Totally Stockport Magazine Issue 16 by TOTALLY STOCKPORT

Welcome Welcome back …

6-7

After what has been a challenging couple of years, it finally feels as though we have good reasons to smile in Stockport. And not just because Spring and the promise of new life has already arrived and a Summer of warmer days and lighter evenings is hovering on the horizon. Make a break for it, flip over to pages 10 & 11 and follow the latest fashion trends.

News

4-7

All the latest from the heart of Stockport

Interview

8-9

It’s Betty Boo, doin’ the do!

Fashion

10-11

The Beach is Back!

Stockport is buzzing again! So many new traders have chosen to open in the town centre bringing even more choice for our residents, our visitors and all those who work here. Check out all the new openings including canteen dining at This Godless Place on Bridge Street and the fantastic Sticky Fingers Polish Bakery in the Market Hall. New flavours from Mexico and the Caribbean have landed in the Produce Hall and the delicate delights of Southeast Asia can be found at The Mekong Cat just off Lower Hillgate. The Glass Spider has relaunched bigger and better than ever and now includes worldclass roast dinners; and the iconic Canadian favourite Tim Hortons has landed at Stockport Retail Park (Peel Centre) – freshly baked donuts, Timbits, Iced Capps and lattice fries!! It’s not all about food - take a stroll over to the Underbanks area for some quirky, unique gifts and spoil yourself too.

12-14

More new places to eat, drink and shop!

There’s change happening over at The Light cinema too - a new street food menu is on offer as well as plans to bring bowling back into town. With so much happening, we look forward to seeing you very soon.

ComicCon

15-18

Calling all super heroes!

Merseyway

There’s a lot going on in the middle of Stockport

The Regeneration of Stockport

20-21

A look at current development all across town

20-21

22-23

News Chat Back Poetry and Spring Sundays

24-25

Along with our partners, the Totally Stockport team are planning some great events for the summer starting off with Zap! Biff! Wow! - it’s Comic Con on 21st May a day packed full of superheroes and comic favourites (see pages 15 - 18). A packed summer kicks off with StockSport on 26th June - running and cycling races from morning ‘til dusk - fun activities for all ages. Have you noticed how the town centre landscape is changing? Find out all the great developments taking place and planned to make our town a great town, for everyone.

New Openings

12-14

Stocksport 2022 A big helping of fitness and fun!

BID Events What we did at Christmas

28-31

What’s On A listing for the next three months

Get In Touch If you have a story, news or an event in Stockport Town Centre why not drop us a line? www.totallystockport.co.uk paul.taylor@totallystockport.co.uk Tel: 0161 537 9382

The Totally Stockport team. @totallysk

Totally-Stockport

News S

tockport is to develop a town centre Creative Campus, creating a new digital arts neighbourhood, after being awarded a grant of £2.63 million from the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS).

Stockport is one of only 7 councils in the UK to be awarded a share of the £48 million Cultural Investment Fund for galleries, museums, libraries and cultural venues across the country. The government grant scheme, first announced in 2019 and delivered by the Arts Council, aims to improve people’s access to the arts, safeguard cultural assets for future generations and power economic growth through culture. Plans put forward for funding by Stockport Council, in collaboration with Manchester Metropolitan University and MadLab, will deliver a three-year programme to reinvigorate and build on the town centre’s heritage to create a sustainable digital arts neighbourhood. Transformation will include: • Creative Campus – a tightly knit cluster of production, community engagement, and public-facing inspirational spaces located in Stockport’s Old Town. Providing the physical infrastructure and specialist resources needed to grow the next generation of creative and digital businesses. • Campus Talent – a place based, hands-on industry orientated leadership and training programme. This will upskill the local workforce, raising confidence and aspirations, and building much needed digital skills capability, for future generations of creatives.

Stockport wins £2.63 million fund for Creative Campus • Creative Placemaking – a wide-ranging programme of public-facing digital arts activities, from site specific commissions and family-friendly workshops to large scale events. This highly collaborative activity will tackle low engagement in culture, bringing in new audiences, engaging and inspiring visitors. Funding will support the conversion and re-use of empty properties to help create a cluster of digital creative businesses that will drive wider growth in the economy, as well as training and investment to build skills inclusively for the future. Cllr Elise Wilson, Leader of Stockport Council said: “This is fantastic news and shows our huge ambition for Stockport as we once again bring in funding to further complement all the great work already taking place in the town centre. Stockport is going places, and we are open for business. It will undoubtedly give a real boost to the local economy, which will benefit residents and future generations for years to come. “It will help to ensure that our creative industries here in Stockport can flourish together and are well supported and will give us a fantastic opportunity to strengthen our offer to the creative sector. Improving digital skills is one of the council’s key priorities, arming residents with the tools they need to secure jobs and improve their employability. “As well as this, our projects will repurpose several buildings in the town centre and will create an ‘eco-system’ of creative businesses, attracting more people to Stockport and creating a thriving, creative community. I look forward to working with Manchester Metropolitan University and MadLab to take this forward.”

A new look for the O2 Stockport

obile network operator O2 has given its store in Merseyway a brand-new look. The refit took just five days and boasts new lighting and visual displays to show off the latest devices. Inside, you can try out the hottest tech and speak to O2 staff for free tips and advice. They’ll be able to tell you about all the perks of being an O2 customer. Like their Custom Plans, which lets you choose how much to pay upfront, and spread the cost of your monthly bill. So you can get the phone you want for less.

You can also benefit from a number of deals that are currently on offer such as free roaming in Europe (up to 25GB). You can also supercharge your world with VOLT – a fantastic offer when you sign up to O2 and Virgin Media. You can enjoy double data, faster broadband and supercharged connectivity at home or on the move. Then there’s O2 Priority, which gives you the chance to buy tickets for thousands of gigs at venues up and down the country, 48

hours before they go on general sale. As well as offers on everything from sports gear to dining out, and access to completely unique experiences. The O2 Stockport store is at Unit 81 in Merseyway and is open between 9:00am and 5:30pm Monday to Saturday, or 10:30am and 4:30pm on Sunday.

News

Reservations open for retailers at Merseyway Pop Up Shop

etailers are invited to showcase their brand and try-out a high street location as the Stockport Pop Up opens reservations.

Victoria Nichol, Merseyway Centre Manager said: “The Pop-up Shop is a fantastic addition to Merseyway. Not only is it giving local online retailers and artisan makers the opportunity to test out a retail presence in a busy shopping centre, it brings value to Merseyway too by offering an ever-changing selection of exciting brands for our customers to shop. With hire available for as little as one week up to a maximum of six, it means there’s always something new for our shoppers to see on their visit.”

The space is designed to help local businesses see the potential in Stockport and can be rented on an all-inclusive cost for one to six weeks. The shop this spring is host to a range of local businesses from around Stockport and Greater Manchester after an incredible Christmas launch and this week launches Reservation for Retailers to book the space for this summer.

Jess Swain, from Barker Proudlove who run this initiative on behalf of Stockport Council, spoke about the joys of the high street, she added: “It is fantastic to see a range of small businesses taking exciting leaps for their businesses to grow. Stockport has been such a popular location and we are blown away by the range of products we have welcomed. We cannot wait to see what Summer will bring!”

B&V Trading, made the decision to pop up in Stockport in February. The Pop Up shop offered a range of dog harnesses, collars and accessories to help Stockport’s pooches look the part. Rob, the owner of B&V Trading commented: “Loved our time at the Stockport pop up store!! It was so simple to organise and set up and such a fabulous space to use. We loved being able to get to meet visitors from an area we normally wouldn’t get a chance to be trading in and for an affordable price.” Other occupiers have included KIHT Collective who is taking on the space twice within the upcoming months. The brand focuses on positivity and sustainability. Their products have been a huge success across the country.

