Totally Stockport Magazine Issue 6

Issue 6 FREE

RICK ASTLEY Back in Stockport... where it all began

Project 53 The Big Day Out Rhode Island SHOPPING

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DINING

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BUSINESS

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WHAT’S ON

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NEWS

Welcome Following the hottest May Day Bank holiday on record, many of us have been enjoying the longest and warmest dry summer since 1976, just the weather for getting outdoors and enjoying all that Stockport has to offer.

Totally Dinosaur Takeover Day attracted huge crowds, 10,000 more than at the same time last year, you can read all about it and spot yourself in the crowd on page 8 & 9. Popular events such as Foodie Friday and the Makers Market are a sell-out success and breathing new life into the historic Market Place area where the Produce Hall is getting ready for a makeover and a new Market Operator has exciting plans for the future, find out more on page 25.

8-9 12-13

Calling all Superheroes and Princesses for our next big event! The Totally Stockport Festival BIG Day Out takes place on Saturday September 8th along with the Heritage Open Day and Makers Market.

Mr Bloom is back at The Plaza, see the Greatest Showman show live on stage, meet Batman and his Batmobile, Spiderman, Iron Man, Darth Vader and his Stormtroopers; climbing wall, roller rink, goggle pods, Trolls Show and a superhero parade, something for everyone - see our advert opposite for the full schedule.

Just about every month we are seeing new businesses choosing Stockport as their new home: SK1 Records are bringing a touch more vinyl to Little Underbank and just up the steps the ever popular Mobberley Brewhouse has just opened Project 53 a tap room showcasing beer, gin and of course, pizza! Last year Tramp’s ‘rock n roll’ hair boutique brought a real touch of Soho to Underbank. Now Naomi and Kristian have unveiled a further £250,000 investment and plans to open a hair academy, a craft beer bar, Tramp‘s own vintage clothes store, Homesick Vintage, a Bakeorama outlet, Phoebe Rosca Art Tattoos and a nail salon – find out more on page 15.

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We hope you enjoy our latest magazine keeping you up to date with all that is happening in Stockport over the spring and early summer. If you would like to share your own news and views of our town, please email info@totallystockport.co.uk or call 0161 244 9896 Totally Stockport is the name of Stockport’s Business Improvement District, or BID area. There are 280 BID areas across the UK, business-led and business funded bodies, formed to improve a defined area, in our case Stockport Town Centre.

cover photo by Rankin

4-5

News

6-7

Fashion

8-9

Dinosaur Day

10-11

Rick Astley

12-13

Rhode Island Coffee

14-15

BID News

16-17

Map

18-19

Future Events

20-21

Project 53

22-23

Pride & Cars

24-25

Council News

26-27

Health & Fitness

28-31

What’s On

More new openings in Stockport

All the best wrist-action

The day Stockport went Jurassic!

He used to play drums, you know?

Ten years on Underbank

Your Business Improvement District

The Town Navigator

Big Day Out, Beer Week and Heritage Days

Mobberley Brewhouse come to town

Stockport Pride marches on

A new operator for the Market Place

A Totally Stockport award-winner

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 244 9896

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@totallysk

Totally-Stockport

News

New Openings in Stockport Project 53

Teddy Bear’s Picnic and an A-maze-ing Summer at Merseyway

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n August, Merseyway shopping centre played host to a Teddy Bear’s Picnic to launch its free summer event, The Merseyway Maze.

Youngsters enjoyed a fun-packed day filled with entertainment including face painting, balloon modelling and a picnic making session that they later enjoyed with their favourite teddy bears.

Families explored the maze and took part in a themed trail, Spot the Honey Pots.

The Merseyway Maze then transformed for visitors to discover a variety of facts about Stockport’s vibrant heritage and history, whilst enjoying the centre’s latest family attraction. Children played Spot the Hats to win a sweet treat and snap a selfie in the VIP area where they dressed up as their favourite celebrities from Stockport.

Until Friday 10th August, the first 25 children who visited the maze each day received a complimentary teddy to take home and from 11th– 17th August, the first 25 children received a complimentary mini maze.

Merseyway Centre Manager, Brendan Webb said “The Teddy Bear’s Picnic was a real success and it was great to see so many families enjoying The Merseway Maze. The maze brings something a little different to Stockport and a fun day out in the school summer holidays”.

The Merseyway Maze closed on Saturday 17th August.

Opened by the team behind the hugely popular Mobberley Brewhouse, Project 53 Stockport tap room has arrived. Formerly a building society and latterly a furniture store, 22 Market Place has been transformed to offer the ultimate showcase of beer, gin and of course Pizza!

SK1 Records

Another unique and quirky independent business has opened at 17 Little Underbank, an area that is quickly earning a reputation as Stockport Soho. Take a trip down Memory Lane, SK1 Records stocks an eclectic selection of Vinyls, CDs and tapes as well as serving coffee, tea and delicious cakes

Mangobean Coffee Shop

Mangobean has opened at Redrock offering customers a ‘coffee wonderland’.

Featuring a grass picnic area and serving numerous blends of freshly roasted coffee, non-alcoholic coffee cocktails and specialty frappes and smoothies, Mangobean brings something new and exciting to the coffee shop experience.

In just nine months, Redrock has quickly established itself as a leisure destination. Almost half a million of visitors have flocked to enjoy the latest films from the comfort of a reclining seat at The Light Cinema, share a meal with friends at one of the new restaurants, enjoy a work out at The Gym or indulge in the tempting desserts at Creams.

Shane Saunders, Mangobean’s Head Honcho said: “We are really excited to be joining Redrock. When customers step through our door they will find a coffee shop unlike any other they’ve visited. Here you’ll find a fun environment where everyone can enjoy awesome, freshly roasted coffee. Our waffles are out of this world good too!

“We are sure we’re going to have a really successful future here in Stockport.”

To find out more about Mangobean visit www.mangobeanfranchise.co.uk

News

05

Street party as celebrity hairdressers unveil £250,000 investment in Stockport’s Soho P

lans for a £250,000 salon and hairdressing academy have been unveiled as celebrity hairdressers Kristian Evans and Naomi Graham hosted a street party in Stockport.

Kristian and Naomi, owners of Tramp Hair Boutique, are leading a style-led regeneration designed to transform the fortunes of Stockport’s historic Underbanks area, which they have dubbed #StockportSoho With the support of Stockport Metropolitan Council, the hair boutique owners have announced plans to transform a derelict three-storey building in Great Underbank into a multi-use headquarters for Tramp. This will see the creation of an international standard hair salon, a hairdressing academy, a craft beer bar, Tramp‘s own vintage clothes store, Homesick Vintage, a Bakeorama outlet, Phoebe Rosca Art Tattoos and a nail salon. It will also feature private booths for use by celebrity clients, people with issues that mean they require a private salon service and Muslim women.

and glamour learned from top stylists in London and New York to the town.

“Our academy will allow us to pass on everything we have learned to up and coming hairdressers from throughout the North West and, more than that, we want our second salon to be a catalyst for the regeneration of a beautiful area of Stockport that has amazing potential.

“The vision for the regeneration of the Underbanks is to create a creative village of entrepreneurs and we want to be a catalyst for that. It will take rock ‘n roll attitude and ambition and we can also add a dash of glamour. We are in regular touch with Stockport Council and plan to work with them to build Stockport’s Soho.

“We opened our first salon in Spring last year and we are already bursting at the seams, with

Kristian and Naomi have set their hearts on transforming the fortunes of Stockport’s Underbanks following a stellar career which has seen them work with pop icons, Vogue models, the Brit Awards and London Fashion Week.

Naomi, a Stockport girl, has managed London salons for Harrods and Harvey Nichols and Kristian styled Amy Winehouse on her US tour.

On Sunday 12th August, a street party outside their current salon in Lower Hillgate Street, Stockport, featured live music, cake creations from Manchester’s Bakeorama, and a pop-up vintage clothes store.

“The street party on Sunday was a soft launch to give people a taste of what is to come,” said Kristian. “We had the support of some of the North West’s hottest up and coming new bands, special guests, Phoebe Rosca, an incredibly talented Stockport tattoo artist, Pinot Pinot Cans from OffPiste Wines, and our nail bar pop-up, Bag O Nails.

We’ve also had fantastic support from Stockport Council and Kevin Murphy Hair Products.”

The development, due to launch in 2019, is expected to create 21 jobs and Tramp has a detailed, ambitious business plan which involves the opening of a third Tramp salon in Liverpool.

