A Banquet Fit For A King At The Town Hall

And what happens when PowerPoints and wine mix in Sutton Coldfield

Author

Jason Mills
April 10, 2025

WEATHER

Thurs: 19°C ☀️ | Fri: 22°C ☀️ | Sat: 22°C ☀️ | Sun: 17°C 🌧️

Good morning Royal Sutton Coldfield,

Welcome back to the only Sutton Coldfield newsletter that keeps writing these silly opening lines of emails for its own amusement.

In the week that Lichfield District Council are stepping in to help with the Birmingham bin crisis, there’s plenty to sink your teeth in to as the mercury levels remain high and the sun continues to shine across the royal town.

And the timing could hardly be better as Sutton Coldfield welcomes the return of its incredibly successful food festival to kick off the Easter holidays.

We have it all this week, from easter egg hunts to me sharing our wonderful experience at Sutton Town hall on Friday evening.

This week we truly have a celebration of Sutton Coldfield.

Let’s get going…

SUTTON SPOTLIGHT
A Spanish & Portuguese Banquet At The Town Hall

On Friday evening we were lucky enough to attend Sutton Coldfield Town Hall’s first ever wine tasting evening. Hosted by local wine expert Geoff Bolton of Birmingham Wine School and joined by chef James Gilhooley of Cornerstone Kitchen - the night promised a journey through six quality Spanish and Portuguese wines with accompanying tapas dishes to tantalise the tastebuds.

And it did not disappoint. Although I did have reservations when I saw the dreaded PowerPoint presentation on the screen - but fear not, the evening was informative, educational but also a lot of fun.

In fact, all aspects were so good, it’s hard to say whether it was the wine or the tapas that took the limelight - and in fairness, they both complemented each other perfectly.

I knew that wine could elevate food, but I had no idea that the food could elevate wine - and it really did with a couple of these wines.

Geoff our host was knowledgable and entertaining - answering everyone’s questions before walking home (that’s how local he is) - and Chef James was on hand to explain each tapas course.

The food that James and his team at Cornerstone Kitchen prepared was more like a tasting menu than tapas in terms of portion size and quality, with incredible cheese, fish and meat dishes on display - do check out our recent Instagram reel to get a flavour.

It was also great to hear Liz, the general manager at RSCTH and her team talk passionately about the venue, it’s history and the importance of its legacy to the town, and I for one will 100% be booking on to their next wine tasting event which rumours suggest will have an Argentinian theme - I can’t wait!!!

To find out more about events that are going on at the Town Hall you can visit their what’s on page here.

To find out more about Cornerstone Kitchen and their private catering click here.

GET INVOLVED
The Sutton Coldfield Food Festival Returns

The town centre takes centre stage this weekend as the incredibly successful Sutton Coldfield Food Festival returns for a three day stint, showcasing food and drink offerings from local businesses.

We attended last year when it ran in September and the town was heaving, with many people commenting on how joyous it was to see the town thriving thanks to the event.

The knock on effect for established businesses was felt too so it should be a win-win for all involved.

Expect entertainment all weekend as over 100 food and drink stalls descend on the town. Entry is free and the weather looks fair.

Opening Times:

Friday: 10am-7pm
Saturday: 10am-7pm
Sunday: 10am-5pm

GET INVOLVED
Easter Activities For The Big & Little Ones

There’s plenty going on over the Easter holidays for kids and adults alike. Below is a selection of events taking place in and around Sutton…

All Things Spring - Easter Sip & Paint
Thursday 10th April 7pm - 9pm at Quinto Lounge

Easter Wreath Making
Sunday 13th April 11am - 2pm at New Hall Hotel

Kids Yoga & Art Workshop (Egg Hunt included!) 
Monday 14th April 1pm - 3:30pm at The Art of Wellness, Blackbrook Barns

Easter Wreath Decorating For Kids
Monday 14th April 10:30am - 12pm at Kingsbury Water Park