Harmonize Your Soul occupied the space from 7th to the 13th of March. The business transformed the Stockport Pop Up into a holistic wellbeing store offering a range of products such as handmade crystal jewellery. Finally, the space will welcome Kitsch Republic and The Warren for six weeks from the 14th of March after a successful period within the space before Christmas. In store there will be a range of products from local makers and creators.

The Stockport Pop Up is taking the next set of reservations. Find out more on the Pop Up’s website - www.contemporarybybp.co.uk/stockport and Instagram page - @stockportpopup The scheme has been funded as part of the Government’s Welcome Back Fund, which is supported by the European Regional Development Fund, in recognition of the impact of Covid on the local high street. This aims to support high streets by creating a safe and welcoming environment.

Stockport Gin launches Bergara Gin

tockport County Supporters Cooperative and Stockport Gin have launched a limited-edition gin to honour Stockport County’s legendary former manager, Danny Bergara and create a life-long legacy.

Danny, ‘the man from Uruguay’, holds a special place in the hearts of County fans having managed Stockport County between 1989 and 1995 leading the Hatters to their first promotion in 24 years and onto Wembley Stadium on four separate occasions. Proceeds from sales of Bergara Gin will be used to help raise £50,000 to raise awareness and fund a bronze statue of Danny outside Edgeley Park, the home of Stockport County, to ensure that his legacy lives on for many years to come. Bergara Gin has a wonderful South American influence and sold in 70cl bottles, completed with a truly unique label designed by County fan Ric Pennington, better known as Pennodraws, featuring Danny and some of the iconic players he brought to the club. Ric has kindly donated his design fees to the statue fund. As well as tasting beautiful, it is sure to make a fantastic collector’s item. Priced at £38 per bottle, 20% of the sale price will go directly to the statue fund. Stockport Gin is owned and run by life-long Stockport County fans, Paul and Cheryl Sharrocks, who gave up their day jobs to fulfil their dreams of creating a brand new

and unique tasting gin. Since their launch they have won numerous awards, most recently the Stockport Business Award ‘A Taste of Stockport’ award in 2021. Paul, who remembers the Danny Bergara years very well, said: “Danny was the man in charge at County when I went to my ﬁrst ever game and fell in love with the club and he’s been a huge part of our club’s history ever since, so for us to be able to make a gin in his honour is a huge privilege for us both. We’re delighted to be working with the Stockport County Supporters Co-Operative on this and are looking forward to raising as much money for the statue fund as we possibly can.” Peter Towey, Chair of the Supporters’ Co-Operative also commented: “What a great Idea! A Stockport Gin for a Stockport legend. Every bottle you buy will help raise money for a permanent memorial for the man who helped restore our football club’s pride. Please buy a bottle, and raise a glass to the man from Uruguay.” The limited edition Bergara Gin will be oﬃcially launched on Saturday April 9th.

Stockport Homes Group launches recruitment support for small businesses B

usinesses in Stockport can access support with recruitment and training via Stockport Homes Group.

Local businesses can tap into the expertise of the housing provider’s Employment and Training team who can advise on recruitment needs and leverage the organisation’s wide reach with the local community to help recruit the best individuals for your vacancies.

News from around Bistro Marc Foodie fans across the region, looking for a taste of La Cuisine Française, are eagerly awaiting the opening of this fantastic addition to Stockport’s exciting food and drink scene. Located on The Underbanks in the former iconic Winter’s building by Chef de Patron Marc and Rachel Winter Jones, no expense has been spared to create the perfect ambience of a typical French bistro in the heart of what is quickly becoming Stockport’s Soho. Due to supply issues following the impact of Covid, opening had to be postponed. At the time of writing, Bistro Marc is planning to open on March 31st so keep a look out on their website for more information – www.bistromarc.co.uk

Employers are offered a unique package that includes Stockport Homes Employment and Training team working together to manage and design a training and recruitment event to identify quality candidates for vacancies and prepare the individual for beginning their new career. Once individuals have completed the course, they are shortlisted to a select few who then make it to the final interview stage with the employer. Organisations benefit from hiring a fully-trained new recruit, while unsuccessful candidates gain additional skills to help their job search in the future. Through the scheme, Stockport businesses can access: • Job advertising with Stockport Jobs Match – Stockport’s free-to-use job board. Adverts will be shared across social media, featured on email newsletters to local employment support partners and used in sponsored advertising campaigns where relevant to help you reach more local jobseekers to promote your vacancy. • CV Matching from Ingeus on behalf of Job Centre Plus: receive a shortlist of suitable applicants matched to your job by a team Employment Support specialists. They’ll pre-screen CVs, help arrange interviews, provide feedback to applicants and provide free meeting rooms for interviews at their town centre office. • Training and Recruitment Events from Stockport Homes Group. Stockport Homes Employment & Training team will design a short training course (from half a day to 3 days) to upskill potential candidates and help them gain recognised qualifications (from manual handling to food hygiene to customer service skills) and deliver a free recruitment event or assessment centre to help you identify quality candidates and prepare them for starting in their new job. Steve Pilling, CEO Northern Restaurants, used the scheme to support recruit staff for the town centre’s Produce Hall; he said: Stockport Homes have been a dynamic partner, quick, decisive and responsive to current employment needs. I was determined to involve as many members of the Stockport Community with the Produce Hall and Stockport Homes are certainly making that happen, other housing associations should come to Stockport to see how a housing association can really make a difference.” For more information about the scheme and read testimonials from other organisations, visit the Stockport Jobs Match website.

Hillgate Cakery The established Underbank vegan gem Hillgate Cakery have demonstrated their long-term commitment to Stockport and agreed terms to purchase their unit! Simon told us: “it has been a long time coming but buying this unit really shows our commitment to this town and its ever-thriving hospitality scene”

News

the town Coming soon: Yellowhammer Sam Buckley, the chef behind the award winning restaurant Where The Light Gets In, is close to opening his new bakery and deli on Lower Hillgate. Occupying the site of the former Tudor Cafe, the building is being completely refurbished, with the frontage restored to how it looked in 1902. It will be next to Top of the Town and Ginko, two other new shops that we looked at in the last issue. Yellowhammer will be a collaboration between the chef, baker Rosie Wilkes and potter Joe Hartley and will feature output from all of them.

Still under wraps Keep a look out for a new vegan restaurant and bar opening in the former Cafélito at Stockport Exchange

Spotlight on The Light Street Food takes a bow!

Whether you are a regular ﬁlm buff or a new visitor to The Light, prepare yourself for a tasty treat as well as the best seats in the house! They have just launched their brand new Street Food menu – a fantastic range of gourmet burgers (Pitts Burger) star alongside a line-up of hand stretched pizzas (Fratellis). Ranging from a classic Hamburger to Korean Chicken, Blue Cheese to BBQ Pulled Pork, The Light have the whole casts’ tastebuds covered. They also have The Mounty for vegan guests – all of which can be enjoyed while you watch your favourite ﬁlm or the latest release. New sides make a great supporting act to the mains, including nachos, chicken wings and new varieties to their popular skin on fries. If you think James McAvoy was versatile in Split, then wait until you see what their chefs can do with a fry! All food is made to order using the freshest of ingredients by The Light’s incredibly passionate, highly skilled chefs.

Coming soon

RANT & BAR U A T S E R N A G VE N! COMING SOO

Keep a look out and save the date for Sonic The Hedgehog, The Secrets of Dumbledore, Downton Abby, Morbius and The Bad Guys – all coming soon to a screen near you!

Culture on the big screen

It’s not just fantastic ﬁlms that will keep you entertained at the Light; sit back and enjoy performances from the Royal Opera House and the National Theatre: Royal Opera House: La Traviata 13.04.22. Swan Lake 19.05.22. National Theatre: Henry V 21.04.22. Straight Line Crazy 26.05.22.