Naomi said: “I’m from Stockport and we wanted to set up our business in the area. There is no reason why Stockport cannot be home to an international standard salon and we are bringing the techniques

demand outstripping capacity. There is an eager, ready-made customer base for the second Tramp salon, in Great Underbank, which will have 15 hairstyling stations and we will continue to work in our current salon where we have five chairs.”

Kristian and Naomi are using social media to urge supporters to #BePartOfTheMovement which will transform a recently neglected part of Stockport into a creative hub of fashion, style, hair, music and art.

Tramp’s manifesto involves “bringing high fashion and rock ‘n roll styling to the streets of Stockport”

with a goal of delivering excellent customer service to “create cool cats, sex kittens and dirty rotten scoundrels” in Stockport and beyond.

The Tramp Academy will have six students at any one time, in a purpose-built facility with two senior stylists managing them. The students will take an intensive course including modules on cutting, colouring, and essential business skills such as photoshoots and social media. The support of the business partners gives students the potential to get involved in fashioning hair for music videos and fashion shoots.

A strong financial package has been developed to fund Tramp 2, including an immediate £100,000plus investment by the business partners and Tramp’s growing reputation was recently recognised with a shortlisting in the forthcoming Stockport Business Awards in the Most Promising Young Business category.

Good times

This issue we look at the wide range of watches on offer around Stockport, from the luxury end of the market to the most basic.

Beaverbrooks

Argos

Ernest Jones

Claire’s

Topshop

Debenhams

Hugo Boss Ocean Men’s Watch £179

Skinny Rainbow Glitter Watch £6.30

Fossil Q Gen3 Smart Watch £219.99

Mixed Metal Link Watch £30.00

Casio Edifice Bluetooth Watch £429

J by Jasper Conran - silver watch £75

Fashion

7

H&M

Plastic watch £12.99

H. Samuel

Garmin Fenix 5S Ladies’ White Silicone Strap Smartwatch £569

New Look

Green Applique Flower Strap Watch £17.99

F Hinds

Storm Zila Lazer Green Stainless Steel Mesh Bracelet Strap Watch £79.99

Topman

River Island

USC

Woven diamante lariat watch £30.00

Brown Leather Watch £29.50

Juicy Couture Pedigree Watch £34.99

s r u a s o n i D Day Totally

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here was a massive turn-out in the centre of Stockport in June, as the town was overrun by a prehistoric invasion for the Totally Dinosaurs Takeover Day.

Andy Day, star of TVs Andy’s Dinosaur Adventures and Andy’s Prehistoric Adventures, put on two shows In St Peter’s Square that attracted hundreds of people, while over in Merseyway the biggest crowds since the Christmas Light Switch-on were happily taking selfies with model dinosaurs in the Dinosaur Park until a ‘real-life’ T Rex appeared and shook things up!

Less scary were the Dino Babies who put in an appearance although you’d still want to look out for those teeth. Over at Redrock the Saturday crowds were surprised by the sudden appearance of a velociraptor, perhaps it had wandered out from The Light, where they were showing the brand new film: Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.

In Mersey Square the ever-popular Trolls put on their unique song and dance show while you never knew where Fred, Wilma, Barney and Betty would turn up next. Fred even brought along the famous footmobile! in addition to the extinct animals, there was also the chance to get close to some very live ones, with the opportunity to handle all manner of insects, reptiles and creepy crawlies.

Events

09

Rick Astley He retired in 1993 after selling just the 40 million records.

He came back in 2016 with an album which went to number one and two years later he’s hoping for similar success. He visited Stockport to tell Paul Taylor all about the new album, the tour and buying his first drum kit You were born and bred in Newton-le-Willows which is about half an hour down the M6, so you must have been to Stockport before?

I have. When I was a drummer in my first band, we got a gig playing a school disco and my dad decided I needed to up my game so he took me to Stockport to buy it. A silver Pearl kit. Boosh!

I think that would have been from Dawson’s or A1 music on Underbank at the time I’m not sure. I couldn’t say it wasn’t Dawson’s.

1987 was obviously a big year for you with Never Gonna Give You Up but also the biggest year for Stock Aitken Waterman I was in a band with some mates called FBI and Waterman saw us, he liked my voice and I ended up doing a deal with his production company. So I signed that and very shortly afterwards it all went crazy, they were having number one after number one with Princess, Dead or Alive, Mel & Kim, Bananarama and all the labels were throwing money at them to give them hits, so I got put on the back burner because I was actually signed to Pete’s production company.

So you leave your mates up North, go down to London and when your single comes out it goes nuclear. It must have been an incredibly exciting time.

It was, although to be honest, most of the time I didn’t really know what was going on. So when we made the video for Never Gonna Give You Up it was the week it went to number one and I just turned up with a bag of clothes and a guy who’s gone on to be a massive Hollywood film director put me in front of a chain link fence in my double denim - and later on in my rain mac - and said ‘Go on son, dance. Give it all you’ve got.”

I was going to ask you where those clothes came from, because Pete Waterman was never one for spending a lot of money on videos.

I probably got them from Next. I remember the first time I did Top of the Pops I was doing a promotional tour in Scotland when Pete said I was doing the show the next day. I just went to some shop in Glasgow and bought a jacket. There was no styling at all.

Never Gonna Give You Up is iconic and reminds me of the Bee Gees and Night Fever in that once it’s been a hit it goes into hibernation for a few years and then reappears fresh and new and appeals to a completely new audience. Are your crowds really mixed now?

I don’t know about really mixed but there are definitely younger elements. We toured America a few months ago and you definitely see that there.

Probably because the whole Rick Rolling thing was bigger there than anywhere else but I also think that younger people have a genuine love for older music and not even ironically. I’m not going to put myself in that category but if you go and see Depeche Mode or Fleetwood Mac - bands that have been making great records for a long time the original fans are still there but there’s a whole group of new, younger fans who have discovered their music one way or another and love it just as much as someone stood next to them who’s as old as their mum and dad.

Is it difficult, having one song that’s just so big?

There are probably a lot of artists who would hate the fact that their biggest song was their first song and they can never repeat that and to be honest, I’ve struggled with it at times. Every artist wants to be relevant and it’s difficult when you’ve got a song that’s way bigger than you are.

But I’ve come full circle and now I think, ‘thank heavens I’ve got that’ because it’s a door opener.

There isn’t a radio station I go in, in any part of the World, that doesn’t play that song. And some artists might be running for the door but I look at it as ‘they’ve opened the door, let’s get in there and play them the new stuff now’. I can’t have new records without the old ones.

And you still enjoy performing it...

Yes, but it’s difficult because when you’ve done something so many times and you really love the new record you’ve made you want people to love that as much but that’s not always going to happen. And if I go and see Fleetwood Mac, I want the old songs. I don’t mind a couple of new ones but I want to hear the songs that I grew up with, that are part of my life. So if any of my old tunes are part of somebody’s life, I’m happy to play them for them.

Which of your older tracks do you really enjoy performing?

I really like Cry For Help. I wrote it with Rob Fisher from Clime Fisher and the girls who sing live with me really have the chance to sing on that song.

It can be the really singalong moment of the gig sometimes.

You did a World Tour in 89 and the papers were reporting that you’d had a breakdown, was there any truth in that?

No, I just got a bit burnt out and reached the stage where I needed to do something else for a while.

It’s fair to say that you always wanted to write and record your own songs and at Stock Aitken Waterman there wasn’t much room for that.

You got more of your own tracks on the second album but it wasn’t until ‘91 when you’d left Stock Aitken Waterman that you had that freedom. In fact the album was called Free.

Yes, but I was just having a joke about it. Stock Aitken Waterman had a sound, they had a way of making records and they didn’t want to deviate from that because they were making loads of hit records, so why should they?

So in 1993 you’d had enough and packed it in.

What led to that?

The signs were there that unless I was willing to give everything I had, I couldn’t stay at that level, you have to own up to that fact. Take That were becoming massive at that point and I could see them doing all the things that I’d done at the beginning, they were on every TV show, they were on a plane every day - if not twice a day - and I just thought, I haven’t got that in me. I’d also developed a fear of flying which in truth was probably down to the fact that I didn’t want to get to where I had to go.

You were back with the album 50 two years ago, was reaching 50 a big landmark for you?

