Brindleyplace presents Christmas

With less than one month to go until Christmas Day, Brindleyplace is helping to spread some Christmas cheer with its free family event ‘Brindleyplace Presents Christmas’, which will be held at the estate next week.

Co-operative Food celebrates One Year Anniversary in Shard End

Customers visiting Midlands Co-operative Society’s Shard End food store last Saturday were welcomed with plenty of treats as the store celebrated its first birthday.

Record numbers set to travel to Birmingham’s Christmas Market

Visit Birmingham’s ‘Meet and Greet’ service has received record bookings from visitors arriving by coach to the city’s Frankfurt Christmas Market, which opened to the public today.

Visit Birmingham declares city ‘Open for Christmas’

New festive campaign launched by destination marketing agency – featuring local film star Julie Walters

Christmas countdown at Touchwood

Touchwood has planned a Christmas to remember this year.

Lee Longlands celebrates 110 years in business

One of the West Midlands’ best-known retailers is celebrating a special birthday in style, with the launch of exclusive new ranges and plans to roll out a new e-commerce facility.

Midland Co-op doing well

Midlands Co-operative Society’s business performance has produced a robust performance in the first half of 2012, in spite of the lengthy economic downturn.

Sweet Inspiration

Wondering about Christmas presents already? Get some ideas here.

Last chance to see…

Alan Clawley believes that if buildings have lives they can also have obituaries written about them when they die.

Mr Bird’s Emporium

Tammy Facey has been out and about exploring Birmingham businesses – she’s found Mr Bird’s Emporium

Olympic boost for Birmingham retailer, Lee Longlands

One of the West Midlands leading independent retailers today announced a 49% rise in sales since the Olympics started six weeks ago.

Good Hope to welcome new Chief Whip and the community to its first hospital fête

Sutton Coldfield’s Good Hope Hospital is holding its very first community fête next week

Green eyes vintage

Tammy Facey explores a quirky shop in Digbeth.

A letter from Italy: Rain won’t stop us

Chiara Fiorillo is a young student who lives in a small village near Caserta. She dreams of becoming a journalist and we are happy to help her on the way by publishing this and some of her photos she kindly sent.

Donkey for a day

Store manager spends 24 hours as a donkey for local charity

A fishy tale

Tammy Facey went shopping for fish…. and became embroiled in the Common Fisheries Policy.

Showcase season for West Midlands co-operatives

A series of summer and autumn events – including a run-past by the Olympic Torch – will showcase and celebrate co-operative enterprises in the West Midlands during the 2012 International Year of Co-operatives.

Shopping in Brum: Liquor Store. Speak Easy

Tammy Facey has been out and about getting reacquainted with shopping in Birmingham

Apprentice finalist finds all the ingredients in Brum to cook up new venture

Birmingham’s Nick Holzherr didn’t win The Apprentice – but he’s whisking up the business Lord Sugar rejected anyway. Ros Dodd talked to him.

Tammy takes to Harborne’s new deli

Tammy Facey shares the pleasures to be found in Harborne’s new deli.

Free music lessons in June at Touchwood

Touchwood is giving local residents the chance to unleash their inner musician with the offer of free music lessons in June.

Birmingham Food Fest returns for second year

The city’s tastiest festival Birmingham Food Fest will take place on 13-19 July 2012, returning after last year’s inaugural success with a week-long menu of food-filled events and restaurant offers throughout the city centre.

People from the West Midlands struggle to know what to donate to charity shops

New research by British Heart Foundation Shops has revealed that almost half of people from the West Midlands are unsure about what to donate to charity shops

Brummie success all bagged up and ready to go

New bags and accessories store for Solihull’s Mell Square

Students in Apprentice-style pitch to improve Coventry’s city centre

How to improve Coventry city centre? Ask undergraduates.

Partying with Peppa Pig at Touchwood

Touchwood is preparing for the arrival of a very special guest this month,

Easter fun in Solihull’s Mell Square

Choc-tastic day of events including Easter egg hunt, face-painting, craft activities, bungee swing, land train and much much more!

More to co-operatives than shops

A wide range of West Midlands professionals gathered in Birmingham last week

High Streets change in the Midlands

The electronic age has certainly had a big impact on the traditional high street and none more so than in Coventry

Kings Heath points to Portas

Astride the A435 on the southern edge of Birmingham, Kings Heath could do with a make-over.