Stock Party, the free street festival that sees Stockport absolutely packed, will return to the town this summer.
Organisers are promising that this year’s event will be even bigger and bolder than before, filling the streets from the Great Underbank through Stockport Market Place and along the Underbanks, reaching all the way to Robinsons Brewery Yard.
For this one magical day in summer, Stockport will transform into an open-air, town-wide block party, in a huge celebration of the town’s independent spirit.
The event will bring together street food traders, pop-up bars, DJ sets, and plenty of entertainment in every corner of town.
It’s all one big collaboration between Track Brewing Co., Robinsons Brewery, Cloudwater, SK1 Records, and Totally Stockport (Stockport’s Business Improvement District), along with new partners Stockport County FC.
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Robinsons Brewery Yard will host a major hub for Stock Party, with Track, Robinsons and Uskees taking over the space, plus music curated by Odioba and food from Honest Crust pizza and ISCA.
Over on the Underbank, it’ll be Cloudwater pouring the beers and SK1 Records on the decks outside their new shop.
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Robinson’s Brewery will host a major hub of Stock Party 2026Independent businesses across Stockport will be getting involved
This is where you’ll find some of Stockport’s most exciting independent food traders in once place, including Mekong Cat and The Spinn Off.
And at Stockport Market Place, Red Bull will have a dedicated DJ stage.
It’s not just about food, booze, and tunes though – Stock Party 2026 will have plenty of family-friendly events going on.
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That includes a breakout space in Stockroom, pottery and photography workshops in Merseyway, and craft workshops in Good Yard Studio.
There’s even a free family disco, complete with inflatable instruments, in Hillgate Cakery.
The Apple Core, Stockport’s newest opening, will transform into a wellness space, featuring a social run, curated exhibition, and an evening of music.
A sample of last year’s Stock Party celebration. Credit: Supplied
As the day turns to night, Stock Party will continue with its now-legendary after-party pub rave at Red Bull on Hillgate.
Pop into basically any local business during Stock Fest and you’ll find them getting stuck into the atmosphere, with loads of street bars, takeaway drinks, and DJs popping up all over town.
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You’ll even be able to grab a bowl of fresh pasta from the door of Little Scarves, or a sandwich from a Rack pop-up.
We’ve listed a load of the independent venues joining in with Stock Party below so we don’t miss anyone:
Bruk – DJs from day into night, street bar, and special Stock Party cocktails
Runaway brewery – a special Stock Party beer in collaboration with some of favourite Stockport Indies, alongside Honest Crust Pizza specials and a party at the taproom throughout the day
Noah’s – DJs and bar activation
The Good Rebel – outdoor bar with beers and spritz
This Godless Place – house and disco DJs from midday with outdoor seating
Sleepy Parrot Studio – live music and radio station takeover
Fell Stockport – takeaway can deals and vinyl sessions
Little Scarves – fresh pasta served from the door
Rack – sandwich pop-up
On Da Rocks – DJs throughout the day
Marley’s – Mexican street food specialising in birria tacos
Convene – wood-fired Balkan flatbreads with charcoal mangal and natural wines
The Dilly Deli – oysters, sandwiches, spritz, and wine
Underbanks – Gatto sourdough pizza, crémant bar, DJ programme, and outdoor seating
On Da Rocks Caribbean food offers including jerk chicken, curry goat, and plant-based options, alongside cocktail deals
Stock Party will take place on Saturday 4 July between 12pm and 9pm, with free entry.
Dame Sarah Storey is going on Strictly Come Dancing 2026
Danny Jones
Record-breaking local athlete and Paralympian, Dame Sarah Storey, is set to become the latest to join the Strictly Come Dancing annals.
With the Strictly cast for 2026 steadily being unveiled, we always keep an eye out for the Greater Manchester names in particular.
That being said, we’re buzzing to see the hugely successful Stockport swimmer turned cyclist will be swapping her Team GB kit for sparkly, sequined ballroom gowns and an entirely different type of sport and fitness.
Announced on Friday, 17 July, Storey is the seventh celebrity to be confirmed for the 24th series of the hit BBC show and dancing competition.
