Gracechurch Shopping Centre in Sutton Coldfield has launched a new sandpit play area for children, which will remain in place until the beginning of September. The attraction follows the centre's School's Out event, held on Sunday, 19 July, which celebrated the start of the summer holidays.
Event Details and Ongoing Attraction
The School's Out event took place from 12:00pm to 4:00pm, offering families face painting, balloon creations, and appearances from Toy Story characters. Despite a last-minute date change—originally scheduled for a different day—the event drew many families from across Birmingham. The sandpit, a key feature of the event, has been retained as a permanent fixture for the six-week holiday period.
In an Instagram post, Gracechurch stated: "Our Sandpit is now officially open at Gracechurch Shopping Centre! A huge thank you to everyone who joined us on Sunday for our School’s Out event! It was fantastic to see so many families enjoying the day, meeting our special Toy Story characters, getting creative with face painting, and taking home amazing balloon creations. The fun doesn’t stop there! Our Sandpit is now open and will be here until the beginning of September, giving children the perfect place to play, explore, and enjoy the summer holidays. Bring the whole family along, let the little ones have fun, and make the most of the summer with us at Gracechurch Shopping Centre. We can’t wait to see you!"
Last-Minute Change Sparks Criticism
The School's Out event was moved to Sunday, 19 July, at the last minute, prompting some backlash from attendees. Gracechurch apologised for the inconvenience, writing: "We apologise for any inconvenience and look forward to welcoming you for an afternoon of family entertainment, activities and treats." One commenter on social media expressed disappointment: "Poor show to change it so last minute especially for a child-focused event. Many of us already come to what was an empty sand pit, so there was no intention for it be open today. Should have made this change much earlier. Disappointing." Another added: "Just got here and seen its cancelled."
Summer Fun for Families
Despite the scheduling hiccup, the sandpit remains a draw for families. Located within the shopping centre, it offers a free, supervised play area for young children. The centre encourages visitors to bring the whole family to enjoy the summer attraction, which is expected to be popular throughout the school break.
