After a successful debut event last year, Stock Party is officially back for 2025.
Yes, Stockport’s big summer block party returns this June for its second edition and with the ever-thriving town centre now a seemingly more popular destination than ever, you can expect a big turnout.
The Greater Manchester borough has been enjoying a real revival over the past few years, with the Old Town events throughout the marketplace and Underbank attracting thousands throughout the year, not least of all the smash-hit SK1 Records street parties.
Building on that winning formula, Stock Party ’25 is set to make its sophomore outing the biggest yet, bringing together local food and drink vendors, independent traders, entertainment and lots more.
Organised by the award-winning Where The Light Gets In, Track, Cloudwater and Robinsons; Sureshot, Balance and Runaway Breweries, along with numerous other indie businesses from around the 10 boroughs, this Stock Party isn’t just about those within SK – it’s a Greater Mancunian celebration.
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Set up in collaboration with Stockport’s Business Improvement District (BID), Totally Stockport and Stockport Council, the town’s famous ‘Robbie’s Brewery’ complex with severe as the main festival square and bar.
Not only will they be pouring the freshest of beers but there will also be a DJ set curated by Bohemian Arts Club – owned by Blossoms frontman Tom Ogden and his wife Katie – to ensure a proper homegrown party atmosphere all day long.
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As for those who prefer a pinot noir to a pint, the likes of Isca will be on hand serving up a selection of their natural wines, not to mention a BBQ by Where The Light Gets and sourdough pizza from Honest Crust. We’re feeling parched and peckish just thinking about it.
And that’s not all. Not even close.
Credit: Stockport BID (supplied)
Stockport’s iconic Underbank district will be filled with tables and chairs enabling festival-goers to enjoy an alfresco beer from a five-tap van located outside Rare Mags, serving up creations Piccadilly Trading Estate‘s popular Cloudwater and Track Breweries.
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The Spinn Off, Cracked Actor and the brand new White Lion will also be getting involved with the libations, with local favourites Cafe San Juan, Marley’s Tacos and Ginger’s Ice Cream Emporium all serving up top-notch street food.
In terms of entertainment, visitors can even enjoy a little pottery workshop at nearby Yellowhammer and the aforementioned SK1 Records will also be supplying the tunes.
Come on, you’ve got to admit, this sounds like an absolutely belting day.
Credit: Supplied
Best of all, not only is there plenty of family-friendly activities to keep people of all ages busy but it’s also costs absolutely nothing to enter, meaning you can save your pennies for the suds and scran.
Kicking off from 12 noon on Saturday, 20 July, you can expect the festivities to run on until 9pm, though we’re sure local bars such Cherry Jam and the like will keep the party going long after that.
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It’s going to be a summer full of these kind of festivals, as a similar free-to-attend event is happening over in Salford even sooner.
Manchester Art Fair is back this autumn with more than 170 exhibitors all under one roof
Emily Sergeant
One of the UK’s largest art fairs is returning to Manchester this autumn, and will be bringing more than 170 exhibitors together under one roof.
Manchester Art Fair has gone from strength to strength since it first began back in 2008.
Not only one of the UK’s largest but also one of the most significant art fairs, and by far one of the most celebrated cultural events in Greater Manchester‘s social calendar, the annual event is known and loved for bringing together more than 170 individual artists, galleries, and artist-led spaces to our city centre – with around 13,000 visitors attending each year.
Designed for the collector, the curator, and those who are just simply curious, the event will feature lots of new and returning galleries and artists, all of whom will be showing new works.
Manchester Art Fair is making a grand return to the city centre next month / Credit: Manchester Art Fair
For three days only this November, Manchester Central will transform into the North’s biggest art gallery, where art enthusiasts can connect directly with galleries and artists and find that perfect piece to take home.
Manchester Craft & Design Centre, and Linton 59 Gallery are among the galleries making an appearance at the event in November, each showcasing works by an eclectic mix of UK and international artists, while Alec Cummings and Zoe Anker are just a couple of the stand-out names on the long list of individual artists who’ll be exhibiting.
And if all of that wasn’t exciting enough as it is, this year’s event also features an extended programme of high-profile talks, immersive experiences, and workshops too.
More than 170 exhibitors will all gather together under one roof / Credit: Manchester Art Fair
Manchester Art Fair 2025 will first open at Manchester Central with an exclusive preview night on Friday 21 November from 5-9pm, before it then continues on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 November, with advance tickets now on sale.
Tickets are priced at £12 for a day ticket, £15 for a two-day ticket, or £25 for a preview night ticket, including access throughout the weekend, all with booking fees applying.
Advanced tickets are now live, and you can get your hands on them from the Manchester Art Fair website here.
Featured Image – Manchester Art Fair
What's On
GRUB is throwing a big three-day closing party full of ‘food, booze, music, and memories’
Emily Sergeant
GRUB is set to bid farewell to Red Bank this week with one almighty closing weekend party.
After five unforgettable years at Red Bank, GRUB, one of Manchester‘s original and best-loved street food markets and social hubs, is set to say goodbye in the best way it knows how – with a three-day blowout of food, booze, music, and memories this week.
You many remember earlier this year that it was announced GRUB will ‘cease to exist’ in its current form this autumn, as the building they have occupied for the last five years, on Red Bank in the Green Quarter, will be undergoing redevelopment.
The much-loved venue confirmed that it will be going back to its roots and ‘returning to the street’ as a travelling food festival filled with street food chefs, pop-up bars and ‘unbeatable vibes’.
But before then, it’s time to say goodbye to the beloved Green Quarter venue first.
GRUB is throwing a big three-day closing party full of ‘food, booze, music, and memories’ / Credit: The Manc Group
From this Thursday (25 September) through to Saturday 27 September, GRUB regulars are invited to come together for one final massive send-off packed with 2-for-1 cocktails, shooters and tacos, a non-stop 72-hour Happy Hour, and GRUB’s resident DJs going back-to-back as the cellar is drunk dry.
This Thursday will be the final ever ‘Fizzy Quizzy’ event, so expect huge prizes, free-flowing fizz deals and the chance to win parts of the bar – literally.
Then Friday is a night of GRUB resident DJs going back-to-back until late, before the closing weekend peaks on Saturday with prices so low, you might think GRUB has lost the plot.
“Everything must go, and it is going out with a bang,” GRUB said in a statement.
While this may be the end of Red Bank, it’s not the end of GRUB, as in the meantime, GRUB fan favourites like Sip & Paint and Baby Mosh will live on just down the road at sister venue, Fairfield Social Club.
“Red Bank has been our home for over half a decade, and we’ve loved every minute of it – the community, the traders, the parties, the memories,” explained Jason Bailey, who is the co-founder of GRUB.
Danny Jones -
5th May 2025 