Where The Light Gets In to host exhibition of 1970s Stockport photography Between 23rd April and 1st May, Stockprt's premier restaurant, Where the Light Gets In. will transform itself into a gallery, presenting the ﬁrst solo exhibition of American photographer Heidi Alexander. The restaurant is curating an exhibition using images from several rolls of ﬁlm which contain an intimate series of photographs taken around Stockport Marketplace in the 1970s. Taking place throughout the building, this series will showcase Heidi’s rich photographic practice. The exhibition is open between 10am and 4pm and is free to enter - please be aware that the building does not have wheelchair access.

Everyone is welcome at The Light

The Light hosts regular events and ﬁlms that can be enjoyed by a variety of people with speciﬁc needs: There are separate autism and dementia friendly screenings, baby friendly screenings and there are subtitled screenings every week. www.stockport-lightcinemas.co.uk

Interview She’s been in a band with Blur’s Alex James. She wrote Pure and Simple for Hear’say (and won an Ivor Novello for it). She’s written for Girls Aloud, Dannii Minogue and Sophie Ellis Bexter. All this was under her real name, Alison Clarkson, but back in the early 90s she was the one and only Betty Boo. And she’s back.

First of all, is it Betty or is it Alison? Well, I’m starting to be Betty again. I’ve been Alison for a long time now, since 1992. You ﬁrst came to prominence singing on the Beatmasters hit Hey DJ in 1989 but what was your ambition before that? I was into hip hop, uh, when I was a teenager and hip hop culture. So I started rapping and making up rhymes in my bedroom. So I started a little rap crew called the She Rockers in the eighties. And I think that was the start of it. I loved rap so much. It was sort of an underground movement if you like, a bit punky. So that’s how I started. And then I ended up bumping into Public Enemy after a gig in Hammersmith in London with the Beastie Boys and Run DMC and LL Cool Jay. And that was when I was 17. They produced a record and I went to New York and that was the start of it, even though I should have been in sixth form!

Seymour Stein had told me that Madonna loved my music and my style and everything. She got in touch with me when I was in New York. She just phoned my hotel and said, do you wanna go out for dinner?

So in 1989 you have a big hit singing on The Beatmasters’ Hey DJ, I Can’t Dance. And that was actually Martha Reeves track - I’m going to point that out because I’m such a Motown nerd - and you took it and completely changed it and had a hit. It was brilliant. The Beatmasters had already written the track and it needed a vocalist, not necessarily to sing the chorus but to put some raps in because they were pioneers of hip house and mixing rap with music and melody and so on. So I was a rapper on the scene if you like and they asked if I’d be interested in putting some verses down. So I went to the studio, did my raps and they loved it. And the next thing I knew, I was on Top of the Pops with them, in gold lamé and suddenly having to find outfits to go and do promo and all this sort of stuff. That must have been an incredibly exciting time for 19 year old Alison, how was your first Top of the Pops? Oh, it’s amazing. I couldn’t believe it actually because I’m from west London and it was filmed at the BBC television centre, about five minutes walk from where I lived. When I was a kid I would often see artists doing promo shots in our local park because they were on Top of the Pops. Bands like Showaddywaddy and Depeche Mode. There was one Top of the Pops I did that was shown live and I managed to do my performance, leave the

building and get in a car to take me home, which was like two minutes drive. And I watched the rest of the show on the telly at home, It really was the most surreal thing I’ve ever done. And I still had my space suit on! When I did it Madness were on and I grew up with Madness, it was so crazy. And then your ﬁrst solo single in 1990 was Doin’ The Do which was a massive hit, how did that come about? Because Hey DJ was a top 10 hit, I signed my I record deal with the same label as the Beatmasters and signed an album deal with them. And with the money that I earned from the record, I went and bought a load of technical gear, a sampler, a sequencer, a keyboard and microphone. And I started writing songs in my bedroom. I just locked myself away. In fact, the ﬁrst song was Doin’ The Do, which was great. And then Where Are You Baby and then the rest of the album. When I went to go and record Doin’ The Do properly with my co-producers at the time, we put a little sample in there which was from a 60s song called Captain of the Ship by Reparata and the Delrons. We sped it up to the same tempo as the song and it just gave it that little quirky sort of extra touch that I think gives it its identity. I think the song went in deep with people because people wouldn’t just call me Betty Boo, they’d say “Oh, you’re Betty Boo Doin’ the Do aren’t you?” You mentioned Where Are You Baby, which went to Number 3 and then there was another single 24 Hours from the album Boomania and you were voted Best British Breakthrough act at the 1991 Brit Awards. How is Alison dealing with the fame at this point? It was a whirlwind. I just remember traveling so much, going backwards and forward to the States and doing lots of promotion and in Europe as well. I mean, sometimes I’d go to places like Germany and Spain three or four times a week and having to get back for Top the Pops. Or having to take a, a helicopter or a plane to a Radio One Roadshow, it was crazy. I really was put in the middle of it and I enjoyed it, I really did. It’s only looking back I realise how big it was and how much of an impact it had on people. So in 1992 you got a new deal with Warners, another album, a single, Let Me Take You There and even Madonna asked you to join her Maverick label at the time. What was that about? Well, I’d already heard that she was a fan of mine and, and I just took it with a pinch of salt. I was signed to Sire Records by Seymour Stein who had also signed Madonna and he had always told me that Madonna

Interview

Betty Boo was a huge fan and that she loved my music and my style and everything and it wasn’t until she was working on the Bedtime Stories album with Nelly Hooper, who was a friend of mine and he told her that he was friends with me and she got in touch with me when I was in New York. She just phoned my hotel and said, do you wanna go out for dinner? So I went round to her apartment and we went out and she said, “I’d love to sign you to Maverick if I can, I’ve just signed Alanis Morissette and a girl called Meshell Ndegeocello . And I’d like to sign you as my third artist”. I was walking on air, I loved it. So we got to the point of contracts and everything, but sadly my mother fell and I had to look after her and she sadly passed away. After that I didn’t really want go back into the music industry. It didn’t feel right, I didn’t feel like that person anymore. So I took early retirement and sort of stepped out of the limelight. It was sad but it was definitely the right thing to do and I don’t have any regrets. I really wanted to be with my family and take time out and look after everybody. Everything about Betty Boo was so much fun. It was absolutely infectious. That was you driving that? How did you develop that character? Because I came from a rap kind of background, the kind of rap uniform, if you like was big baseball jackets and big earrings and trainers and stuff like that, which I love doing but when I became a pop star, I wanted to be more like the artists that were on Top of the Pops in the 70s. The glam rock era was a massive influence on me and I loved all the 60s programmes like the Avengers and things like that. I was really inspired by the images I grew up with. So I thought it would be really cool to be a rapper dressed in different clothes. So I just had so much fun with it. I found some great people to work with who could reimagine the ideas that I had. And the space outfit it wasn’t very flattering but people always mention it! I think in order to be to be a pop star I think you do have to have be kind of larger than life, have an alter ego that you could just put to bed and have the weekend off and stop with the eyelashes and the makeup and everything. And then go back to it like a character Speaking of the space outfit, have you still got the shorts? I’ve got some bits and bobs. I’ve moved house quite a few times and lots of things have been lost but I recen tly found the space gun from the Where Are You Baby record sleeve and I thought I’m gonna bring that back out. Put some batteries in there... starting firing away

