With a background spanning some of the UK’s best-known skincare and baby brands, Sophie Poultney is a Co-Founder of Smoosh, a new baby skincare brand created with a focus on gentle, effective formulations for sensitive newborn skin and beyond.
Based in Birmingham, she’s also a passionate advocate for independent local living, community spaces and creating a slower, more connected pace of family life in the city. Here, she shares her favourite family-friendly spots, from coffee stops and green spaces to cultural hubs and places that have become part of her everyday rhythm as a mama-of-three.
A favourite coffee spot (that has enough space for buggies)?
Some of Birmingham’s best independents are in the suburbs, and my go-to coffee spot is actually located inside the natural wine bar that I also own (I’m a bit of a multihyphenate!) Flock in Kings Heath serves up one of the best coffees in the whole city and on a sunny day it’s a wonderful place to park up your pram and enjoy the buzzy atmosphere of the pedestrianised road outside.
A great playground nearby?
A mere 5 minutes walk from here is Kings Heath park, which has two playgrounds and plenty of open park space for the little ones to run around as well as paths throughout the park to easily take the pram for a stroll (I have spent many hours here trying to get my twins to sleep).
Cool shops for little ones and grown-ups?
There’s so many cool independent shops in Kings Heath, it’s hard to whittle them down to just a few. But some of my favourites include How Brave is the Wren, which is a gorgeous children’s bookshop that also hosts weekly story time sessions for little ones. For grown-ups, there’s Harvest, which makes the most beautiful natural candles and their treatments are also out of this world.
Cultural places to go with kids nearby?
A 20 minute walk or 5 minute bus journey away is Mac Birmingham, a hub of cultural activities, exhibitions and shows, as well as an indie cinema. Their family events are brilliant, with events such as Bring Your Baby to Comedy Club.
Family-friendly favourite restaurants and bars?
My friend Sabrina’s restaurant Blow Water is one of our family favourites. A mum herself, the intimate dining space is super family-friendly with plenty of high chairs available and my kids go wild for her homemade dumplings and delicious noodle dishes. She also hosts a regular mum and baby rave at the nearby family-friendly pub the Hare & Hounds, which are always a sell-out.
And finally, top places for mum hangouts nearby
My place, Grace & James! A natural wine bar, deli and coffee shop that has become a real mum meet-up spot. When I became a mother, I was desperate to find a local community of parents in a similar chapter of life, so I set up a weekly Mum Club in the bar where everyone could come together over a glass of wine or coffee with their babies. It was such a hit and is still going strong 6 years later.
Read more My Mama Neighbourhood guides here.