Yes, I think it is for everyone really. But I made that record thinking that not many people would get to hear it, if I’m honest. I thought I’d put it on the Internet somewhere and certain people would hear it but it wasn’t going to put its head above the parapet. But it did. And I was just marking my

Interview

50th birthday really. If I go into the garage and write everything, play everything, do it all, that’s what I’m capable of. I wouldn’t call it a mid-life crisis but it was certainly a mid-life moment.

The new single is Beautiful Life...

It’s just about the fact that I am having A beautiful life but as I say in the song “We have to find a way to prove it”. I’m from up North and we tend to be quite realistic about things and sometimes that realism can turn into negativity so sometimes I have to remind myself how great my life is.

What’s your favourite track on the album?

I do like The Good Old Days because it’s dedicated to my brothers and my sister and without them I wouldn’t necessarily be such a fan of music because I spent a lot of time listening to what they played. So the song has references to things like progressive rock - Rick Wakeman gets a mention. He’s a genius.

What would the 21 year old Rick Astley make of you now?

I think he’d be amazed that I’m still making music and probably even more amazed that I’m making it in my garage.

So, the album’s out now and the tour starts on 17th October.

That’s right. It’s kind of a weird thing because I never thought I’d be playing new songs in an arena again and I still have to pinch myself a bit. ‘ yep, you’re going to be in the Manchester Arena and you’re going to play new songs and, if it’s anything like the last tour, people won’t go to the bathroom while you’re doing it.’ I’d never have believed that would be the case when I was 49. Oh, and Gabrielle is on the tour as well which I’m really looking forward to because she’s got a great new album out.

Listen to the whole interview at www.imaginefm.net/ rick-astley-interview-with-paul-taylor/

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Staff and customers at the tenth birthday party

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hings have been going well for Rhode Island Coffee recently. Notably, the coffee shop was amongst the first tranche of businesses to win a Totally Stockport town centre Customer Service Award (turn over to read more). The day after the presentation of the award, the scaffolding around the Royal Bank of Scotland opposite came down, returning to Rhode Island a prized outdoor seating area and the day after that, the Stockport branch of this seven-strong chain celebrated its 10th Birthday.

All this considered, it seemed like the perfect time to pop in for a chat with the manager Catherine Rochford.

Catherine’s been here for going on 18 months but has been in the coffee business for around eight years, so she’s very much aware that Stockport’s Rhode Island Coffee is something to shout about.

“It’s a beautiful building. We’re very lucky with the interior here and the outside area is a big draw for us too, it’s very eye-catching.”

For those that haven’t visited, Rhode Island is spread over two floors, making it a much larger operation than the outside suggests and a much more attractive one than you’d have any right to think. On our visit there was what appeared to be a business meeting going on at one end of the first floor while at the other a young man was going through the papers. You got the feeling that these people were familiar faces hereabouts.

“I’d say a good 70% of our customers are regulars,” explains Catherine. “People who will come in every day or have a set couple of days a week when they always come in. For some people Friday’s their day and they will order exactly the same thing every time.

They know what to expect.”

e d o h R

This level of repeat business means that managing the food and drink offer is a tricky business, “We have evolved the food and drink to reflect that we’re moving towards a more health conscious culture but our focus is, first and foremost indulgence. Big slabs of cake, lots of cream, comfortingly, warming, reassuring, traditional food. But that said, you can’t not have gluten free and vegan options now. Whereas we’d have one non-dairy alternative we’ve now got two and we have multiple gluten free cakes and plenty of vegan sandwiches and cakes on offer.”

And the firm favourite is..?

“Cherry and almond. People love the cherry and almond. Also the waffles because they just look amazing - they come with maple syrup and whipped cream. And teacakes, we do so many teacakes.”

The operation’s position at the bottom of Little Underbank means it straddles the divide between the corporate world of Merseyway and the up and coming independent businesses on Underbank and Lower Hillgate, and it seems they benefit from both. In terms of the former: “the arrival of Redrock has been fantastic for us. It’s bringing people into Stockport in the first place and people will come in and have a coffee before facing going to the cinema with the kids.”

While looking up the hill: “There’s a nice community among the businesses in Underbank and no-one’s in direct competition with each other. There’s a nice atmosphere, especially with it being a bit out of the way, everyone bands together to support each other.”

2 Little Underbank, Stockport, SK1 1JT 0161 480 9331

Coffee

d n a l s I e

Coffee

Catherine Rochford (left) with yet another award

13

In April last year, the businesses within the heart of Stockport Town Centre voted in favour of the area being designated a Business Improvement District, more commonly known as a BID. There are over 300 BIDs operating in the UK, business-led and business funded bodies formed to improve a defined commercial area.

Operating under the brand Totally Stockport, the BID team are working with Stockport’s town centre BID Levy paying businesses to drive forward projects that will attract more visitors, businesses, workers and residents.

Over its 5-year lifespan, Stockport BID will generate almost £2.5m of additional funding specifically ring-fenced for projects that will enhance the town centre’s offering. First priorities are to make the town centre a safer and better place for everyone; to improve choice; to improve the marketing of all areas of the town and to make it easier to do business in Stockport.

Totally Free Parking offer

...now extended to 31st December 2018

It may be a little too early to mention Christmas but, following the success of the pilot scheme which launched in June, the Totally Free Parking offer in Stockport town centre is being extended until 31st December 2018, perfect timing for Christmas shoppers!

Anyone can apply for a Totally Free Parking Pass, that allows car parking for free on the 6th Floor of Heaton Lane Car Park. Cars will need to park in designated spaces only and for a maximum period of 4 hours on any one day.

We have 75 spaces available which will of course be on a first-come-firstserved basis.

This is a great way to attract more shoppers and visitors into the heart of Stockport town

centre, with easy access to all the great shops, visitor attractions, restaurants and bars; the offer only applies on the 6th floor of Heaton Lane Car Park, Stockport between the hours of 06.00 (6am) and 18.00 (6pm).

To get your Totally Free Parking pass, apply online at www.totallyfreeparking.co.uk Just display your Totally Free Parking pass in your window and you can park for free for up to 4 hours! Follow signage to the allotted parking spaces.

If you already have a Totally Free Car Parking pass, it will now be valid until 31st December but please ensure that it is clearly displayed.

Totally Free WiFi We are in the process of bringing towncentre-wide, free Wi-Fi into Stockport.

Soon you will be able to surf while you shop, check out the latest offers, browse the news and keep in touch with friends, all for free. More news in the next issue of Totally Stockport magazine.

Totally Keeping Stockport Safe and Secure Stockport is growing! New businesses are choosing to open a business here, many of them independents with a unique offer.

Totally Stockport is on a mission to make sure everyone who lives, works or visits feels safe, whatever the time of day or night and have introduced many tools that can help.

Storenet Radio

There are currently over 100 Storenet radios in use across the town centre to keep everyone connected with what’s going on. They are available for all businesses in the BID area and Totally Stockport is subsidising the cost for businesses within the to make it readily accessible for more businesses to join.

GMP LiveChat www.gmp.police.uk

Greater Manchester Police have introduced GMP LiveChat to their website, a quick and efficient way to report a non-urgent crime. Just

click ‘chat to us now’ to speak to one of their advisors. They are available from 8am until midnight and might save you a telephone call.

You can give police information about your local area, get an update on a crime already reported or to ask anything police related.

Business Watch

Business Watch is an initiative operating in Stockport town centre in a similar way to the Neighbourhood Watch scheme – where business owners and the local police team work together to prevent issues. By meeting monthly with business owners, information can be shared and priorities can be agreed. Businesses can take the lead on, for example, identifying the issues, raise these at the monthly meetings which will lead to the gathering of intelligence and action being taken.

Town centre wide CCTV and Store Radio have already contributed to dealing with, and in

some cases preventing, petty crime. Shop owners will learn how to prevent offenders coming in to the store; if they do enter, how to stop them stealing and how to safely deal with aggressive people.

Business Watch - Evening Economy Group This is a new initiative set up for any licensed businesses in the town centre so we can ensure that our growing night-time economy can be enjoyed by everyone.

Safer Stockport Card

Totally Stockport have worked with partners at the council and the police to produce the Safer Stockport Card, a handy list of useful numbers in event of an emergency.

For more information on any of the above initiatives, please email Totally Stockport BID manager – paul.taylor@totallystockport.co.uk

BID

Totally Stockport’s Customer Service Award Winners The first monthly winners of the Totally Stockport town centre Customer Service Bronze Awards have been presented with their trophies by Stockport’s BID Manager, Paul Taylor.