And now here we are 30 years later with the new single Get Me To The Weekend and a nod to the Human League in there as well. How, how did that come about and how did you work on it? I started recording an album before lockdown because I was approaching my 50th birthday and I thought if I don’t do it now, I’ll never do it. I’m relatively young, fit and healthy and I’ve gotta do it. In the back of my mind I knew I had to do it at some point and I think hitting the big five-oh sort of pushed me. So I started it and then lockdown happened but my co-producer and co-writer Andy Ray said, we got to keep doing this. So I set up my studio in the bedroom and just wrote parts from home and then he would write stuff and we worked virtually and we completed the album. Get Me To The Weekend, my new single ended up being the 12th song that we wrote. We weren’t quite sure if we were ever gonna come up with anything great because if you’ve been working back to back you can get a bit sort of ‘worded out’ but it was a great song, really uplifting. We went back into, um, put some bits and bobs on, to finese it a little bit and then we came up with this idea that Love Action from Human League would go really well in it. So we plunked it in there, had a little tweak and we thought, wow, this is taking it up a level! And it sounded so fresh, but still retro. And it’s been really well received, people are loving it. I’ve got to ask you the question. How is it you don’t look any different after 30 years. What’s your secret? Oh, that’s very kind of you. Well I play tennis every day but with a coach, hitting balls quite hard. I love it. I mean, it’s my thing. Getting into Boo stuff is going to be quite difficult because I’m usually wearing a tracksuit these days. I’m enjoying life. I think if anybody’s approaching their fifties, and thinks, what am I gonna do? You know, take up a sport or write an album, It’s never too late to do anything. And where can we see you this summer? You mentioned you might be out and about, The album I guess, would be early summer so I’m hoping to get out there and promote it and do some performances, but it’s early days. I think I’ve got a lot of catching up to do, put few more songs out there and see if people want to come and see me. Well maybe you could join us this summer. We have a big 80s festival here in Stockport called Hits on the Pitch. You could come and join us here. Yeah. Why not?

Make a break for it! At last it looks like we can get away this Summer without everything being ruined by lockdowns and cancellations. Everything you might need when heading to the beach is available right here in Stockport so get down and support your local high street!

Primark Cream G Embossed Cap £3.00

New Look Straw Effect Floppy Hat £7.99

Next Ted Baker Hurcane Straw Panama Hat £39

The Range JCB Granite Trolley Case Set £124.99

Argos Green Water Resistant Bum Bag £5

Old Town General Store Eastpak Tranzpack £105

River Island Pink ﬂoral suitcase£85.00

Fashion

Specsavers Converse CV525S SUN RX prescription sunglasses £14.99 Jake Kids Crocband sandals in aqua £24.99

Matalan Foster Grant Tortoiseshell Sunglasses £7.99 Shuropody Moana sandal £50

Claires Neon Shield Sunglasses £8.40

Clarks Un Karely Sun Sage Nubuck £70.00

Deichmann Junior Girl Embellished Chunky Sandals £17.99

Ofﬁce Sokoto Velcro Sandals £18

JD Sports Nike Windshield Sunglasses £120.00

New Openings

This Godless Place L

ocated in the old Bank Union building on Bridge Street, This Godless Place is a new ‘drinks and canteen’ venue offering up a wide range of drinks and an ever-changing casual dining menu - ranging from American style burgers to tacos. Martin, who is also the owner of the Good Rebel on Mealhouse Brow, told us the reason for opening a new venture is simple: “As the town grows, I want to grow too.”

Sticky Fingers Stockport Market Hall has an exciting new tenant that goes by the name of Sticky Fingers. This Polish bakery offers a huge range of savoury and sweet treats that have already proven to be popular with local visitors - sell outs are common so if you want to visit head to the market early!

New at The Produce Hall Mama Gs is the latest food operator to open in the Produce Hall on the Market Place. Offering a curated selection of Caribbean food, it is all about strong ﬂavours, hearty food with a splash of energetic rhythm. Owner Terry told us that “Stockport has a great food scene emerging and we want be part of it - ultimately the food is my heart on a plate”

Stockport residents have also been crying out for a Mexican offering in the town centre and The Produce Hall has answered their call! Mexican ﬂavours in abundance including burritos, tacos & much more are now available

New Openings

The Good Life T

he Good Life is a brand new sustainable mini market that sells a range of locally sourced, organic and seasonal produce via reﬁll containers and more. Owner Shelley Brown launched the concept with a shop in Heaton Mersey and has now expanded to Stockport. The aim of the shop is to help people shop locally in a more plastic free way! The Good Life is located in the former ﬁshmonger shop on Bridge Street that leads up to the Market Place.

The Mekong Cat Just off Lower Hillgate, The Mekong Cat has recently joined the ever-growing number of new indies and opened its doors in Stockport. Offering a wide array of traditional Southeast Asian noodles and more. The restaurant is focused on the traditional and authentic routes of its owner and its key aim is to introduce local people to real Southeast Asian food.

New Openings

The Glass Spider

he Glass Spider has relaunched with an updated interior, extended seating areas, and a new kitchen. After a lengthy closure The Glass Spider returns bigger and better than before with a new food offering that is set to include world class roast dinners.

Tim Hortons

conic Canadian restaurant, Tim Hortons, has opened the doors to its brand-new drive-thru restaurant in Stockport.

The brand celebrated its launch in Stockport Retail Park by gifting the ﬁrst drive-thru and restaurant customer two medium drinks, every day for a whole year. Customers in and around Stockport can now get their hands on its best-selling items, including Timbits, Iced Capps, Freshly Baked Donuts and Tim’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich as well as dinner favourites including beef burgers, hot dogs, and lattice fries.

Smyths Toys

brand-new superstore, Smyths Toys, opened its doors at Stockport Retail Park attracting some extra special visitors! The new store brings 18,000 sq ft of toys, video games, outdoor, baby, and pre-school products and will be the only large toy store in the town. After its grand opening on Thursday 24th, there to welcome shoppers on opening day and over the super sunny weekend were special guests and kiddies’ favourites Miraculous, Oscar, Cocomelon JJ, Paw Patrol’s Chase & Skye and Blues Clues. The party continued with DJs, candy ﬂoss. As well as meeting and having a selﬁe with their heroes, some lucky youngsters picked up free giveaways and grabbed a bargain as Smyths laid on lots of family fun. The Smyths Toys Superstore at Stockport Retail Park will be the chain’s sixth store in Greater Manchester, with stores already established in Oldham, Bury, Bolton, Salford and Wigan.

The A World UK

ext time you’re in Merseyway, pop in to the new A World shop and browse the fantastic range of Bric-a Brac, electricals, toys & games, kitchenware, clothing, shoes, bags and so much more! The A World UK Community Interest Company aim is to help and support the Autistic Community and their families/ carers. By being an advocate for Autism, they want to raise awareness within the community, by promoting acceptance and inclusion. The new Stockport store will help them to expand and develop their services, activities, and community shops, to support even more people with Autism.

Merseyway

Visit Merseywoods: Merseyway’s pop-up park

his spring, Merseyway is hosting a variety of free activities and workshops in its pop-up wood, Merseywoods. Filled with trees, plants, and picnic tables, alongside a bespoke wooden story-time chair and musical instruments, Merseywoods has been created in collaboration with Merseyway-based community design studio and woodwork specialists,

Merseyway Workshop, using a range of sustainable materials and resources. Merseywoods forms part of Stockport Council’s programme of activities to support Covid recovery, funded as part of the Government’s Welcome Back Fund, which is supported by the European Regional Development Fund.

Meadow Sprites Puppet Show

Easter Fun with Milly & Hop

Hedgehog Workshop with Wild Stockport

Saturday 2nd April

harming, cheeky, and thoroughly engaging, the Meadow Sprites will be flying into Merseywoods for a one-off performance this April! Watch them as they fly and flit, spreading summer’s warmth & tales of their woodland habitat.