Frog Prince
Monday 14th April 6:30pm - 8:30pm at Sutton Town Hall

Easter Cooking Workshop
Monday 14th April 11:30am at Worship Worth Experiences

The Littlest Yak
Tuesday 15th April 11am at Sutton Town Hall

Hop Into Harmony - Parent & Kids Yoga & Art Workshop
Tuesday 15th April 1pm - 3pm at The Art of Wellness, Blackbrook Barns

The Heartless Princess
Tuesday 15th April 7:30pm at Highbury Theatre Centre

Easter Wreath Duck Antics
Wednesday 16th April 10am - 11am at Kingsbury Water Park

Mama Sip & Paint Brunch
Thursday 17th April 10:30am - 12:30pm at The Four Oaks

Meet Peter Rabbit
Saturday 19th April 10am - 3pm at Gracechurch Shopping Centre

Kids Easter Party (under 9s)
Saturday 19th April 11am - 1pm at Avery Fields Sports & Events

Kids Easter Party (10 - 13 year olds)
Saturday 19th April 2pm - 5pm at Avery Fields Sports & Events

Easter Food & Drinks Quiz
Sunday 20th April 7pm at The Quill & Taper

Mum & Me Event
Wednesday 23rd April 10am - 12pm at Sutton Rugby Club

Workshop Week (12 - 18 year olds) 
22nd - 25th April at The Venue, Trinity Hill

GET INVOLVED
Boldmere Easter Egg Trail

The Boldmere Futures team have something fun planned for your little ones during the first week of the Easter holidays. They are going to place 10 Easter themed posters in the windows of 10 shops on Boldmere High Street for your little bunnies to try and find.

The posters will be in the shops from the 12th to the 27th April. You will be able to see the posters from the outside, so no need to worry about coming in and out of shops.

There’s fun for all ages. The younger children can count how many Easter themed pictures they find and the older kids can try and solve the Easter themed puzzles that you will find on the posters.

When you have collected your 10 answers, make your way to the Boldmere Hardware Shop to receive your prize.

UPDATE
Britwell Fair Trade & Eco Shop Correction

We received a lovely email from Britwell Fair Trade & Eco Shop after we featured them last week. Unfortunately, there was an issue with the link to their Facebook page - so here’s the updated link so you can find out more.

GET INVOLVED
Your Reviews In The Spotlight

More of your fantastic insights in to what’s going on around Sutton Coldfield. This week we hear from Teresa Jones who has written this review of Boldmere’s Studio Twenty Seven:

After attending Studio twenty-seven since it opened just over a year ago, I felt it was my duty to all the ladies out there that may want to go somewhere they can really enjoy themselves while not only getting fit and healthy but meeting and making great friends.

I started a few years ago, going to Salima's Zumba class. Her class was close to my home and I wanted something to occupy myself as I had recently retired. I never thought I would keep it up but after only one class with Salima I was hooked.  I enjoyed Zumba but it was the easy-going fun way Salima taught the class that I really loved.

Everyone is so welcoming and we are all different, at different levels of fitness. It's not just exercise classes its everything rolled into one. A safe place where nobody judges you, if you want to share your troubles, if you want to listen to someone else's troubles, get advice give advice from recipes/ aches and pains to where to buy the cheapest petrol,  if you just want to spectate from a distance, it's your choice.

For all the young ladies like myself/moms shift workers etc, there are day time classes at a reduced cost. I do classes to fit in around my routine, day and evening, there are so many to choose from.

Salima consults us on what we prefer regarding classes and time tables she does her best to accommodate everyone from ballroom and Latin dancing to mindfulness. 

The studio has it all, it's a beautiful space that Salima has created where young and older people can feel happy and included in something very special with no pressure to be anything other than oneself, as much as I would like to keep it a secret I can't help but share it with all the likeminded people that just want a bit more fun and happiness in their life.

Have a review or place to share? Please send it to [email protected]. The best ones will make it in to the newsletter.