Centrally based in Regent House, the team at Hatters Promotional Merchandise, led by managing director Jo Shippen, were winners of the April Customer Service Award for demonstrating outstanding telephone customer service, answering calls promptly, paying particular attention to their customers’ detailed needs and providing a quotation within 24 hours.

Jo is thrilled that her team’s efforts have been rewarded and commented: “It’s so exciting for us; obviously it’s a Stockport award and we are passionate about Stockport.

After-all, we are called Hatters! For the team it means a real moral boost, it’s fantastic and recognises their efforts in providing an excellent service to all our clients.”

May’s Bronze award winner is the popular Holiday Inn Express at Stockport Exchange. Since opening in December 2016, Carl Butterworth and his team have been blown away by the welcome they have received and are operating at near capacity every day, with returning guests appreciating their consistently high level of service.

Carl had great praise for his team and delighted that he could share the award with them: “I’m really proud to win this award; it says to me

that the team at the hotel are doing an excellent job in customer service. It’s all credit them”.

June’s winner was Rhode Island Coffee who are delighted that the award coincides with their 10th anniversary. Since opening in 2008, Rhode Island have become a firm favourite with shoppers, visitors and the local businesses who can always be assured of a warm welcome, a selection of delicious sandwiches, paninis, cakes and steaming fresh coffee.

July saw Stockport Health & Fitness whisk away the award. Stockport Health and Fitness Centre, located at 21 St Petersgate, is just for ladies and offers a new state of the art technology in fitness equipment. Here you can expect a relaxed, friendly and comfortable environment to share with friends and like-minded ladies of all ages and abilities.

Totally Stockport’s customer service programme helps businesses to consistently deliver excellent customer service. The first programme ran from April through to July; our next programme will run until November so why not get involved and be in with the chance to win your own Customer Service Award. Through the provision of FREE workshops, we ensure we help you to change good service to great service!

To join in contact: paul.taylor@totallystockport. co.uk or call 0161 244 9896.

Totally Stockport BID Business Survey It is vital that the team at Totally Stockport are working on behalf of the BID levy payers. In June we sent out a survey to the town centre based businesses because we need to know what is important to them.

We have already received over 100 completed surveys which is great! It is helping us to paint a picture of what we need to work on and what we need to to share with our partners to make Stockport a great town, for everyone.

The team at totally stockport will be using the findings of the survey to deliver future projects.

If any town centre businesses would like another copy of the BID survey, please let us know. Naturally all responses will be kept entirely confidential and not shared individually with others.

For further information on Totally Stockport or any of the above projects please contact the BID office on 0161 244 9896, or via email at info@totallystockport.co.uk

15

Stockport Beer Week

S

tockport punches well above its weight when it comes to beer, so once again, the local branch of CAMRA is organising Stockport Beer Week which will run from 20th-30th September. Around 20 events are planned including beer festivals, brewery tours, meet the brewer evenings, a quiz and local band performances.

Throughout the entire event, Robinsons will be offering “Two for One” deals on Brewery Tours booked in advance and are again sponsoring the Ale Trail with some different pubs involved this year.

Daisy Turnell, Marketing Manager of the Head of Steam pub chain, will host a tasting of beers from the North East and is encouraging people to bring a non-beer drinker along.

There will be cellar tours of the Arden Arms, Queens Head, the Boars Head and Bakers Vaults. Thirst Class Ales will be brewing a special Beer Week beer which should be widely available round the town.

The Calverts Court will be featuring beers brewed in this area whilst Remedy Bar will be holding its autumn festival.

Needless to say CAMRA are also running a number of events, so check their website for more details.

Beer Week Coordinator Chris Walkden said “Working with Stockport Council and Totally Stockport, the idea is to promote the revitalisation of the town centre. We hope people will visit new pubs, sample different beers and learn more about this important part of the leisure sector. This is an ideal opportunity to bring beery highlights of the town to a wider audience”.

Full details are in programmes you can find around the town or on the local CAMRA website. In addition, Imagine FM will be updating listeners daily during the Beer Week. www.ssmcamra.co.uk/BeerWeek.htm Twitter - @SSMCAMRA www.facebook.com/SSMCAMRA

PROGRAMME OF EVENTS

Subject to change. Most events are free to enter.

All week 20 - 30th September Robinsons Visitors Centre: Two for One on prebooked Brewery Tours – use code BEERWEEK18 Ale Trail around 20 pubs, sponsored by Robinsons Brewery See www.ssmcamra.co.uk/SBWtrail.htm for details.

Thursday 20th September Stockport CAMRA Pub of the Month – Bakers Vaults in the Market Place - 8pm Friday 21st September Evening CAMRA Pub Stagger – Heaton Norris East Meet at the Carousel,, 156 Reddish Road, Reddish SK5 7HR at 7.30pm or Navigation,, 1 Manchester Road, Heaton Norris SK4 1TY at 8.30pm Saturday 22nd September & Sunday 23rd September Light Cinema, Redrock: Screenings of the 1987 black comedy “Withnail and I” Saturday 22nd September Boars Head and Arden Arms : Lunchtime Cellar Tours Sunday 23rd September Spinning Top:: Quiz the Poynton Brewers - 4pm Spinning Top: Big Stockport Quiz - 6pm Monday 24th September to Sunday 30th September Calverts Court:: Local SK postcode brewed beers Tuesday 25th September Petersgate Tap:: Meet the Brewer (Torrside Brewing) and Special Beer Launch - 8pm Wednesday 26th September The Hope Inn:: Beer Tasting for Beginners with Daisy Turnell - 8pm Thursday 27th September – Sunday 30th September Remedy Bar (Market Place) Beer Festival – approx 30 beers from near and far Thursday 27th September The Hope Inn:: Meet the Brewers, New Beer Launch and Brewery Visits at the Hope Inn – 8pm Friday 28th September Foodie Friday in the Market Place – 6pm to 9pm Saturday 29th September Bakers Vaults and Queens Head:: Lunchtime Cellar Tours 384 Bus pub crawl round Romiley, Marple and Offerton. Starts from Stockport Bus Station at 12.30 Sunday 30th September Petersgate Tap: Cider Tasting & Meet the Producers - 2pm Spinning Top:: Woodstockpor 3, Local Bands.

2pm - 10pm

Totally ut!

O y a D g i B The er

b m e t p e S h 8t

Stockport Heritage Open Days Festival Events

The Totally Stockport Big Day Out is back and this year it will be bigger and better than ever. There will be loads of great entertainment and participation events across the town centre throughout the day.

The vast majority of events are free and the Mr Bloom show at The Plaza is just £2 - so get those tickets booked now!

As well as the Big Day Out, the Makers’ Market will be making its monthly visit to the Market Place - an easy walk from the Roller Rink in St Peter’s Square. from 10am Mersey Square Batman & The Batmobile Meet Batman in your Superhero outfit and have a selfie in the Batmobile. from 10am Merseyway Climbing wall & Goggle Pods Put your best foot forward and try out the climbing wall.

Immerse yourself into a realistic, simulated VR gaming experience aboard the Goggle Pods. from 10am St Peter’s Square Roller Rink Come along for a Roller Disco and skate the day away to some Disco Classics.

10am Stockport Plaza Mr Bloom Back for a second year Mr Bloom joins us in his magical show at the Plaza, come along and meet the Veggies.

Contact the Stockport Plaza Box office for tickets. £2 plus booking fee, maximum 8 tickets. Doors 9am.

11.30am Mersey Square Frozen Show and Princess Parade Join Elsa and Anna in a sing along show with all of your Frozen favourites, followed by a parade through Merseyway in your best Princess outfit.

12.30pm Mersey Square Greatest Showman Show See this great show live on stage on Mersey Square.

2.00pm Mersey Square Superhero Parade Come along to Mersey Square dressed as your top Superhero as they lead you on the parade of heroes with special appearances from Batman, Spider-Man and Iron Man with some intergalactic baddies such as Darth Vader and his stormtroopers.

3.00pm Mersey Square Kids Showtime Sing and dance along with the Trolls in a fun show.

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Saturday 8th September: 10am-4pm Discovering Little Underbank This event is being developed with the Stockport Heritage Trust and will run between 10am-4pm and will include musical delights, visits to Stockport’s notorious Dungeon, trails, games and discover Underbank’s secrets. Edwardian costume and dress is encouraged and hope to make this event bigger and better than last year.

There will be walks and talks at regular intervals during the day and costumed volunteers will be on hand to answer any heritage / history queries.