Saturday 16th April

eet Hop the Easter Bunny and his best friend Milly at Merseyway this Easter. Guaranteeing lots of Easter fun for all the family, Hop and Milly will be singing and dancing around the centre whilst providing visitors with chocolate treats. Children will also be able to create Easter hanging decorations in a free craft workshop.

Saturday 22nd April

ring the family to take part in exclusive hedgehog craft workshops and learn about their natural habitats with Wild Stockport in Merseywoods!

Don’t forget to check out The Stockport Pop-Up Shop! The Pop-Up Shop at Merseyway allows small businesses to host their own temporary shop and provides the ideal opportunity for them to build their customer base and create awareness of their brand while bringing something new for shoppers when they visit the centre. See page 5 for more information!

Don’t let work get in the way of shopping

erseyway is currently undergoing a programme of refurbishment with resurfacing work underway on Vernon Walk and Deanery Way, with further works planned across the centre throughout the year. All stores and businesses will remain open. This is an exciting time for the centre with a signiﬁcant investment being made to improve the customer experience.

Rail Station

Stockport Interchange

Weir Mill

Stockport Exchange

St Thomas' Gardens

Royal George Village

Stockport is undergoing a huge £1bn transformation which is evident across the town centre. The council’s regeneration plans are at the heart of this, and this year has already seen a number of major projects get underway, making Stockport a great place to live, work, play and connect. Take a look for yourself!

Stockport Exchange Work has now started on Phase 4 of this successful business hub which has attracted major business such as BASF, musicMagpie, Stagecoach and legal firm ONP due to its great location and high specification. The scheme benefits from a 115-bedroom Holiday Inn Express, 1,000-space NCP car park and two striking office buildings with groundfloor retail. Confidence from the business community has never been better! Stockport Interchange Stockport’s enviable location and great accessibility is set to get even better. Work on site is now underway on this iconic development. This state-of-the-art transport hub will also provide 196 good quality new homes and a two-acre rooftop park, as well as a new bridge connecting it to the train station and a pedestrian ramp down to the river.

Stockroom Supported by the Future High Streets Fund, Stockroom will provide an accessible, family friendly learning and discovery space in the heart of the town centre. As well as repurposing a number of retail units, it will also attract thousands of new visitors to the town centre. Merseyway Improvements to Merseyway, including new public realm and paving, are now well underway which will breathe new life into the shopping centre. The former BHS store will become two new retail units with high street names already lined up. A temporary, woodland-themed pop-up park. ‘Merseywood’ opened in February and a new pop-up shop concept has also proved to be popular and is attracting new businesses and visitors. Plans are well advanced to repurpose upper floorspace at Merseyway to create a new

Delivering business innovation centre, with around 50 small enterprises housed in an exciting collaborative environment with support to ensure their growth. Underbanks The Underbanks is proving to be increasing popular, with many small businesses attracted to its creative and independent ethos. With £2.63m Cultural Development funding recently secured, this will take forward a sustainable, world-leading digital arts neighbourhood to form a new creative campus. New street art by renowned and local artists completes the picture. Stockport Market The impressive Victorian Covered Market Hall is home to over 30 independent retailers selling a range of goods from fresh fruit and vegetables to bespoke art. Regular monthly

Stockport Hospital

Redrock

Stockroom

Merseyway

Stockport Market

Underbanks

Stockport's £1bn transformation outdoor specialist markets and events such as the Makers Market and Foodie Friday are attracting visitors from far and wide, bringing a new generation of shopper to the market. The area will soon benefit from increased pedestrianisation creating a more attractive and welcoming environment for shoppers. Winter’s Bistro Marc at Winters has recently opened. Having been painstakingly restored to preserve the rich heritage of the building including the iconic clock, it has been given a new lease of life as a French bistro which is sure to be a popular addition to the Underbanks thriving hospitality scene. Weir Mill Work will soon start by social impact developer Capital & Centric in this £60m development, to create a new residen-

tial community which will see the sensitive transformation of 253 high quality apartments in the historic Weir Mill and two new buildings, as well as retail and event space alongside an opened up river walkway. Stockport Hospital A £500m bid has been submitted to the New Hospitals Programme to transform healthcare in Stockport through a new state-of-the-art hospital in the town centre linking health, technology and health care services. Rail Station Working with the rail industry, plans are already in the pipeline for a refreshed, modern and future-ready gateway to Stockport and beyond at one of the north’s busiest railway stations.

Redrock Redrock will soon be fully let as a new Turkish restaurant will be opening alongside an extended leisure offering. A new bowling alley, karaoke and gaming experience will bring even more ways to enjoy Stockport town centre. Royal George Village The council hope to announce more details shortly on this exciting scheme that will include 442 apartments and will see the former Metropolitan Girls School converted into shared office space. St Thomas' Gardens The workhouse and infirmary buildings will be brought back into use, creating a multi-generational neighbourhood with housing for social rent and shared ownership. Look out for further details in the coming months.

Chat Back Poetry Workshops for all Starting back chat and opening conversations in areas around the town centre.

hatback is a Stockport based poetry project to bring attention to the beauty of speaking your mind. Here they explain more: “We want to change what people think about poetry and who can be a poet. If you want to explore spoken word poetry, come down to our workshops for a safe space to write and share work! “During the course of the workshops, you will learn the techniques to challenge your writing and encourage independent thought and collaboration. Each workshop will feature a talk based on a topic, a number of fun prompt-based activities and an opportunity to share and comment on each others work! They will be based in different locations around Stockport and will encourage you to take inspiration from those spaces. “At the end of the project, we will compile our work into a zine and celebrate it with a launch event for members of the public to celebrate with the artists, writers, graphic designers, printers and facilitators.” "Attendance is and always will be free. Even if you attend just one workshop you can feature a poem in our zine! Workshops run fortnightly on Sundays betwen 7pm and 9pm"

Find out more by emailing - chatbackchatback@gmail.com or contact Instagram @chat.back

News

Sunny Spring Sundays at Merseywood The team at Totally Stockport partnered with Merseyway Workshop to bring a selection of drop-in hands-on workshops to do some planting, growing and sowing this Spring in MerseyWood located on Merseyway.

espite the cold, the sun shone brightly on a typical sunny Spring day at Totally Stockport’s ﬁrst Spring Sundays event on March 13th. The ﬁrst workshop centred around growing your own veg garden. All the materials needed, including seeds and planting beds, were provided for free so everyone could join in. Eager young planters met our giant walkabout Peas Carrots and Mushrooms before learning how to sow a variety of veg and tips to nurture them and help them to grow. What’s more, at the end of the session they took then home. If you are one of those who took something home, please let us know how they're doing, we'd love to see them! See below for the email address. The sun was shining at our second workshop, perfect as Sunday 20th March was all about spring bulbs! We wanted to help people of all ages learn best practice on bulb planting – did you know that if you want a great display of daffodils and tulips in the Spring, you need to plant them in the Autumn!

