital, which serves Sutton Coldfield and communities across North Birmingham and south-east Staffordshire.

Jo Plumb, Director of Research and Innovation at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, welcomed the development, explaining that the dedicated space will support a wider range of clinical studies and make research more accessible to local patients.

The investment has been supported by the hospital’s executive team, recognising the importance of developing research services alongside everyday patient care.

Opportunities for Local Patients

The new facility is expected to create further opportunities for patients to participate in clinical research, contributing to studies that may help improve future treatments and healthcare.

Patients and healthcare professionals interested in becoming involved in research at Good Hope Hospital can contact the research team at [email protected].

The opening marks an encouraging development for local healthcare, bringing medical research closer to the communities the hospital serves.

📷 Lichfield Camera Club Celebrates National Competition Success

Lichfield Camera Club is celebrating a double success after reaching the final of a prestigious national photography competition and achieving an impressive set of results in a regional exhibition.

The club has secured a place in the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain’s Inter-Club Print Championship final, which takes place on Saturday 24 October.

The competition brings together leading camera clubs from across the country, making qualification a significant achievement for the Lichfield group.

There was further cause for celebration in the Midland Mono Exhibition, where club members achieved 17 accepted entries, three more than the previous year.

Among the individual successes was Anne Anderson, who received a Gary medal for her atmospheric photograph Morning Mist Over Derwentwater.

Fellow member Sue Freeman also received recognition, earning a PAGB ribbon for her striking photograph of Whitby Abbey.

Club chairman Joe Anderson welcomed the achievements, highlighting the contribution of talented new members and the high standard of photography being produced by the relatively small club.

He also emphasised that Lichfield Camera Club continues to welcome photographers of all abilities, offering opportunities to develop both creative and technical skills.

With the national final approaching, members now have another exciting occasion to look forward to as they represent Lichfield on the national photographic stage.

🛒 NEW ALDI SET TO OPEN IN SUTTON COLDFIELD

The wait is nearly over — Sutton Coldfield’s new Aldi is set to open its doors on Thursday 8 October at 8am.

The new supermarket on Brassington Avenue has been taking shape over recent months and is part of Aldi’s continuing UK expansion programme. Aldi confirmed Sutton Coldfield among 16 locations due to receive new stores during 2026.

The development brings the previously vacant Brassington Avenue site back into use close to the town centre. The site has been earmarked for redevelopment for a number of years, with earlier proposals never coming to fruition.

With the finishing touches now going in, shoppers don’t have much longer to wait.

📅 Opening: Thursday 8 October 2026
⏰ 8am
📍 Brassington Avenue, Sutton Coldfield

Will you be heading along to take a look?

#SuttonColdfield #Aldi #ShopLocal #LocalNews #WhatsOnSuttonColdfield

Images from Visit Royal Sutton Coldfield BID

🎾 PLANS CHANGED FOR SUTTON COLDFIELD TOWN CENTRE SPORTS VENUE

Plans for a new rooftop sports venue at Sutton Coldfield’s Gracechurch Shopping Centre have been revised.

The original scheme, approved in February, would reuse the upper level of the multi-storey car park for sports courts, together with a clubhouse and associated facilities.

The latest application proposes replacing one of the approved tennis courts with four padel courts, as well as extending the venue’s permitted opening hours until 11pm.

An earlier attempt to make similar changes — including opening until midnight — was refused in August. The revised application was submitted in September and is currently awaiting a decision, with consultation open until 12 October.

The development forms part of efforts to bring more leisure uses into Sutton Coldfield town centre. Earlier this year, Royal Sutton Coldfield BID said the sports proposals could help diversify the town centre and encourage increased footfall outside traditional retail hours.

What do you think of the revised plans — would you use a town-centre padel venue?

End of an Era as Sutton Coldfield’s Former WHSmith Store Announces Closure

The TG Jones store in Sutton Coldfield’s Gracechurch Centre, formerly WHSmith, is set to close on Saturday 9 January 2027, bringing another change to the town’s retail landscape.

The branch, situated at 140–142 The Parade, is among approximately 150 stores affected by the retailer’s nationwide restructuring programme.

For generations of shoppers, WHSmith was a familiar destination for books, newspapers, magazines, stationery and much more. Although the store was rebranded TG Jones following the sale of WHSmith’s high street business in 2025, many local residents will still know it by its former name.

What Happens to the Post Office?

One of the most significant consequences of the closure concerns the Post Office operating within the store.

The Sutton Coldfield branch provides a range of services, including postal services, everyday banking, bill payments and other essential transactions.