Having represented her country not only at nine Paralympics but across two different disciplines after switching to the racing bike back in 2005, she’s our most decorated competitor in the entire history of the Games with 30 medals to her name – 19 of which are gold.
Absolute GOAT levels.
But now the Cheadle Hulme-born is once again set to show her versatility to see how she fares on the dance floor later this year.
Commenting ahead of the new-look season which starts this September, the 48-year-old said: “Embarking on a new challenge so soon after stepping down as an athlete is hugely exciting.
“I have always loved watching Strictly, and my daughter Louisa is a very talented dancer, so to be able to learn from the best and hopefully understand even more about her world is incredibly motivating! I can’t wait to get started!”
This latest sea-change comes not long after the local legend and sporting icon officially announced her retirement from professional sport more than three decades on from first bursting onto the scene.
Thank you for taking the time to leave all the incredible messages. It’s so wonderful to read them and thank you for being the greatest supporters 🥰
— Dame Sarah Storey (@DameSarahStorey) July 9, 2026
What a career she’s had; it obviously didn’t take her long to get tired of sitting still for once, either.
She will be joined by the likes of Lacey Turner, Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, Chris Appleton, Cach Mercer and Will Best.
In case you missed it, the upcoming edition of Strictly Come Dancing will be the first since Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman stepped down, with Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and pro dancer Johannes Radebe stepping in as replacements.
In other starring Stockport news, we’ve finally got more info on the final season of a popular programme filmed in the area. Find out more down below.
Manc architects submit plans to demolish 1970s office block and make way for new residential area
Danny Jones
A Manchester-based architects has submitted promising proposals to demolish an old 1970s-era office block and make way for a brand new residential community in Stockport.
The vision seems fairly ambitious and lofty – pun intended – but the potential outcome could be stunning.
Ollier Smurthwaite (OS) Architects are the local practice behind the new housing plans, which will not only provide nearly 300 new homes but also bring part of the Stopfordian skyline down; it’s not often you hear of things getting lower when so much of Greater Manchester just keeps building up.
Sharing the first proper glimpse at what they hope the redeveloped corner of the busy A6 main road will look like, many have been pleased to see familiar red brick and a traditional feel as opposed to more glass towers.
Writing a lengthy caption alongside the social media post, the OS state, “We are preparing a planning application for the St Christopher’s site in Stockport.
“Located at the prominent junction of Wellington Road South and Longshut Lane, the proposal aims to transform the prominent corner by demolishing the existing 10-storey 1970s office block to make way for a new residential community.
“The proposals are for a modern ‘mansion’ block with taller ceilings, more windows, better communal areas and private gardens.”
It remains to be seen at what price point these apartments will be available for.
Promising a total of 278 ‘new dwellings’, the scheme will crucially see the height of the existing plot lowered to fall in line with other neighbouring properties, as St Christopher’s House currently sits well above the nearby terraces and its metropolitan style does stand out against the surrounding brickwork.
The early reception to the proposed plans looks to be largely positive, too, with one user commenting online, “A very nice looking building with character. More of these please”; another went so far as to add, “These are the sort of modern buildings that will become grade listed.”
It’s also worth showcasing what exactly these blueprints look like when they’re brought to life, such as another development over in Longsight:
Render vs Reality. We recently completed our Daisy Bank scheme in Longsight Manchester for 72 new homes. The scheme takes contextual references from Dalton Ellis Hall & Victoria Park Christian Fellowship in the adjacent conservation area.@createstreets@archi_tradition… pic.twitter.com/DasRUtaylh
Safe to say that seeing what businesses trying to regenerate boroughs actually deliver compared to their initial mock-ups is always useful.
The award-winning firm goes on to add that “the building will be deliberately stepped back from the pavement to create a planted tree-lined avenue”, which will also revolve around a central courtyard and residents’ gardens, with ground-floor flats benefitting from private patios.
CGIs of shared communal roof terraces also give the designs that added modern look, with few other places in the vicinity offering this kind of space. It could be a welcome addition to the region that is already going through plenty of change at the minute.
Another big construction scheme is the one being carried out by Capital and Centric over the new Weir Mill district, which could be transformational for the town centre.
Daisy Jackson -
23rd April 2026 
