I live in Cradley Heath and here are the best and worst things about the town
There are mixed opinions about the area.
Having lived in Cradley Heath for 21 years the town has, like all places, changed drastically over the years, with empty shops, a crime rate above the national average and a high street that seems to be going down hill.
As a young person today, I feel the main appeal for myself is the local pubs with 14 pubs to choose from and I have spent many evenings in the fire lit bar of the Waterfall pub enjoying the local ales.
Aside from the pubs I struggle to find an appeal outside of the Wetherspoons and of course the ‘Big Tescos’, which is both convenient and the only reason I would visit the high street.
Christopher Bates, aged 66, of Halesowen, agreed when asked to share his thoughts on the good and bad in the area.
“The only good bit I can say about it is you’ve got a good Tesco,” he said.
“The shops aren’t great and places have closed down over the years. It’s depressing.”
With a number of shop closures, it’s safe to say Cradley Heath high street looks very different to how it used to be.
The town centre used to host a mix of long-standing family businesses, local grocers, and budget supermarkets, however many have closed.
The town has a higher crime rate compared to the national average.
There were 1,808 offences recorded from July 2025 - July 2026 and a crime rate of four per cent above the national average for the same period, according to Opencrime.
Other high street goers were much more optimistic with Chris, aged 40, and Alison, aged 54, sharing their appreciation for the area.
“There’s plenty of buses which take you into the town and the shops are reasonable,” said Chris.
“It’s pretty good, I’ve enjoyed living in this area for the last 43 years and I don’t plan moving at the moment,” added Alison.
One clear staple of Cradley Heath is traditional Black Country people and places such as The Pork shop located on Cradley Heath high street, serving traditional homemade pork, hot turkey and stuffing sandwiches. Again, one of the more attractive elements to the town.
“There’s great Black Country folk, the best and friendliest in the world. We’ve got our own language and a lot of folks don’t understand us when we go out of the area,” said one Cradley Heath man.
Whether you’re Black Country born and bred living in Cradley Heath, or have moved to the area, it’s safe to say that Cradley Heath is a unique place and comes with the good and bad.
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