Max 20 people per tour/session. Walk takes 45 minutes Contact for the day: Coral Dranfield 07980 536548 Friday 7 September: 10am-12pm Sunday 9 September: 11.30am-2pm St Thomas’s Parish Church, Stockport This fantastic grade I listed Georgian church is a hidden jewel in the heart of Stockport. Consecrated in 1825, St. Thomas’ boasts a dramatic neo-Corinthian portico, as well as a sumptuous interior and wonderful acoustics. Every year they welcome tourists, pilgrims and visitors to the church - why not join in? There’s lots to see in the church - from the unique architecture to the wonderful sense of tranquillity. Refreshments will be available throughout.

Saturday 8th September: 10am-4pm Stockport Garrick Theatre Open Day Established in 1901, the Garrick has occupied its current building, a former mill, since the early 1920s. It is located on four levels.

During the tour you’ll be able to see all accessible areas of the theatre, and see how shows are put together. The illustrated talk on the history of the theatre, from its inception in 1901 through the war years to the present day, throws up a number of surprises and links to Stockport’s past. There will also be opportunities to try on costumes - a great selfie opportunity!

Guided tours every half hour.

Illustrated talk 12.00 and 2.00 pm.

Sunday 9 September: 10.30am-4pm Stockport Plaza Open Day Stockport’s 1932 Super Cinema and Variety Theatre throws open her doors for a day of presentations and chances to see behind the scenes of this award winning venue saved by her community from potential demolition under 20 years ago Admission commences from 10.30am and presentations will commence from 11am offering you an opportunity to gain the Super Cinema experience, visiting dressing rooms and projection suite where a rare Kalee 8 projector is on permanent display, backstage to tread the boards and access to all the areas that normally are not accessible to the general public.

The Plaza Cafe will be open throughout the day and at intervals the Mighty Compton Organ will be played, offering you a full day of activities.

No booking required

Project J

ames Roberts began Mobberley Brewhouse as soon as he left University in 2011 and made such a success of it that the company had out-grown its premises within three years. These days Mobberley Brewhouse is a serious player in the craft beer world and now they’re venturing into that of bar ownership. Project 53 has just opened in the Market Place and an operation of the same name is about to do the same thing in Knutsford.

We met Operations Director Sophie Roberts, sister to James, in their new Stockport outpost.

How did you arrive at the name?

Well because we’ve got more than just this bar and we’re constantly getting our hands dirty we look upon everything as a continuous project. The 53 is derived from the latitudinal position, we’re 53° North. That covers most of Cheshire so we wanted the 53 to say ‘this is where we’re from, this is who we are. We’re proud of being here” Why choose Stockport?

Personally, I’ve got friends here and my partner was born and bred in Stockport and he’s extremely proud of being from here. We were out one evening in the Market Place and the lights were on and it looked so picturesque and I noticed that there were a few properties available to buy or let and that suggested to me there must be a real opportunity for some regeneration. As we’d been talking about opening a bar I got straight on the phone and said ‘we’ve got to check this out because it could be a very exciting time to get involved.’

And why choose this site in particular?

And this place was the first place we looked at and we just thought it was fabulous. We loved it straight away and it’s been nice that people have come in and said they bought their furniture from here. In fact my partner’s brother has a company in Stockport where he makes wooden skateboards and he used to buy his wood from here too.

You do have an outlet selling beer in Mobberley but you consider this to be your first proper bar...

This is our first official tap room bar. The reason we have the shop is that’s where the brewery used

53

to be housed, in an old milking parlour on a farm.

When we upscaled the brewery and moved it to a larger site, we couldn’t just abandon it so we refurbished it into a shop with some keg taps. So we called it a tap room but officially, this is our first.

James started the brewery in 2011, when did you come on board?

I joined literally for the bars. Obviously in one way or another I’ve been involved since the start, for the first few beers we made I did the graphics for the pump clips so I’ve helped out along the way but this has really cemented my involvement.

This has always been his dream. He wanted a bar from day one so James had the vision and I had the skills to execute it, shall we say. So that’s how we’re working on this. It’s been fun and games.

Who’s responsible for the look of the bar?

James has excellent vision. He has it when he’s brewing beer and he had it when we were doing this. He had such a strong idea of what he wanted it to look and feel like and I’d go to him with something and say ‘is this anything like what you were thinking of’ and sometimes he’d say ‘yes’ and sometimes he’d say ‘no, but I prefer that’. I describe the interior as shabby-chic meets perfection. We’ve said from day one that we want the quality of the drinks, the service and the food to be at such a high level that the environment you’re in can almost be unfinished. That’s what we’ve gone for and we’re really chuffed with it.

Will Knutsford look similar?

Absolutely. We want to continue with the feel, the vibe, the atmosphere. Yes, expect more of the same.

The food offer is pizza, how do you get the quality of that to match the quality of the beer?

To be honest, just by the constant making of pizzas. I’ve eaten so many... We’re both food lovers and we both love to cook at home so even though it’s something we’d never had experience of selling to people, we were still adamant that it was going to be just brilliant. So we’ve got chefs in with the relevant experience and in the weeks before we opened there was a lot of training we’ve got them hand-spinning the dough in the

air and all sorts - and we strive for consistency, making sure the dough is hand stretched to a similar diameter, a similar thinness, that the way it is served, the appearance of it is brilliant. But with everything we do, we’re always looking for anyway we can improve because you’re constantly learning things.

There are 11 beers on tap or hand-pump, will they all be rotated or will some be permanent fixtures?

The most steadfast will be our beautiful pilsner.

A lot of people say ‘what lager will you have on draught’ and I say, this is our lager. Four are guest beers from friends of the brewery or local breweries who we want to support and we will rotate those, then with our beers we expect to learn over time what people like and what people want to see here. So some might stay on for a really long time but there’s no better way to see what people prefer than to see what they’re drinking and listen to them.

How is the beer served?

Our glasses are a third of a pint, a half pint, a two-third pint and a pint. With all the types of beer we’ve got, they all deserved to be served in a perfect way. The thirds are there so people can sample different beers, it’s the equivalent of a tasting board. And if you served our stout - which is called Espresso - in a pint, by the time you’re halfway through it’s got little bit warmer and you’ve lost that perfect temperature which you need to get the full experience. And it turns out people seem to really like buying two-third pints simply because it’s a new thing!

There are quite a few pubs around here that take their beer seriously...

Oh yes, some of them already bought beer from us. Our concern was that we weren’t coming in here to be competition for them, we were here to join in this whole regeneration and to work together to create a community. It’s an exciting place to be and an exciting time to be here and we want to get involved in everything that’s going on. And we’ve had such a lovely welcome from everyone.

The reception from local businesses and customers has been absolutely fabulous.

Beer

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22 Market Place Stockport SK1 1EU www.project53.bar

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2

Events

Stockport

017 was the ďŹ rst Stockport Pride festival and this year’s event took a step forward by having a parade from Red Rock to the Market Place to get the day going.

Despite the very obvious end to the heatwave, a great crowd turned up and as the weather improved a party atmosphere really took hold, helped by a succession of brilliant performers on the Martyn Hett stage.

T

s e l c i h e V c i s Clas

he Stockport Classic Vehicles Fair is an annual event which ties in with the monthly Vintage Village event that takes place in the Covered Market. An impressive collection of classic cars, scooters and motorbikes made their way to Stockport on a day which confounded the forecasts by staying dry! As well as the vehicles, there was a party atmosphere with classic rock ‘n roll hits being played throughout the day, along with live performances and some spectacular dancing from the T-Birds and the Pink Ladies!

Events

23

Fair

Stockport

A Town

New images of transport interchange revealed W

ith a large two acre town centre park creating greenspace for everyone to enjoy in the heart of Stockport town centre, plans for a multi-million pound makeover of the town’s bus station into a modern transport interchange have been revealed.

As well as creating a park on the roof of the interchange (at the same height as the A6), proposals set out plans for around 200 new high quality town centre apartments, state-of the-art transport facilities and better connections between the A6, bus station and train station.

The development that will be funded by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), Stockport Council and the GMCA, will continue the exciting and radical £1 billion transformation that is under way in Stockport making our town centre an even greater place to live, work, play and connect.

Over the coming weeks proposals will be finalised ahead of a full planning application for the transport interchange being submitted later this year.

Find out more about plans at www.stockport.gov.uk/invest

Business

of Investment and Opportunity New Operator for Stockport’s Historic Market Place

T

he market operator who is set to breathe new life and vibrancy into Stockport’s historic market has been named as Market Place Management by Stockport Council.

