This really is like totes amazeballs. Such a long time ago, but so recognisable! We moved to Solihull back in 2000. This is SO interesting! Thank you for posting.

Thank you for taking the time to post this interesting footage, I was 9.

that trip around mell square is bizarre.

Summer 2021 - who would of thought that M&S would close down and move out of Solihull town centre and move to the retail park in Shirley. Crazy times!!!!!!

Fantastic footage you got there mate. It’s strange viewing this, as I was born in 2000 and have been a resident from 2009-present day.

As a kid who grew up in Solihull in the 1970s - that was some trip. I had forgotten about Dolcis - where I used to get my shoes as a kid. And the MEB store. I think there was a toy shop just off Mel Sq called Barny's or Barnaby's. This must be a Sunday - before they relaxed trading laws. I always remember Mel Sq packed on a Saturday and there was always a group of lads that hung around by the fountain. For a special treat my Mum would take us into Beatties and I'd have an egg and cress sandwich - the cafe on the top floor was next to the toy department. It had two parts - the posh bit with a view and then the cafe bit. When I was about 4 I walked off with one of those figures you put on the end of a pencil. Technically it was theft but I was 4. I just wanted it. My mother quizzed me and then took me back to Beatties and I was made to apologise to the sales lady at the till and hand it over. I then got the lecture that if I continued to steal I would end up trying to do something like the Brinks Mat and would end up in Alcatraz. So - yes, I never stole again after that nightmare in Beatties. Solihull in the 70s was a strangely comforting place.

Wow! does that bring back some memories! I was 20 in 1980 so was driving around in my mini cooper in the exact same places. Loved seeing all the old cars and pretty much all British back them. Happy Days!! Thanks for sharing.

I worked in Solihull from the mid-80s until early 90s and the town centre, Mell Square etc all look pretty much as they did then - some great memories - thanks for posting

I worked at Chadwick House from 1979 to 1985 and this really takes me back ( I wish it would, actually).

Watching the traffic lights at Warwick Rd/ Lode Lane is hilarious. Now it’s a great big roundabout where you have to hold you’re breath and a) hope you get on it and b) get round it safely 🤣🤣🤣

Looks just like today beautiful and clean

Hey, that's fantastic, thanks so much. I lived on Naseby Road from birth until 1983 so this is great for me!

Much nicer back then

Takes me back, my In Laws lived in Solihull and we used to visit in the 70's & 80's. Had coffee and cake in Beatties.

Thankyou for sharing this

Look at all the lovely shops, ah Woolies. I worked there for 6 years.

Gosh! Happy memories.

O happy days around the fountains in Mell Square. I park around them one Friday evening and went for a drink with my sister. Drank to much and forgot that Mell Sq was closed off Saturday for pedestrians. My sister and I found a policeman who kindly drove it to my mums house at the bottom of church hill 🤣🤣🤣 happy memory’s

Marks & Spencer soon to close and more to Marshal lake road, Woollies long gone, MEB doesn't exist any more and even the Post Office has now closed and is upstairs in WH Smiths, who would ever think that would happen ? Not all change is good.....

Back in the 80s you could walk round Mell Square or down Solihull high street without 10 people asking you to sign something or pay for something 😀👍

Great video :) What's the shop on the NW corner @0:59 - Perring's or something ? I can only remember a Burton in that spot. I remember WH Smith was on the north side, but I didn't spot it in the video - is it behind the hoardings maybe ?

Good to see Solihull Motors on Warwick Road opposite what was Beatties, now House of Fraser. Some people don't believe me when I say there used to be a car showroom there!

Interesting to see the old mell square

awesome

4.14 at the traffic lights; would that be turning right into Hermitage Lane where Tesco Express is now on the corner?

Where did the underpass at 2:00 used to go?

Oh what a beautiful and inviting town centre😂

No leaves on the trees that summer.

love it! where is everyone??

This video takes me back to childhood, I can remember WHSmith being on the other side of Mell Square as seen here and if you look at the side where boots is you can see the current WHSmith store being built, happy memories, many thanks uploading this, do you have any more footage to upload

The main notable difference is the lack of cars and people compared to today.

wow i can only just remember when you could drive round there almost got knocked off my bmx once by smiths lol

Used to ride my motorcycles around solihull .olton 1981 onwards.roads are probably ruined by cars now moved to inverness so I can ride free.

Home of the Rover sd1 !

POV it’s 2023 and yu live in Solihull 💀

Since then, the anti-car, padestrianisation policies are very clear to see. I cannot see what they achieved by losing all of that parking? Is it just a control thing?

Any idea what car it's filmed from?

A great look around Solihull which we would love to use in the Birmingham Mail with a credit if that would be ok.

That could be me coming towards the camera car at a 6 seconds in.....

Looks earlier than 1980.

Makes me dizzy

Solihull very white English then and still like this today ,Birmingham is still white too but lots of racism and segregation in areas with no integration at all.

Where's all the immigrants?

The camera work is way too wobbly for me to enjoy the video !