On the Map Birmingham

18/08/2026

☕ NEW ERA HAS LANDED IN STIRCHLEY!

A massive congratulations to Ben and the whole New Era team on the opening of their second location, this time at 1474 Pershore Road, Stirchley. 👏

We’ve been big supporters of New Era over the years and it’s fantastic to see a great independent Birmingham business taking that next step.

I’ve got to know Ben well along the way and I know how much work goes into what he does, so personally I’m really pleased to see New Era continuing to grow.

From myself and everyone at On The Map Birmingham, we wish Ben and the team every success with the new venture.

Another independent investing in Birmingham and bringing something positive to another local high street — exactly the sort of thing we love to see.

Good luck to Ben and the team — wishing you every success in Stirchley! ☕️❤️

📍 New Era, 1474 Pershore Road, Stirchley

17/08/2026

🚲 ANOTHER ICONIC MIDLANDS NAME IN TROUBLE — RALEIGH

Sad news from just up the road in Nottingham, as the company behind Raleigh in the UK has gone into administration, leaving the future of one of Britain’s most famous cycling names uncertain.

For generations, Raleigh was part of growing up. The Chopper, Grifter, Burner and countless others weren’t just bikes — they were Christmas mornings, riding around with your mates and a huge part of British popular culture.

There are now calls for the Raleigh name and its Nottingham heritage to be protected, with the possibility of creating a dedicated museum celebrating its incredible history.

We’d love to see that happen.

The Midlands has given the world some incredible manufacturing names, and when we lose that history, we don’t get it back.

🚲 Would you visit a Raleigh museum?

And more importantly… what Raleigh did you have growing up?

Let’s hear your Raleigh memories in the comments. 👇

16/08/2026

☀️ WHAT’S ON AROUND EAST BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL

There’s still plenty happening before the summer holidays are over! We’ve pulled together some of the local events coming up over the next couple of weeks — hopefully there’s something for everyone. 👇

📅 MON 17 – FRI 21 AUG
⚽ Holly Lane FC Summer Camp — 10am–3pm

📅 TUE 18 AUG
👮 Chelmsley Wood Police Station Open Day — 11am–2pm

📅 SAT 22 AUG
🎉 Onward Club & Bar Summer Festival — times & entertainment TBA

📅 MON 24 – FRI 28 AUG
⚽ Holly Lane FC Summer Camp — 10am–3pm

📅 SAT 29 AUG
🚒 Sheldon Fire Station Open Day — 11am–3pm

📅 SAT 29 AUG
🚗 Car Boot & Craft Fair at The Three Horse Shoes — stalls £10, with proceeds going to Birmingham Dogs Home

⭐ SUN 30 AUG – FEATURED EVENT
🎶 Sheldon Heath Social Club Charity Fun Day
Live music, food trucks, children’s entertainment, games, fundraising, prizes and plenty more — raising money for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity.

📅 MON 31 AUG
🎤 Back to School Kids Karaoke at The Mount Tavern — 2pm–8pm

And throughout the summer there’s plenty more to do locally, including Sheldon Country Park and activities at Resorts World.

💚 Get out, enjoy what’s on and support local.

From The Boys — supporting local, supporting our community.

15/08/2026

15/08/2026

👏 BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO TITASH, SHELDON! 🏆🍛

Fantastic to see another long-standing local business getting some well-deserved recognition.

Birmingham Live has placed Titash Contemporary Indian Restaurant at No.1 in its round-up of Birmingham restaurants recognised at the English Curry Awards. 👏

Titash has been serving the community since 1987, so it’s brilliant to see a Sheldon favourite receiving recognition from one of Birmingham’s best-known local news outlets.

Huge congratulations to everyone at Titash — another great local business firmly On The Map! 📍❤️

07/08/2026

Remember when McDonald’s was somewhere you actually wanted to stay for an hour? 😂

The PlayPlace, birthday parties, ball pits, climbing frames and the Ronald McDonald characters… it felt like an adventure, not just somewhere to grab a burger.

Do you think we’ve lost something, or are today’s cleaner, modern restaurants an improvement?

Which era was your favourite? 🍟🍔

Or, a bit punchier:

McDonald’s: 1987 vs 2026.

We’ve gone from colourful, fun and full of character… to grey, touchscreens and “next please.”

Is it progress, or have we designed all the personality out of places? 🍟

03/08/2026

Has gaming become too expensive? 🎮💷

If you’ve been thinking about buying an Xbox, you may have had a shock. Some models have jumped by up to 49% in price, with the top-spec Series X now costing £669.99.

Manufacturers say rising component costs, particularly memory and storage chips, are behind the increases, with growing demand from AI technology also putting pressure on supply.

With prices climbing across everything from eating out to days out and now gaming, it raises a bigger question…

Are hobbies becoming too expensive for the average family?

Will you still buy a new console, look for a second-hand bargain, or are you happy sticking with older systems?

29/07/2026

☀️ The school holidays are here — and there’s loads happening right on our doorstep!

Birmingham has some brilliant family events taking place throughout the summer, from dinosaurs and animal experiences to fire station open days, country parks and community fun days.

Many of these activities are free or low-cost, making them a great way to get out of the house, explore somewhere new and spend some proper time together.

A big shout-out to The Boys , who put this guide together as part of their work promoting wellbeing and the positive things happening across our communities. 💙

Sometimes a good day doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive. Put the phones away for a few hours, get outdoors and make some memories.

Know of another great local event? Add it in the comments so other families can benefit.

Please like, share and tag someone who might be looking for ideas this summer.

Let’s support local events, local organisations and each other.