Why Stirchley is going places

WHILE Bournville has always been singled out for praise as a nice place to live – with its picture postcard perfect village green and pretty chocolate box houses – Stirchley is the young upstart which gradually and quietly over the last few years has started to gentrify itself.

And its popularity is set to soar with news that in the coming years it will be getting its own train station on the CrossCity line into Birmingham city centre.

Although its high street – the busy Pershore Road – may have lots of boarded-up shops, slowly but surely new independent bars, cafes and restaurants are popping up.

Resident Marie Winters said: “As a 20-years plus resident in Stirchley, I’m so pleased about the recent recognition.

“I’ve bought up my two boys here and have been blessed with the fantastic schools in the area.

“We have great vibe with a range of eateries and shops, as well as a vast range of housing stock, from period properties to new builds. Nice to know that we are no longer the poor relative to Kings Heath.”

Fellow local Sarah Ansell said: “There’s just something about Stirchley. It has a warmth about it, a community spirit that doesn’t seem to falter.

“There’s a camaraderie and warmth from “morning” as you pass in the park, to the coming together of neighbours on social media looking for missing pets.”

Philly Hussey said things are now improving.

“In the last few years things are changing. We have the arrival of independent breweries and some fabulous eateries, and you can see some real pride and a ‘buzz’ coming back to the area which is great and exciting for the future. Stirchley is obviously catering to a new market now than before and its great to see the enthusiasm in people both wanting to trade and live here.”