Post Office representatives have confirmed that they are considering expressions of interest from potential replacement operators.

However, establishing a replacement branch could take approximately six months, meaning residents may face a period without a Post Office in the town centre.

The precise closure date for the existing Post Office has yet to be finalised.

Alternative branches identified by the Post Office include Reddicap Heath, Whitehouse Common, Boldmere and Falcon Lodge.

Residents are advised to check individual branch opening hours and available services before travelling.

Part of a Nationwide Restructuring

TG Jones was established following the acquisition of WHSmith’s UK high street business by Modella Capital in 2025.

The company subsequently embarked on a major restructuring programme, approved by the High Court in July 2026, involving the closure of up to 150 stores.

The Sutton Coldfield closure forms part of that programme.

TG Jones has acknowledged the disappointment the decision will cause and stated that supporting affected employees remains a priority.

The company’s Tamworth store at Ventura Retail Park is also scheduled to close, on 9 October 2026.

A Familiar Name in Sutton Coldfield

For many local people, WHSmith was much more than somewhere to buy a newspaper or a birthday card.

It was a regular stop during a shopping trip, somewhere to browse the latest books, pick up a magazine or stock up on stationery.

For those who grew up visiting the town centre, the name WHSmith became part of the familiar shopping landscape.

The forthcoming closure also carries a personal connection for What’s On In Sutton Coldfield.

Our photographer and editor, Nigel Gambles, previously worked for WHSmith in Birmingham and regularly covered shifts at the Sutton Coldfield branch.

Having spent time working in the store, the announcement brings back memories of a business that was once a fixture of British high streets.

Its closure marks another chapter in the changing story of Sutton Coldfield’s town centre.

WHSmith in Sutton Coldfield’s Gracechurch Centre, pictured around the time our editor Nigel Gambles worked for the company and regularly covered shifts at the branch.

A Personal Connection

For our editor Nigel Gambles, the closure is particularly poignant. Having worked for WHSmith in Birmingham and regularly covered shifts at the Sutton Coldfield branch, he remembers the store from an era when the Gracechurch Centre was a bustling part of everyday town life.

The familiar WHSmith frontage was a fixture of the shopping centre for generations, and its transformation into TG Jones marked another chapter in the changing face of Sutton Coldfield’s retail landscape.

The forthcoming closure brings that chapter to an end.

What Happens Next?

The store is expected to continue trading until January, with the Post Office working to secure replacement premises.

For residents, the priority will be maintaining convenient access to essential postal services, particularly for those who rely on the town centre branch.

What’s On In Sutton Coldfield will continue to follow developments, including any announcement concerning a replacement Post Office.

Further information: TG Jones and Post Office branch information.

The closure details, company statement and Post Office arrangements are reported in the local coverage, with current branch information available from the official retailer and Post Office websites.

Boldmere Christmas Festival 2026 Cancelled Amid Funding Dispute

One of Sutton Coldfield’s established festive community events will not take place this Christmas, following an ongoing disagreement over funding.

Organisers Boldmere Futures CIC have confirmed that the Boldmere Christmas Festival 2026 has been cancelled after failing to secure the financial support needed to stage the event.

The announcement will disappoint residents, families and local businesses who have supported the festival over the years.

Organisers Express Disappointment

Boldmere Futures has stated that Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council declined to provide the funding required for the 2026 Christmas Festival, leaving the organisation unable to proceed.

The not-for-profit community organisation has previously highlighted the considerable costs involved in staging the event, including road closures, security, first aid, insurance and other essential infrastructure.

The festival has traditionally brought thousands of visitors to Boldmere, providing entertainment, seasonal activities and opportunities for local traders.

Background to the Funding Disagreement

The financial difficulties are not new.

In 2025, Boldmere Futures requested £10,000 towards the Christmas Festival but was awarded £3,000 by the Town Council.

The organisation subsequently declined the grant, explaining that it required £10,000 in external funding to deliver the event.

Council committee minutes record that the organisation decided to pause the 2025 festival and intended to seek funding again in future.

The council also recorded its position that all supporting information supplied by Boldmere Futures had been shared with councillors before the grant decision.

What Happens Next?

Despite the cancellation, Boldmere Futures continues to explore alternative community events.

The organisation has indicated that it is considering an event in Sutton Park during summer 2027, alongside possibilities for establishing a permanent artisan market in Boldmere.

These proposals remain subject to further development and funding.

For residents and businesses who have supported the Christmas Festival, the announcement means another year without the traditional event.

What’s On In Sutton Coldfield will continue to follow developments and provide updates on any alternative festive activities announced for the area.

Further information: Boldmere Futures – Community Festivals