Market Place Management, who bring a vast range of specialist market management skills, expertise and years of experience to Stockport Market, has revealed exciting plans to revitalise the market, bringing even more great events into the area to ensure that Stockport Market has a successful and sustainable future. The appointment will help ensure the market and its offer continues to grow and develop in the years ahead.

The appointment, which is expected to be finalised over the coming weeks, comes as Stockport Council reconfirmed its commitment to helping the market grow and succeed within the towns historic Market Place and covered Market Hall, working with the existing businesses to transform it into a diverse, thriving shopping and leisure destination for visitors.

It is a perfect time to realise the vision for the Market Place: award winning restaurants in the area are thriving with more openings planned soon; events are proving popular and investment by businesses into the area is ever growing.

Nick Rhodes, Chief Executive at Market Place Management, said: “Market Place is thrilled to have been awarded the contract to manage Stockport Council’s market operation over the next 5 years.

We are excited to be working with the Council, existing traders and partners and look forward to welcoming new traders to Stockport Market.

“We believe that by working closely with the Council and partners to help fulfil the vision for Stockport Market Place we can secure the future of this historic market, enabling future generations to enjoy a vibrant and animated market offer. We have many exciting proposals to deliver and are currently busy preparing to hit the ground running in September.”

Market Place Management’s exciting plans include offering people the opportunity to start their own business at the market. Market trading requires very little capital outlay and few barriers to entry.

The monthly Makers Market has proved that there is an appetite for themed markets. More high quality markets and a host of events are expected to attract a broad spectrum of people, creating a destination of choice and a sense of place, in turn attracting new audiences to the area.

Stockport Market Place provides an open flexible space which embraces community and total inclusion, an ideal place to facilitate a wide range of activities, building on the historical, cultural, musical and entertainment foundations.

The appointment comes as £7million is currently being invested by Stockport Council into helping revitalise Stockport’s Market Place and Underbanks. The work, which is part of a £1 billion transformation taking place across the town, is building on Stockport’s strengths making it an even better place to live, work, play and connect for the future.

It is anticipated that fresh food will feature heavily in future plans for the Market Hall, augmented by a unique, niche and chic shopping experience with crafts, collectables, artisan products not readily available elsewhere in the town centre, broadening the appeal of the markets to establish Market Place as a destination of choice for visitors.

Councillor Kate Butler, Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration at Stockport Council, added: “Our ambition is for Stockport Market Place to become a vibrant and popular destination every day of the week.

“The markets are central to our vision and now the covered Market Hall is at 100% occupancy and with rising footfall, Market Place Management’s specialist managers will be key in making sure it continues to go from strength to strength, with a strong offer and benefitting from the council’s investment throughout the whole Market Place and Underbanks area and across the wider town centre.”

As a new generation of market traders emerge, new technologies such as Totally Stockport’s free town centre wide WiFi are being embraced, enabling the trader to generate face to face sales at the market but more often they complement their market turnover by trading online and maximise the use of social media to promote their business. The added value that this gives makes the option of a market stall more viable as it is a base for face to face trading, gives online customers the confidence of buying from a business that has a physical presence and allows cross pollination of online customer to market customer and vice versa.

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26

Health

S to ck po rt Health & Fitness I

n the last issue of Totally Stockport we reported on The Gym - the vast new health and fitness offer over at Redrock. In this issue we’re looking at somewhere vastly different in terms of scale but which is still of considerable importance to its loyal customer base and as of very recently, the recipient of the Totally Stockport Customer Service Bronze Award.

Stockport Health and Fitness Centre, located on St Petersgate, was started by Purnima Patel nearly two years ago although there had been nothing in her background that suggested she would end up running such a business.

“My career background is in sales, retailing, management and marketing and I was a member of a normal gym until I developed health issues and had to stop. I was introduced to this kind of thing but I only managed to get there for a few sessions before personal reasons meant I had to stop and when I was ready to go back, they had closed down. I couldn’t find anything else like it so when I was subsequently made redundant I thought I’d open something myself and just make it available to ladies much like myself.”

The premises on St Petersgate ticked a lot of boxes for Purnima, having a large enough ground floor to install the equipment she planned to buy in order that people with mobility issues don’t have to struggle with stairs.

Unlike the sort of gym you might be familiar with, this ground space is equipped with nine different machines, five chairs and four beds and they are all different. The principle here is that you don’t turn up thinking “I’m going to do half an hour on such-and-such a machine today.”

Instead, people work circuits, spending three minutes on the first machine then moving to the machine next door for another three minutes and so on. This creates a very smooth flow of customers around the room, with waiting virtually eliminated from the equation. The oldest regular member at Stockport Health & Fitness is 91 but even ladies of this age can cope with the equipment on account of it being motorised, thus providing assistance to those who might need it.

“The machines are set on three minutes of gentle exercise and they work different parts of your body” explains Purnima. “Because they are motorised you can work muscles without putting any strain on the body and each machine is working different muscle groups. Some machines massage as well, so it’s also very relaxing.”

Needless to say Purnima has undergone training on all the equipment and also employs two qualified fitness

instructors meaning that no-one gets onto the machines until they’ve been properly assessed, “We can see if any machines might not be right for them - at least at the beginning - and then we assess their progress at each stage.”

A big selling point with Stockport Health & Fitness is the relaxed atmosphere they maintain there. “Would a 91 year-old feel comfortable in a normal gym? Some might of course but if they’ve never been to a gym before they could feel intimidated. Here, they can have like-minded conversations with other ladies and if they have any problems they understand one another. And it’s a very social place, we have coffee mornings and trips out.

We like to involve people in more than just exercise. In fact our most recent event was an Emergency First Aid course and we are currently planning a Breast Cancer Tea Party.”

Certainly this was in evidence on our visit, with the chatter levels running high as the ladies moved from machine to machine but don’t let the relaxed atmosphere and power assisted machines fool you into thinking that physical improvement can’t be easily achieved.

“Health wise we’ve had remarkable results with the equipment. They do help you lose inches and to tone up but there are other health benefits as well, for people with back problems, bone-related illnesses, fibroneuralgia, arthritis and so on.”

We were introduced to Trisha who joined in February and who suffers badly with arthritis. “It’s given me a lot movement back. I couldn’t even lift my arm up when I came here. I come here three sometimes four times a week, you have to.”

Ladies who want to tackle more strenuous exercise can head upstairs to the fitness and cardio studio where daily classes take place and where there are treadmills, a cross trainer and an airbike.

Like all such places, Stockport Health and Fitness Centre runs on a membership basis but here the free trial allows you to sample the entire circuit of exercise equipment, giving you much better idea of how suitable it might be for your needs.

21 St Petersgate, Stockport, SK1 1EB 0161 480 4050 www. stockporthealthandfitness.co.uk

Health

Centre

27

What’s On Until 30th September 2018

Strawberry Studios ‘I Am in Love’

Exploring Strawberry’s rich heritage and commemorating 50 years since the studio first opened. Now updated and extended! Tue to Sat: 10am to 5pm Sun: 11am to 5pm Admission: Free Tue 4th September 6pm - 7.30pm

Fostering open evening

Stockport Town Hall If you’re interested in fostering, learn about what it takes to become a foster carer, the different types of fostering and the specialist scheme.

You will also hear about the fostering process, how to become a foster carer and you will be given the opportunity to speak to an existing Stockport foster carer about their experiences of fostering.

More info: 0161 474 3400.

Stockport County Edgeley Park

Sat 8th September 3pm Stockport Co. v Boston United Sat 13th October 3pm Stockport Co. v Hereford United Sat 27th October 3pm Stockport Co. v Nuneaton Borough Tue 30th October 7.45pm Stockport Co. v Chorley Sat 17th November 3pm Stockport Co. v Brackley Town Pay on the gate: Adults £15 Concessions: £10 6-17 year olds : £5 Under 6’s require a free ticket from the Ticket Office to gain entry. www.stockportcounty.com

Tue 4th September 7:45pm (And every Tuesday)

Stockport male voice choir rehearsal

Church Hall behind St. Joseph’s church, Tatton Street off Petersgate Stockport £60 per annum but free until you decide to join.

Phone Colin on 0161 439 7331 or Stuart on 0161 494 1631 Thu 6th September 2pm - 2.30pm

Central Library Storytime

Stockport Central Library, Wellington Road Suitable for pre-school children.