As well as meeting our walkabout Flower People, we soon had some new green-fingered visitors learning when to plant bulbs, when they will flower and how to look after them. All materials were provided for free, and everyone was able to take their bulbs home with them. Our final Spring Sundays Workshop was all about wildflowers. Visitors and the team from Mersey Workshop explored the importance of wildflower meadows and why they are an essential habitat. Did you know wildflowers provide pollinators and insects with food from leaves, pollen, nectar, shelter and places to breed. Pollinators then return the favour by transferring pollen, enabling the wildflowers to develop seeds that produce more flowers. Isn’t nature magical … Everything was provided for our guests to create the beginnings of their very own first wildflower meadow and advice on how to grow it further at home. Enchanted Garden Stilt walkers kept everyone on their toes! The activities have been funded by the Government’s Welcome Back Fund

Did you take home some seeds or bulbs? Send us a photo of how they're coming along! info@totallystockport.co.uk

StockSport 2022 Fun S

tockport Council and partners invite you to celebrate the power of moving and sport in their biggest event yet, StockSport 2022, Sunday June 26, from 9am. Following on from last year’s Stockport Enduro, Cycling Festival and 5K running race, the town centre will once again come alive with road racing and fun activities for all the family. This year’s event has built on the success of the Enduro and has transformed into an even greater activity-based event. Organised by local veteran Event Management company Crazy Legs Events, first out of the starting blocks will be The Running Festival. Choose from a first mile, 5k or 10k running race, starting, and finishing in the vibrant St Peters Square. This event will suit runners of all abilities and you will be spurred on by local musicians and the buzz of supporters around a course that extends to Vernon Park and beyond. Come with a team from work, go for a new PB or your first timed race and leave with a sense of achievement, a medal and an atmosphere to remember. Cycling enthusiasts can look forward to races for all categories throughout the day with prizes for each. There will be a come and try it race for those who just want to have a go round the circuit and get a taste of what it’s like to race. A spectacular British Cycling town centre Criterium race, a first for Greater Manchester in a century will be an exciting finale. A must for spectators and competitors alike, top level cyclists will take on the challenging figure of eight circuit through the town centre. There will be many more free cycling activities available with breath-taking bike stunt displays, dedicated children’s circuits and various bikes to try out, such as e-bikes and adapted bikes.

The event village is back and is more animated than ever. Partners Trek Wilmslow giving away goodies galore, Life Leisure with spin challenges, ABL and their Smoothie Bike as well as a children’s Town Centre trail, with fun things to spot and facts to find in the town centre. New for this year, StockSport will host a space to try a wide range of fun and family friendly fitness classes from local providers for free. All who take part will be entered into a prize draw to win a special prize. Councillor Elise Wilson, Leader of Stockport Council said: “This event is about much more than health and fitness. It is about all ages coming together as a community. Making friends. Having a laugh. Feeling part of a town that shares your ambition for it to be a world-class place in which to spend time and have fun. So I hope as many people as possible attend and showcase what Stockport really is all about: it’s fantastic community.” Ted Gordon, Manager of Trek Bicycle Store Wilmslow and sponsor of the Criterium races said: “At Trek, our main goal is to get more people riding bikes. We are excited to be part of this fantastic event in Stockport which will grow the cycling community. Town Centre races are always full of excitement and we can't wait to be involved and help create the best experience possible.” In the run up to the event, on Saturday June 25, Cheshire Cycling Club's friendly and knowledgeable volunteers will be hosting bike-led rides on a scenic ride from the town centre out into the rural areas of the borough. The Club will host a variety of different rides of varying distance to suit all abilities, with the aim of encouraging as many people as possible to get on their bikes.

For more information about what is happening on the day visit www.stocksport.live

Activities For All

Events on the Sunday: Running Festival: 9am – 11am Event village: 11am – 4pm The Criterion cycle races: 4pm – 10pm For more information about what is happening on the day visit www.stocksport.live To book your place on the run www.stocksport.niftyentries.com/StockSport-2022

To book your place on the run www.stocksport.niftyentries.com/StockSport-2022

News

BID

Christmas in Stockport

In 2021, the pandemic once more made organising events quite a challenge but last Christmas, the Totally Stockport team were able to host outdoor events designed to keep everyone safe and entertain shoppers and visitors to the town centre. The Ice Sculpture trail was back – live carvings and 16 new characters to ﬁnd while elves on the Elf trail carried out fun activities for everyone to enjoy. We wanted to share a few pictures with you – can you see anyone you know?

To find out more about how Totally Stockport is working for you and to find out how you can get involved, please email info@ totallystockport.co.uk or call the office on 0161 537 9382 Follow us on: Facebook - facebook.com/totallystockport Instagram - totallystockport Twitter - @totallysk

What’s On Every Friday 10:30am - 11am

Central Library Storytime

Stockport Central Library A wonderful opportunity for children and their parents or carers to meet together on a weekly basis to share stories and rhymes in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Suitable for pre-school children. Stockport Central Library, Wellington Road South, SK1 3RS Free Sat 9th April 10am - 4pm

Stockport Makers Market

Stockport Market Place The Stockport Makers Market is back on the second Saturday of every month for a selection of the North West’s ﬁnest food, drink, art, design and vintage. Featuring specially selected specialists, who source, grow, rear, bake, make, and create the products they sell. This makes sure their goods are unique, original and designed to inspire.

textiles, luggage, furniture, curios and collectables, and unexpected delights you never knew you wanted. Plus classic vehicles and music from DJ Mike the Mod & Graeme. £2 Every Wednesday 1:30pm - 4pm

Tea dance at Stockport Town Hall Stockport Town Hall £3.50

Every Wednesday 8pm

Feel Good Comedy

Doctor Feelgood A regular comedy night at the recently opened Doctor Feelgood in the Market Place, featuring telly stars, touring comics and award winning acts. Stockport Market Place, SK1 1EW www.ticketsource.co.uk/feelgoodcomedy £5 Wed 20th April 7pm

Stockport LGBT+ PLUS: Big Monthly Social

CafeSQ The group’s monthly socials (the second Wednesday of every month) have moved to CafeSQ. Pop along for food, drinks, lots of laughing and chatting and the occassional quiz! St Petersgate Every Thursday 10:30am - 11am

One Stockport Hub Storytime Sun 10th April 10am - 4pm

Vintage Village

Stockport Market Hall Quality authentic vintage clothing and accessories for men and women, vintage jewellery, homewares, decorative items,

One Stockport Hub A wonderful opportunity for children and their parents or carers to meet together on a weekly basis to share stories and rhymes in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Suitable for pre-school children.

Friday 15th to Monday 18th April

Easter Pantomime: Mother Goose

Stockport Plaza Crack open a Golden Egg this Easter when the sensational team who produce our Christmas Pantomime create Easter magic at The Plaza with the ﬁrm family favourite Mother Goose! Starring the egg-cellent Philip Green from ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ alongside Plaza favourites Richard Chandler and David Vickers and a full supporting cast, this magniﬁcent production will ensure that all ages have a crackin’ Easter with a show featuring glittering costumes, hilarious characters and a loveable Goose that we will all fall in love with…..Ohhhhhh yes we will! Organist on The Mighty Compton Organ: Mr Paul Greenwood

16-22 Merseyway, SK1 1RA Free Sat 16th April 11am onwards

Easter fun with Milly & Hop

to be missed. Exchange Street, SK3 0EJ From £8 Wed 27th April 7pm

Merseyway Meet Hop the Easter Bunny and his best friend Milly at Merseyway this Easter! Guaranteeing lots of fun for the family, Hop and Milly will be singing and dancing around the centre whilst providing shoppers with chocolate treats, ready for Easter. Free

Saving Grace with Robert Plant and Suzi Dian

Wed 20th April 11am

Fri 29th & Sat 30th April 8pm

Stockport Plaza The always popular tour of Stockport’s magniﬁcent 1932 Art Deco Super Cinema and Variety Theatre. Buy online or just turn up on the day. £9.90.

Stockport Plaza From the exhilarating high of his star-studded wedding day to the low of lockdown stuck on a farm, a lot has changed since Alan’s last tour four years ago, including Alan. Nowadays, it’s all about ﬁnding happiness and joy in the small things – why be a national treasure when you can be a Regional Trinket?!