WHAT’S ON
Local Cinema Showings This Weekend

Here’s what’s on this weekend at your local cinema. View times and book here

Film Title

Friday Showtimes

Saturday Showtimes

Sunday Showtimes

A Minecraft Movie (PG)

11:15, 13:30, 14:15, 16:00, 16:45, 17:30, 17:40, 20:10

11:15, 14:00, 15:15, 16:00, 16:45, 17:45

10:45, 12:00, 14:15, 14:45, 19:30, 20:30

Disney’s Snow White (PG)

12:45, 15:10

10:45, 14:30

The Amateur (12A)

11:30, 14:30, 20:00

19:45

19:00

Death Of A Unicorn (15)  

20:15

The King Of Kings (PG) 

11:15

10:30, 13:00

Sylvanian Families: The Movie (U)

11:00

10:30

10:10

Andre Rieu’s 75th Birthday Celebration: The Dream Continues (PG)

19:00

15:00, 17:00

 Notting Hill (15)

19:30

19:30


Six The Musical Live! (12A)

19:00

13:30, 17:00, 19:30

13:30, 17:15

Babe (30th Anniversary) (PG)

12:15

12:30

The Chosen: Season 5

16:30

EMPLOYMENT
Local Jobs Roundup

New local employment opportunities:

Retail Assistant at Boots Opticians - Details

Assistant Manager at Pandora - Details

Children’s Deputy Manager at Brook Street Social Care - Details

Kitchen Porter at Pizza Express - Details

Golf Course Labourer at The Belfry - Details

LOCAL DEALS
Senior Cinema Films For March

Don’t forget you can enjoy a movie, hot drink and biscuits for just £5 on Wednesday’s at 11am at the Royal Cinema.

Coming up in April:

April 23: The Brutalist

April 30: Some Like It Hot

SUTTON SOLVER
Where In Sutton?

Do you know exactly where in Sutton the image below was taken? Simply hit reply and tell us for a chance to have a mention in next week’s email.

Last week’s answer: Lot’s of you wrote in to us last week with the answer, but the first correct answer was from Wyn Farrell who told us the picture was of the Almshouses in Walmley. Congrats Wyn and if you want to learn more about the almshouses you can visit the SCCT website here.

LIVE MUSIC & OTHER EVENTS THIS WEEKEND
What’s Going On In Sutton This Week…

TODAY:

The Heartless Princess
7:30pm at Highbury Theatre Centre

Amigos Open Mic
7pm at The Rhodehouse

FRIDAY:

Sutton Coldfield Food Festival
10am - 7pm at The Parade

The Heartless Princess
7:30pm at Highbury Theatre Centre

Ska Waddy
8pm -1am at The Lounge Boldmere

SATURDAY:

Sutton Coldfield Food Festival
10am - 7pm at The Parade

The Heartless Princess
2:30pm & 7:30pm at Highbury Theatre Centre

Diana & Lionel: Endless Love The Show
7:30pm - 10pm at Sutton Town Hall

Subterraneans 
7pm - 11:30pm at Sutton United Football Club

Non Stop 80s
9pm at Walmley Club

Synth (Classic Electro Pop)
7pm at The Rhodehouse

Motown & Northern Soul
7:30pm at All Saints’ Church Centre

The Garage Band
9pm at The Lounge Boldmere

Live Music From 2MAG
7:30pm at The Four Oaks

SUNDAY:

Sutton Coldfield Food Festival
10am - 5pm at The Parade

Easter Wreath Making 
11am - 2pm at New Hall Hotel

Kingsbury Water Park Artisan Market
11am - 4pm at Kingsbury Water Park

Where Soul Meets Jazz: The Louis Connor Band
7:30pm - 9:30pm at Sutton Town Hall

WALL-E (film)
7pm - 9:30pm at Highbury Theatre Centre

BOOK AHEAD

We are still on the lookout for more local heroes to celebrate. If you know someone or a group that is worthy of a mention then drop us an email to let us know.

Also, thank you to every single person who subscribes to and reads this newsletter. We’ve just hit 4,000 (yes 4,000!!!) subscribers with over 65% reading every week! Just incredible - so thank you.

I’ll be back next week ahead of the bank holiday weekend to help keep you in the know.

Sincerely,

PS - Interested in working with us or have news to share? We’ve recently reduced our rates across all sponsored slots and they are getting booked up fast. You can browse our sponsored rates and slots as well as our verified stats here.