Thu 6th September 7.30pm - 10pm

Crystal Chords rehearsal

(And every Thursday) Stockport Masonic Guildhall An award-winning chorus which enjoys performing and competing at home and abroad. They sing a cappella (unaccompanied harmony) and belong to the Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singer Pop along for a free taster session.

Fri 7th September 10am-1pm

Free Business Advice Surgery

Stockport Central Library, Wellington Road Receive expert advice from a qualified Business Adviser from PeoplePlus. If you have a business and need some support, require funding and need help to apply, or if you have a business idea and are not sure what to do next, this is for you.

These drop in sessoins can be your first step on the road to launching your business, solving your problem or finding the help you need.

Fri 7th September 7.30pm

The Magic of Motown

Stockport Plaza Prepare yourself for 40 back-toback classic Motown hits, glittering costume changes, dazzling dance moves and outstanding musicianship in this explosive concert experience.

8th - 15th September 7.30pm

Taking Steps

Garrick Theatre Classic comedy farce from Britain’s most popular playwright - just without the slamming doors! All three floors of a building are presented on the same level, which only adds extra mayhem to the proceedings.

When a tongue-tied solicitor is sent along to oversee the sale of a large, crumbling (reportedly haunted), former brothel, he might just have bitten off more than he can chew.

Booking Line: 0161 480 5866

held at Disability Stockport every second Tuesday of the month.

Thu 13th September 7.30pm - 10pm

Acoustic evening at Cafelito

Cafelito, 20 Railway Road SK1 3TB Live original acoustic showcase featuring three of the finest original acoustic and laid-back acts on the night by Leaf Productions.

Free Fri 14th September 1pm - 1.30pm

Object of the Month: Shaa’s Will

Totally Stockport Festival BIG Day Out See page 19 for details

Stockport Museum Meet in the browse area of the museum at 1pm to enjoy this examination of an item from the museum’s collection

Sat 8th September 10am - 4pm

Sat 15th September 10am - 1pm

Stockport Market Place Browse Stockport Market and ‘The Makers Market’ where you will be spoilt for choice – a selection of unique creatives, creators, makers, designers, producers, bakers, musicians & artists.

Stockport Plaza A free concert from 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.

Free

Sat 8th September 10am - 4pm

Makers Market

Sun 9th September 10am - 4pm

Vintage Village

Stockport Covered Market Hall Vintage clothing and accessories for men and women, vintage jewellery, homewares, decorative items, textiles, luggage, furniture, curios and collectables.

Sun 9th September 11am - 5pm

Open Day at the Hat Works

Hat Works To celebrate Heritage Open Days 2018, Hat Works will be offering free taster tours of the museum throughout the day. See page 19 for more Heritage Day information.

Free Tue 11th September 11am - 1pm

Epilepsy Support Group

Disability Stockport. 23 High St, Stockport, SK1 1EG A free epilepsy Support Group is

Organ Coffee Morning

Sat 15th September 9am - 3.30pm

Antiques and collectors fair

Stockport Town Hall, Edward Street, SK1 3XE Running for over 40 years, the fair is a great place to find quality, unique items to add to your home, wardrobe or collections.

Parking next door for 50p all day.

Adults £2. Consessions £1.50.

Under 14s Free Sun 16th September 11am -5pm

Collagraph and Drypoint print workshop Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery In this workshop, run by Kevin Holdaway, you will be looking at the two intaglio processes of collagraphs and drypoint. One demonstrates a way in which you can incorporate textures into your printmaking and

What’s On

29

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

the other is very much a linear process.

You will go through preperation, image making, inking up and printing of both the processes covered. email: infoaquatint@hotmail.co.uk. £60 Sun 16th September 2.30pm-5.15 pm

Wurlitzer showcase

Stockport Town Hall, Edward Street An afternoon of popular music played on the Wurlitzer Pipe Organ

by David Lowe and Jonathon Eyre.

Tickets are £9 and £7 for members of The Lancastrian Organ Theatre Trust.

Fri 21st September 11am - 11.45am

Messy Milliners

Hat Works An exciting and innovative messy play session with a hatting theme.

For babies and early walkers. £5 per baby (two accompanying adults free) Sat 22nd September 10am - 3.45pm

Time for Tea at Staircase House

Staircase House, 30/31 Market Place, SK1 1ES As you visit the beautiful Staircase House take time to titillate your taste buds with different teas.

Suitable for families. £5 adult. £3.75 concessions. Accompanied children under 16 free Sun 22nd September 2pm - 4pm

21st century Surrealism poetry reading

Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery Live poetry reading by the’ Write Out Loud’ poets and special poet guests at the Mark Sheeky: 21st century Surrealism art exhibition.

These unique poems have been written specifically to accompany each painting.

Tue 25th September 10am - 2pm

Stockport Jobs Fair

Stockport Town Hall, Edward Street, SK1 3XE

Stockport’s annual jobs fair is organised by Stockport Council and Jobcentre Plus, and provides businesses with an opportunity to reach a wide range of potential employees.

It’s free for both exhibitors and attendees and is expected to have over 500 vacancies on offer across a range of sectors and roles.

Employers interested in participating should email growthteam@stockport.gov.uk.

Jobseekers do not need to book.

Just turn up on the day.

Fri 28th September 7.30pm

Tue 25th September 1:30pm-3:30pm

Sun 30th September 2pm-3pm

Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery Life is stressful so why not take some time to relax and put your focus elsewhere for a while. Come and colour in some beautiful designs that you can take away with you.

All materials provided or you may bring your own books to colour in.

Free

Stockport Museum Join historian Dr Peter Wadsworth on a free guided tour of the Strawberry Studios exhibition.

Learn more about the objects in detail and hear some of the stories behind the legendary Stockport studios.

Meet in the museum browse area.

Free

Mindfulness colouring for adults

Thu 27th September 7.30pm-9pm

Strawberry Studios talk

Stockport Museum To complement his popular monthly tours join music historian Dr Peter Wadsworth on a fascinating talk on the legendary Strawberry Studios.

Price includes a chance to visit the exhibition. £10 Booking essential: 0161 474 4444 Fri 28th September AND Sat 29th September 6.30pm-11.30pm

Gin Jamboree

Stockport Town Hall, Edward Street, SK1 3XE Featuring up to 150 different Gins and hundreds of tonic/garnish combinations to try out in search of your new favourite.

The ticket price includes includes supper, one Gin and tonic and a Gin ‘fish bowl’ glass to take home. £20

Ocean Film Festival

Wed 3rd October 7.30pm

Fri 28th September 6pm - 9pm

Stockport Plaza A divine cast of six strong women perform hits from legends such as Tina Turner, Carol king, Dusty Springfield, Aretha Franklin, Cher, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston and many more.

Stockport Plaza Be wowed at the mind blowing marine life; exhilarated by the power of the waves, and inspired by the characters who dedicate their lives to answering the call of the ocean.

Foodie Friday!

Stockport Market Street food, craft ales, live music and hundreds of people.

Strawberry Studios Exhibition guided tour

Wed 3rd October 10.30am - 1pm

Daytime millinery course: discover sinamay

Hat Works It’s light, it’s versatile, it’s colourful.

This 5 week course will cover blocking techniques for sinamay by making a 2 piece pillbox hat using a wooden hat block. You will learn how to roll and drape flowers and leaves, wiring and finishing as well as trying some free form sculpting.

You will make one hat and one fascinator.

Includes a basic materials starter kit which participants can supplement.

Suitable for adults with good sewing skills.

Please call 0161 474 2399 for further information or to book your place.

NOTE: The course runs for five consecutive Wednesday mornings: 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st October 2018 £100

One Voice

Wed 3rd October 7.30pm - 10pm

The Petersgate Tap Open Mic

Pop along to listen or read your own or another author’s poetry or prose.

19 St Petersgate, SK1 1EB Sat 6th October 11am - 4pm

We Are Dreamers: Dreams for your Loved Ones workshop

Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery Taking inspiration from WW1 postcards and textiles, write your dreams for your loved ones and embroider them onto fabric. Your words will be combined with photographs of Stockport and contribute to ‘We Are Dreamers’ at Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery. Drop-in anytime.

Pick up a Dream Box pack: If you would like to make a Dream Box, but are unable to attend a workshop you can still get involved. Simply pick up a free ‘Dream Box’ pack and get creative! Packs can be collected from Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery, Arc in Reddish and Stockport Central Library.

