Solihull Pride 2025

Solihull is set to make history with the launch of its very first Pride event this September, bringing a vibrant celebration of LGBTQ+ culture and diversity to the town centre.

The event, being organised by Solihull Business Improvement District, will take place on Saturday 6^th September and Sunday 7th September and promises to be a spectacular day of inclusivity, joy, and unity for people of all ages, backgrounds, and identities.

Solihull Pride has been made possible thanks to support from Headline Sponsor npower Business Solutions (nBS), Associate Sponsors BNP Paribas Personal Finance, Paragon Bank, Solihull BID, Solihull College & University Centre and Touchwood and our Support Sponsors CGI, David Wilson Homes and Howden.

The two-day event will offer a series of events and activities, including a colourful parade, live music performances and special guests including award-winning cabaret artist Fatt Butcher and celebrity hairdressers Royston Blythe and Nick Malenko. The event will be compered by esteemed local presenter Phil Oldershaw, and feature musical tributes to Madonna, Cher and Elton John.

Visitors will also be able to tickle their tastebuds as the Continental Street Market, organised by RR Events, will also be in town so you can sample the delicious market delights from around the world.

The event is expected to attract thousands of attendees from the local community and beyond, aiming to celebrate diversity while promoting acceptance and equality for all.

If you have any questions about the event or would like to get involved, please click here to e-mail our Chief Executive, Melanie Palmer.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who is organising Solihull Pride? Solihull Pride is being organised by the Solihull Business Improvement District (BID). The BID set up a Pride steering group early in 2024, made up of around 25 people from the LGBTQ+ community that work within Solihull. The steering group has met regularly since then and have been instrumental in shaping the 2025 Solihull Pride event.

• Who is funding Solihull Pride? We are extremely lucky to have a number of sponsors who have come on board to support the creation of the first ever Solihull Pride event. These include npower Business Solutions (nBS), BNP Paribas Personal Finance, Paragon Bank, Solihull College & University Centre, Touchwood, CGI, David Wilson Homes and Howden. Solihull BID (a not-for-profit company funded by town centre businesses) has also put a small amount of money into the event. No Solihull Council funds or tax payers’ money has or will be used for Solihull Pride.

• Where is Solihull Pride? Solihull Pride will be held in Solihull town centre with the main stage in Mell Square. There will also be entertainment and performances in hospitality venues across the town centre.

• Do you have to be part of the LGBTQ+ community to attend Solihull Pride? Solihull Pride is a vibrant celebration of LGBTQ+ culture and diversity and can be attended by anybody! The event promises to be a spectacular day of inclusivity, joy, and unity for people of all ages, backgrounds, and identities.

• Do I have to book tickets? To just attend the event (or any of the performances in venues), you do not require tickets – Solihull Pride is a free-to-attend, family-friendly event. If you want to participate in the Pride Parade, you will need to book your place on Eventbrite (link coming soon).

• Will there be toilet facilities on site? Yes, there will be accessible toilets located in Mell Square. There are also public toilets in the entrance to Mell Square Car Park, as well as in Touchwood shopping centre.

• Can I bring my own food and drink to the event? The Continental Street Market, ran by our partners RR Events, will be in the town centre alongside Pride, providing delicious food and drink from around the world.  As Mell Square will be a licensed area, any alcohol not purchased from the event bars will be strictly prohibited. If you are found to be drinking alcohol

• Will you have a cloakroom or bag room? No, we will not. All visitors will be responsible for their own belongings at all times. Any items that are found left unattended or discarded will be disposed of for security and safety purposes.

• Will you have security at the event? Yes, we will have a strong security presence at the event to ensure everybody has an enjoyable time and feels safe throughout. Security will be SIA licensed and will work alongside the BID team to help with any issues or concerns you may have whilst attending.

• How do I apply to be part of the Pride Parade? Applications will be open shortly. The Pride Parade will begin at 11am in Mell Square and involve a short walk up Drury Lane, then down the High Street and back into Mell Square via Mill Lane. Only people that have signed up online before the event will be able to take part in the Pride Parade. On the day, you will have to pick up your free wristband and only those wearing a wristband will be allowed into the Parade. Please note that if you are representing a business, we have limited each company to a max of 20 participants in the Parade to ensure as many people as possible can take part.

• Is the Pride Parade route accessible? Yes, the route is all on flat ground and as such, is fully accessible to all who wish to take part.

• Will I be able to bring my own seating to the event? No camping chairs etc will be allowed at the event due to health and safety. There will be plenty of benches provided as well as the Community Seating Hubs, should you need to sit down.

• Are children welcome at the event? Solihull Pride, like all Solihull BID organised events, is very much family friendly and we would encourage families to attend. Children under 18 must be accompanied at all times by a responsible adult.

• Can I bring my dog to Solihull Pride? Yes! Solihull town centre is extremely dog friendly. We will be giving people the chance to get their dogs dressed up and have their photo taken on the High Street. The best dressed dog will also win a prize! Please do be mindful that the event will be extremely busy so keep your dog on a lead and have poop bags with you.

Public Transport

Solihull is connected to two mainline routes via Birmingham International and Solihull Station, connecting to Birmingham and London. Find out more information on train services and timetables by clicking here.

If you wish to travel by bus, Network West Midlands has all the online timetables and fare information you need with easy ticket buying and route planning. Click here for more information.

Parking

Solihull town centre also has a number of public car parks including Mell Square, Lode Lane, Monkspath Hall Road and others. You can view opening times and parking charges on the Solihull Council website by clicking here.

The Touchwood car park is also open. You can view more information on the Touchwood website by clicking here.

Hotels

Want to make a weekend of it? We don’t blame you! We are lucky to have three fantastic hotels in Solihull town centre should you wish to make Solihull your temporary home.

The Crowne Plaza Solihull, Premier Inn Solihull and voco St John’s Solihull are all situated within the town centre and are just a couple of minutes walk away from all of the action!