Behind the Scenes Tour

Fri 22nd April 7.30pm

Genesis Connected

Stockport Plaza Genesis Connected is a tribute show celebrating the hits of Genesis and the biggest selling connected acts including Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins and Mike & the Mechanics. Tue 26th - 30th April 7:30pm

The Garrick: Ulster American

Stockport Garrick Theatre Things get horribly out of hand when two men and a woman meet to discuss putting on a West End play. Exploring consent, abuses of power and the confusions of cultural identity, Ulster American is a riotous black comedy of ambition and identity. Not for the faint of heart, and not

Stockport Plaza Former Led Zeppellin front-man Robert Plant formed Saving Grace in 2019 and they have received numerous acclaims for their live shows including from Bob Harris who called it ‘One of the best gigs I’ve seen in years’

Alan Carr - Regional Trinket

Fri 29th April 6pm - 9pm

Foodie Friday

Market Place street food, craft ales and live music at Stockport Market from 6-9pm on the last Friday of every month. Free Sat 30th April 11am - 3pm

Arc Saturday art club

Arc Centre and Gallery Offering more than just cutting and sticking the club plan activities that build new skills, encourage collaboration with other kids and use specialist or uncommon materials and techniques that you might not know about or be able to achieve at home - to ensure each club is exciting and memorable! Hat Works, Wellington Mill, SK3 0EU Free: A charitable donation of £2 per activity participant is suggested to cover materials costs. Sun 1st May 1pm - 9pm

Looks Like Glam!

Stockport Market Hall The Doctor Feelgood bar is taking over the Market Hall for a day of Glam, with six bands bashing out some of the biggest anthems. £10

What’s On

All the big events in and around the centre of Stockport over the coming months. Keep up-to-date with what’s going on at www.totallystockport.co.uk

Sun 1st May 10am - 4pm

Stockport Book and Record Fair

Stockport Masonic Guildhall The Book and Record Fair moved to its new home at The Guildhall in March and by all accounts it was a huge success. Parking is just £1and the bar is open. 169 Wellington Road South, SK1 3UA Free after 10am £5 from 9am.

This exhibition has come straight from London and demonstrates the breadth and diversity of calligraphy and lettering as a modern art form. More than 60 contemporary calligraphers and lettering artists have produced an impressive display of work to celebrate the Society of Scribes and Illuminators’ centenary. Wellington Road South, SK3 8AB Free Sun 8th May 10am - 4pm

Vintage Village

Stockport Market Hall Quality authentic vintage clothing and accessories for men and women, vintage jewellery, homewares, decorative items, textiles, luggage, furniture, curios and collectables, and unexpected delights you never knew you wanted. Plus classic vehicles and music from DJ Mike the Mod & Graeme. £2

Thu 5th May 7.30pm

Jason Manford: Like Me

Stockport Plaza It’s been a busy few years for Jason since his last smash-hit stand up show but fans of his Absolute Radio show will know this nationally acclaimed comedian hasn’t changed a bit. ‘Like Me’ is Jason’s latest comic offering set to hit the road.

Stockport Plaza From the horrible Henries to the end of evil Elizabeth, hear the legends (and the lies!) about the torturing Tudors. Find out the fate of Henry’s headless wives and his punch up with the Pope. Meet Bloody Mary and see Ed fall dead in his bed. Survive the Spanish Armada as they launch their attack! Sat 7th May 2pm - 3:30pm

Exhibition talk: Society of Scribes and Illuminators Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery

ABBA Mania

Stockport Plaza It is just over 40 years since ABBA won Eurovision and now it’s your chance to thank ABBA for the music! Sun 15th May 3pm

Northern Tamil Association presents Spring Melodies Stockport Plaza Come and enjoy yourself with the fabulous line up of talented musicians from India and UK. Starring Ranjith Govind, Sireesha Bhagavatula, Surya Murugesh and Vani Jayaram www.northerntamilassociation.org.uk Sat 14th May 10am - 1pm

Organ concert at St Peter’s Church St Peter’s Church A free concert featuring organists Chris Lawton and Andrew Moody, and Pianist Louise Burchell. St Peter’s Square SK1 1NZ Free entry. Come and go as you please. Sat 14th May 10am - 4pm

Stockport Makers Market

Sat 7th May 2pm & 7pm

Horrible Histories Live: The Terrible Tudors

Fri 13th May 7.30pm

Sun 8th May 2pm - 3:30pm

Calligraphy taster session

Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery Join Vivien Lunniss, member of the Society of Scribes and Illuminators, on this taster session as she guides you through the basics of Calligraphy. For age 14 and over. Free Booking essential. Call 0161 474 4453 or email stockport.artgallery@stockport.gov.uk to book your place. Wellington Road South, SK3 8AB

Stockport County Edgeley Park

Tickets for the new season are Adults (18+) £18 Students £12 Age 65+ £12 6 -17 year olds £5 5 and under Free Sat, 9th April 3pm Stockport Co. v Southend United Mon 18th April 3pm Stockport Co. v Solihull Moors Sat, 30th April 3pm Stockport Co. v Boreham Wood Sat, 15th May 3pm Stockport Co. v FC Halifax Town To Be Arranged: Stockport Co. v Torquay United Sun, 22nd May Buildbase FA Trophy Final

Sat 21st May

Comic Con Stockport

See pages 15-18 for more details Fri 27th May at 8pm

Count Arthur Strong: And This Is Me! Stockport Plaza After many years of giving his wonderful lecture talks, Count Arthur Strong has at

Key contact details The Hat Works

Wellington Mill Wellington Road South Stockport SK3 0EU 0161 474 2399

The Plaza

Mersey Square Stockport SK1 1SP 0161 477 7779

Stockport Central Library

Wellington Road South Stockport SK1 3RS

Air Raid Shelters 61 Chestergate Stockport SK1 1NE 0161 474 1940

Stockport Museum Staircase House 30 Market Place Stockport SK1 1ES 0161 474 4444

Google

What’s On last bowed to substantial pubic demand and allowed himself to be talked into making the show about himself for once. And that had never occurred to him before because of him being highly magnanimous.

Fri 27th May 6pm - 9pm

Foodie Friday

Market Place street food, craft ales and live music at Stockport Market from 6-9pm on the last Friday of every month. Free Sun 29th May 2pm - 3:30pm

Exhibition talk: Society of Scribes and Illuminators Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery See: Sat 7th May Sun 29th May 4pm

Queens Jubilee Tea

Sat 21st - 28th May 7:30pm

The Garrick: Dial M for Murder

Stockport Garrick Theatre One of the all time classic thrillers that continues to entertain audiences 60 years after it was ﬁrst performed. Tony Wendice, an ex tennis pro, plans to have his wife killed in the perfect crime. The tension never falters in a wonderfully crafted script. Exchange Street, SK3 0EJ From £9:50 Sun 22nd May 2pm - 3:30pm

Calligraphy taster session

Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery See: Sun 8th May

The Green Room - Stockport Plaza The Plaza celebrates her Platinum Anniversary with a fundraising ‘Everything Stops For Tea’ with entertainment and a delightful Afternoon Tea created by The Plazarettes in the best of British style to salute the Monarch. Mon 30th May 7.30pm

Joe Lycett: More More More

Stockport Plaza His ﬁrst tour in years promises to be packed with more jokes, more comedy anecdotes and more inappropriate and arguably disturbing paintings, all in the hope of answering the age-old question: How do you Lycett? How do you Lycett? Thu 2nd June Gates open 5:30pm

Operation Mincemeat

Release date: 15th April Operation Mincemeat is set in 1943 as the Allies are determined to launch an all-out assault on Fortress Europe. But they face an impossible challenge - to protect a

Stockport Plaza A free to attend concert in the wonderful surroundings of Stockport’s Art Deco gem. Proceeds from all beverage sales and stalls go towards the ongoing maintenance and restoration of the theatre.

