Stockport is getting ready to leap back into action this summer as the fan-favourite frogs are set to hop to the town centre once again.
With an “irreversible” roadmap for lifting lockdown now in place, the Greater Manchester borough is hoping that the return of its gigantic multi-coloured frogs will help to see in the post-pandemic era and welcome visitors back to the town centre.
The town first welcomed the amphibious attractions two years ago.
Organised by Stockport’s Business Improvement District (BID) – branded as Totally Stockport – the Giant Leap Frog Art Trail attracted thousands of visitors from across the region, and children of all ages had great fun seeking out all 19 giant frogs.
This year though, as Stockport looks to “build back better”, there will be even more of them.
ADVERTISEMENT
This summer’s Gigantic Leap Frog Art Trail will see 21 brand-new gigantic frogs hopping into, not just the town centre, but also to locations throughout the whole borough.
Paul Taylor – Manager at Stockport BID – has admitted that he is delighted the frogs will once again be on display in the heart of the town, adding: “To say it’s been a difficult 12 months for everyone is the understatement of the decade,
ADVERTISEMENT
“Having worked so hard over the past four years to promote all the great changes taking place here and encourage more people to visit the town centre more often, it’s been heartbreaking to see so many businesses forced to close during lockdown and the centre all but deserted, but it’s time to plan for the reopening,
“And what better way than with another brilliant trail that’s even bigger and better than before”.
Councillor David Meller – Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration at Stockport Council – has also hailed the return of the frogs, adding: “I’m delighted that the frogs will be leaping back into Stockport.
ADVERTISEMENT
“They certainly got everyone talking when they were last here, with people visiting from across Greater Manchester.
“The fact that they will be seen throughout the borough for even more people to enjoy is even better and will, we hope, get people hopping around the borough to sample everything we have to offer.”
In 2019, the trail boosted footfall in the town centre by nearly 20pc over the summer, while the auctioning of frogs raised more than £30,000 for the Tree House Children’s ward at Stepping Hill Hospital, and this year, local businesses will have the opportunity to get involved and sponsor a frog – with all proceeds being donated to St Ann’s Hospice.
This year’s Giant Leap Frog Art Trail will run from July to September, and more details will be revealed soon, so keep your eyes peeled.
👉 Stockport Frogs are Back 👈
➡️ Stockport’s Gigantic Leap frog art trail returns
Know a business, group or initiative interested in sponsoring a frog this year? You can contact [email protected] for more information.
Further announcements ahead of the frogs’ arrival can be found here.
Trending
Watch Ross from The 1975 pull a few pints at Bunny Jackson’s after sold-out Gorilla gig
Danny Jones
Following his band’s sellout intimate gig at Gorilla, Ross from The 1975 decided to celebrate like any true rockstar would: by pulling pints behind the bar at Bunny Jackson’s.
Bassist Ross MacDonald has become somewhat of a cult figure in the band of late, with countless fans swooning over him and his understated manner on stage.
He comes across as just a normal, down-to-earth bloke — so much in fact that he could probably slip into your local bar without anyone really noticing. Well, almost.
Yes, after The 1975 wrapped up their much-talked-about charity set for War Child on Wednesday, Ross decided to head round the corner to everyone’s favourite dive bar and surprise some Manc faces by serving up a few drinks. Because why not?
Imagine getting up to order a pint and some wings only to see Ross fromThe 1975 serving you.
The beloved bar and wing spot on Jack Rosenthal Street is packed to the rafters most nights whether there’s a gig on or not, but with arguably one of the biggest bands in the world right now having played literally metres away at Gorilla, there were plenty of punters enjoy their usual rock-heavy playlist.
That being said, while many may have expected the Wilmslow band to come on shuffle at some point, very few of them would have been expecting to see the long-haired heart-throb himself behind the bar.
Again, so unassuming — just a tall guy in a hoody.
We have to say, he could do a little more practice when it comes to pulling pints, but we always like hearing wholesome stories like this.
It wasn’t too long ago that rising pop star Olivia Rodrigo made a similar spur-of-the-moment decision and decided to get up on stage and sing for the Bunny‘s crowd.
Why are we never in there when this stuff happens? Fuming.
We’re just gonna start writing a list of all the people we want to see in real life and hope we catch them at BJ’s one of these nights.
We might not have been able to get our hands on one of those Gorilla tickets (they were like gold dust), but we did recently catch them at their massive arena show.
Think it’s safe to say we had a very good time and Ross was on just as good form that night too.
You can read our full review HERE or just watch us making pillocks out of ourselves instead:
Featured Image — Bunny Jackson/The1975 (via Instagram)
Trending
‘Grow up’ – Matty Healy urges Oasis to ‘stop messing around’ and reunite
Emily Sergeant
Matty Healy has urged Oasis to “stop messing around” and get back together in a new interview.
In a video that’s already amassing tens of thousands of views online, the frontman of Manchester-based indie pop rock band, The 1975, has made his thoughts on the feuding Gallagher brothers known during an in-depth interview with on Q with Tom Power from Canadian broadcaster CBC this week.
During the interview, the 33-year-old singer touched on everything from the process of making the band’s latest record, 2022’s critically-acclaimed Being Funny in a Foreign Language, to his onstage antics, and why he’s decided to embrace sincerity and being earnest – but that doesn’t seem to be the main take-away of Manchester music fans.
It’s his opinion of iconic Britpop band Oasis that’s really got people talking.
In what he called a “public service announcement”, Healy claimed Oasis are still “the coolest band in the world” but questioned what the Gallagher brothers are playing at by continuing to fight with each other after all these years.
Telling them to “grow up”, Healy urged Liam and Noel to “get back together and stop messing around”.
Healy told the interviewer: “What are Oasis doing? Can you imagine being in potentially, right now, still the coolest band in the world, and not doing it because you’re in a mard with your brother? I can deal with them dressing like they’re in their twenties but being in their fifties, but acting like they’re in their twenties?
“They need to grow up.”
Matty Healy urges Oasis to ‘stop messing around’ and reunite / Credit: Tom Power & CBC’s Q (via Instagram)
Healy continued: “Stop marding. They’re men of the people, and they’re sat around in, like, Little Venice and Highgate crying over an argument with their brother.
“Grow up. Headline Glastonbury. Have a good time. Have a laugh.”
The Wilmslow lad also took a second to speak on the popularity of both the Gallagher brothers’ post-Oasis solo projects and endeavours, and claimed fans aren’t as interested in seeing Liam Gallagher or Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds live as they would be going to an Oasis gig.
“There is not one person going to a High Flying Birds gig or a Liam Gallagher gig that would not rather be at an Oasis gig,” Healy claimed.
“There is not one person.
“Not one person is there going, ‘you know what? I loved Definitely Maybe, but my favourite thing is f***ing Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds’.”