Drop in during the above times Suitable for ages 14+ Sun 7th October 10am - 4pm

Book and Vinyl Record Fair

Stockport Market Hall A popular bi-monthly event held on the first Sunday of the month at the town’s historic Market Hall.

There will be stalls full of books, records, cassettes, CD’s and other collectable items.

Live music will be provided by local band, Pigs Can Fly and the Oak Tree Café will be open in the Market Hall.

Free parking is available nearby. £5 at 9am - Free after 10am

What’s On Tue 9th October 7.30pm

Albert Lee

Stockport Plaza One of the World’s most celebrated guitarists comes to Stockport with his great UK band (as featured on the Old Grey Whistle Test).

Thu 11th October 5pm - 9pm

Museum lates

Hat Works A chance to visit the museum after hours.

Have a glass of prosecco, take a tour and try your hand at some crafts or just come and chill out with the collections.

Suitable for aged 18 years plus. £7.50 per person, including a drinks voucher Fri 12th October 11am - 11.45am

Messy Milliners

Tue 16th October to Sat 20th October

Booking is essential. Please call 0161 474 2399. £4

Stockport Plaza After their successful production of “Oklahoma! in 2017 Stockport Operatic Society return with the wonderful comedy musical “Me and My Girl” live on stage at the Plaza.

You will love the songs like The Lambeth Walk, Once You Lose Your Heart, Love Makes the World Go Around, The Sun Has Got His Hat On – as well as Leaning on a Lamp Post and the title song Me and My Girl.

Thu 25th October 11am - 12.30pm

Stockport Operatic Society presents: Me and My Girl

Wed 17th October 9am - 3.30pm

Antiques and collectors fair Stockport Town Hall As Sat 15th September

Hat Works As Fri 21st September

Sat 20th October 11am - 3.30pm

Sat 13th October 10am - 4pm

Hat Works Inspired by Roald Dahl’s BFG, have fun making a dream jar full of slime, glitter and gems. Dream jars made on the day will be exhibited in ‘We Are Dreamers’ at Stockport War Memorial Gallery. Drop-in anytime between 11am – 3:30pm.

Drop in during the above times Free

Makers Market

Stockport Market Place Browse Stockport Market and ‘The Makers Market’ where you will be spoilt for choice – a selection of unique creatives, creators, makers, designers, producers, bakers, musicians & artists.

Sat 13th - 20th October 7.30pm

All Quiet on the Western Front

Garrick Theatre Marking the centenary of the Armistice, this powerful new play highlights the shared horrors, ironies and tragedies of what was supposed to be “the war to end all wars”, as it explores the devastating effects of war on families and individuals.

Included is a special charity performance for Help for Heroes on Sunday 14 October.

Booking Line: 0161 480 5866 Sun 14th October 10am - 4pm

Vintage Village

Stockport Covered Market Hall As Sun 9th September

We Are Dreamers: Make a dream jar workshop

Tue 23rd October 11am - 12.30pm

Delightful decoupage

Hat Works Learn how to become a ‘decouper’ someone who decorates items with coloured pieces of paper and glue.

Suitable for aged 6 years plus.

Booking is essential. Please call 0161 474 2399. £4 Wed 24th October 11am - 12.30pm

Fabulous felt

Hat Works Find out why felt is so important to Stockport and have a go at making a piece yourself.

Suitable for ages 6 years plus.

Fabulous felt

Hat Works Use polystyrene board to carve a design that can be printed on to card. Perfect to create a Halloween decoration.

Booking is essential. Please call 0161 474 2399. £4 Fri 26th October 6pm - 9pm

Foodie Friday!

Stockport Market Street food, craft ales, live music and hundreds of people.

Fri 26th October 3.30-4.30pm

Teddy bear’s sleepover

Hat Works Bring your teddy bear or other cuddly toy, for a night at the museum.

After making a hat for your teddy bear to sleep in you’ll leave them with us for the night and we’ll post regular updates on our Facebook page until bedtime.

In the morning you can collect them and have breakfast with them at the museum. You’ll find out all about their adventures.

Suitable for all cuddly toys who don’t mind being away from home. £3 Mon 29th October 11am

Behind the Scenes Tour

Stockport Plaza Many of the greatest stage and screen stars of yesteryear and the modern day have appeared in person or on the silver screen here at Stockport’s 1932 Super Cinema and Variety Theatre since its doors first opened. Here’s your chance to have a guided tour behind the scenes in this building of international significance.

Buy your tickets in advance, or simply turn up on the day.

Tue 30th October 7.30pm

The Stylistics 50th Anniversay Tour Stockport Plaza With their many hits such ‘You Make Me Feel Brand New’ plus numerous classics including ‘Can’t Give You Anything (But My Love)’, ‘Stop Look Listen’ and ‘You are Everything’, the Stylistics remain the real deal, fabulously entertaining and musically breathtaking.

Fri 2nd November 10am-1pm

Free Business Advice Surgery Stockport Central Library, As Fri 7th September

Sat 3rd November 7.30pm

Sing-a-long-a-Rocky Horror

Stockport Plaza The Campest Cult Classic of all time gets the Singalonga treatment!

Featuring the film, starring Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Meatloaf and Richard O’Brien, it’s the most outrageous, riotous, kitsch, wonderful romp ever.

The evening begins with your host leading a vocal warm-up before they show you how to use your free interactive props bag.

Fancy dress is not obligatory but highly recommended!

Sun 4th November 1.30pm - 3.30pm AND Saturday 10th November AND Sunday 11th November

Lantern making workshop

Hat Works Pop along and make your own poppy-themed lantern and participate in the Stockport Parade of Light at 5.45pm on Sunday November 11th.

All materials and an LED flame battery will be provided.

Booking is essential, please call 0161 474 4453 Suitable for age 9+ Free Fri 9th November 9pm - 1am

Night Owl Soul Club

Stockport Guildhall, 169 - 171 Wellington Road South The Ballroom plays the best Tamla

What’s On

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

Motown, Soul Disco and Jazz Funk.

The En-Suite Room playing great Northern Soul tunes with Dj’s recreating the magical age of Wigan Casino and the Twisted Wheel. £5 Members £7 non members Sat 10th November 10am - 4pm

Makers Market

Stockport Market Place

Remembrance Sunday in Stockport town centre

Sat 10th November 7.45pm

The Real Thing & Gwen Dicky Stockport Plaza The three original singers belt out the classics: ‘You to me are Everything’ ‘Can’t get by without you’ & ‘Feel the Force’ while former Rose Royce singer Gwen will be performing classics of her own!

11th November 2018

ple will carry 200 lanterns which have been made for the occasion.

A programme of events on Remembrance Sunday will bring communities together in a poignant tribute to those who lost their lives during World War I. 10:30am - Act of Remembrance, Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery Join the Mayor of Stockport, local dignitaries and representatives of the armed and uniformed services, past and present, for the annual Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service on the steps of the Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery. We’ll observe two minutes’ silence and the dipping of the standards at 11:00am.

5:00pm - Commemorative Service St Mary’s Church, Stockport Market Place A service of thanksgiving to remember the sacrifices made at home and abroad and to look towards a future with peace and hope. This will feature common hymns and readings from Stockport’s original service of remembrance in 1918.

Wed 14th November 10am - 4pm

Stockport Christmas Light Switch on Merseyway

5:45pm - Stockport Parade of Light St Mary’s Church, Stockport Market Place A lantern parade will start from St Mary’s Church to Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery. Led by the combined marching bands of Citadel Brass and Stockport Silver Band, schools, community groups and local peo-

6:00pm - ‘When We Were Young’ theatre performance St Peter’s Square, Stockport The lantern parade will stop for a theatrical drama monologue, which will journey from the trenches, to a field hospital to life back at home in peacetime Britain. This is performed by local actors from ‘Take Part in the Art’.

‘A Cry for Peace Around the World’ will be read out and a piper will play ‘The Battle’s O’er’.

At 6:35pm the Lantern parade will continue to Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery 6:50pm - Beacon Lighting Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery steps The lantern parade will assemble for readings, musical pieces and a bugler playing ‘The Last Post’. Stockport will light its beacon. This symbolic act is being carried out simultaneously across the UK and home territories where 1000 beacons of light will be lit at 7pm. Local churches will peel their bells and ring out for peace. The front façade of Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery will be illuminated with a projection of poppies.

7:10pm – 9:00pm Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery People are welcome to visit the Hall of Memory and to view two new exhibitions and two new installations.

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