Sat 11th June 7.30pm

Market Place street food, craft ales and live music at Stockport Market from 6-9pm on the last Friday of every month. Free

Calling Planet Earth

Stockport Plaza A New Romantic Symphony that goes on a journey through the electrifying 80’s. Featuring songs from Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, The Human League, Ultravox, Tears For Fears, Depeche Mode, OMD, Japan, ABC, Soft Cell and many many more. Performed by an incredible live band with awesome symphonic arrangements, combined with stunning vocals and cast.. Sun 12th June 10am - 4pm

Vintage Village

An Evening of Queen

Sat 18th June 11am - 2pm

massive invasion force from entrenched German ﬁrepower and avert a potential massacre.

Crawley family goes on a grand journey to the South of France to uncover the mystery of the dowager countess’s newly inherited villa. In addition to the original cast, Hugh Dancy, Laura Haddock, Nathalie Baye, Dominic West, and Jonathan Zaccaï will join the cast.

Edgeley Park

The Lost City The following is a guide to some of the ﬁlms being released in the UK in the coming months. The Light do not decide which ﬁlms they will be showing until the week before, so check their website for full listings.

Stockport County will celebrate the Queen’s 70th Jubilee with a concert at Edgeley Park as the band behind the successful West End musical, ‘We Will Rock You’ perform all Queen’s classic hits. Adult: £20 Child: £15 Hospitality £75 book at www.edgeleypark.com

Release date: 22nd April Reclusive author Loretta Sage writes about exotic places in her popular adventure novels that feature a handsome cover model named Alan. While on tour promoting her new book with Alan, Loretta gets kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire who hopes she can lead him to an ancient city’s lost treasure from her latest story.

Downton Abbey: A New Era

Release date: 29th April The original principal cast of Downton Abbey return for the second ﬁlm in which the

Organ Coffee Morning

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Release date: 6th May Dr Stephen Strange casts a forbidden spell that opens a portal to the multiverse. However, a threat emerges that may be too big for his team to handle. A sequel to the 2016 Marvel ﬁlm ‘Doctor Strange’.

Fri 24th June 6pm - 9pm

Foodie Friday

Sat 25th June 2pm

A Fright In The Museum

Stockport Plaza An hilarious comedy slapstick adventure for all the family starring Clive Webb, Danny Adams and Mick Potts. Sat 25th June 7:30pm

Stockport Symphony Orchestra: Finale Stockport Town Hall Brahms Piano Concerto No 1 Tchaikovsky Symphony No4 Conductor: Robert Guy Piano: Tom Hicks Sun 26th June 9am - 10pm

StockSport 2022

Stockport Town Centre A day of non-stop action in Stockport. Come along and join in! See pages 24-25 for full details

The Bob’s Burgers Movie

Release date: 27th May A ruptured water main creates an enormous sinkhole right in front of Bob’s Burgers, blocking the entrance indeﬁnitely and ruining the Belchers’ plans for a successful summer. While Bob and Linda struggle to keep the business aﬂoat, the kids try to solve a mystery that could save their family’s restaurant.

Top Gun: Maverick

Release date: 27th May Pete “Maverick” Mitchell keeps pushing the envelope after years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators. He must soon confront the past while training a new squad of graduates for a dangerous mission that demands the ultimate sacriﬁce.

What’s On

All the big events in and around the centre of Stockport over the coming months. Keep up-to-date with what’s going on at www.totallystockport.co.uk

THE MUSEUMS Sat 9th July 10am - 4pm

Stockport Makers Market

Stockport Market Place Featuring specially selected specialists, who source, grow, rear, bake, make, and create the products they sell. This makes sure their goods are unique, original and designed to inspire.

Last Night of the Proms, and of course a ﬂag waving ﬁnale. Sun 24th July 10am - 4pm

Stockport Book and Record Fair Stockport Masonic Guildhall Free after 10pm £5 from 9am. Fri 29th July 11.00am

Film: The Duke

Fri 1st July 7.30pm

Housewives on Holiday

Stockport Plaza From the writers & producers of Hormonal Housewives & Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, it’s time to get away from it all and join the Housewives on Holiday. Join the ladies as they romp through a tapas selection of Holiday Heaven, Holiday Hell and Holiday Hilarity. Adults only Sun 10th July 10am - 4pm

Vintage Village

Stockport Market Hall Thu 14th July 2pm

Stockport Plaza An uplifting true story starring Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren, about a good man who set out to change the world and managed to save his marriage. Sun 31st July 11am-6pm

Stockport Pride

Stockport Market Place Stockport Pride is back. More details will be announced nearer the event but expect market stalls, community groups, crafts, drag acts, musicians, food and drink. In the past the event has begun with a parade from Redrock to the Market Place.

Neil Sands: Happy And Glorious

Stockport Plaza Neil Sands and his West End cast are back to celebrate the 70 glorious years of Her Majesty’s reign. The show will feature songs made famous by many of her favourite singers and stars from her Royal Command performances. From show tunes to the golden days of rock & roll and into the swinging sixties, sing along to a cockney knees up, a rousing section from

Jurassic World: Dominion

Release date: 10th June The future of mankind hangs in the balance as humans and dinosaurs coexist following the destruction of Isla Nublar.

Lightyear

Release date: 17th June The sci-ﬁ action-adventure presents the deﬁnitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear - the hero who inspired the toy - introducing the legendary Space Ranger who would win generations of fans.

The Black Phone

Release date: 24th June A shy but clever 13-year-old boy, who is abducted by a sadistic killer and trapped in a soundproof basement where screaming is of little use. When a disconnected phone on the wall begins to ring,

As Stockport’s museums re-open, it is recommended that visitors book a timeslot before visiting the museums as only a limited number of tickets will be available each day for walk-up visitors. Stockport Air Raid Shelters Stockport’s intriguing network of underground tunnels offers visitors unparalleled insight into life in 1940s wartime Britain. When the Shelters opened in 1939 with room for 3,850 people, they were the largest purpose built civilian shelters in the country. Information panels and authentically recreated settings illustrate the extent of Stockport’s air raid precautions for life on the home front. Adult £5.00 Concessions £3.75, Child (Under 16) £0.00 Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery has a long history of exhibitions from some of the artworld’s finest artists. Today the gallery boasts an extensive exhibition programme, which now gives emerging artists a chance to showcase their work. The Hall of Memory is a fitting tribute to the men and women who gave their lives during times of conflict. Free

Staircase House Staircase House is the oldest town house situated in the Historic Market Place. The House and its rare Jacobean cage-newel staircase, have been beautifully restored. Come along and take a historic journey back in time to discover how ancestors lived from the 15th to the 20th century. This is a barrier free, hands-on journey through time. A great audio guide recounts the full history of the house and is available in English, French, German, Cantonese and Urdu. Adult £5.00 Concession £3.75 Child (Under 16) £0.00, Stockport Museum At Stockport Museum you can time-travel from Palaeolithic to present day Stockport to experience the town’s entire history under one roof. Explore the fantastic ﬁnds from the Mellor Iron Age hilltop settlement, life in medieval times, the thriving textile industry of the Victorian era as well as the impact of World War 1. If you have the kids with you, do not forget to spend some time in our awesome, interactive family gallery! Free

Finney discovers that he can hear the voices of the killer’s previous victims. And they are dead set on making sure that what happened to them doesn’t happen to Finney.

Minions: The Rise of Gru

Release date: 1st July In the 1970s, young Gru tries to join a group of supervillains called the Vicious 6 after they oust their leader -- the legendary ﬁghter Wild Knuckles. When the interview turns disastrous, Gru and his Minions go on the run with the Vicious 6 hot on their tails.

Nope

Release date: 22ndJuly Caretakers at a California horse ranch encounter a mysterious force that affects human and animal behaviour. Directed by Jordan Peele