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.
Science and Industry Museum announces new major exhibition taking visitors on an ‘epic space adventure’
Emily Sergeant
A major new exhibition taking visitors on an ‘epic space adventure’ is making its world premiere in Manchester next year.
Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos will invite visitors to explore our wondrous Solar System when it launches at the Science and Industry Museum next February.
Fresh off-the-back of the new BBC Children’s and Education TV show, Horrible Science, the ‘thrilling’ new exhibition will encourage visitors to ‘do science the horrible way’, and join both scientists and supervillains to unveil the secrets of space.
The new exhibition will propel families up into space where mystery, intrigue, and rocket-loads of silly and surprising science await. You’ll get to venture through a series of cosmic zones, walk in the shoes of astronauts, explore the life-giving energy of the sun, marvel at mysterious moons, and discover far-off weird worlds.
Left teetering on the edge of our Solar System, explorers will then find themselves staring into the dark depths of space, on the lookout for any extra-terrestrial life that could be staring back.
Whether its sniffing astronauts’ smelly socks, dancing on an alien disco planet, feeling the tremors from a mysterious moonquake, or launching a space rocket, organisers say this new adventure will engage all the senses in a truly immersive experience.
This is the first time Horrible Science has been brought to life as a major exhibition.
The Science and Industry Museum has announced a new major exhibition taking visitors on an ‘epic space adventure’ / Credit: BBC | Science Museum Group
Visitors will get to see familiar characters from the BBC series – like Dr Big Brain, in particular – on their mission to find out more about our fascinating Solar System through interactive experiments, playful challenges, and sensory exploration.
The exhibition is being developed by the Science and Industry Museum in collaboration with producers of the Horrible Science TV show, BBC Children’s and Education, and Lion Television, together with Scholastic, who are publishers of the much-loved Horrible Science book series by Nick Arnold and illustrated by Tony De Saulles.
‘Unmissable’ objects from the Science Museum Group’s world-class space collection will also be on show when the exhibition premieres.
Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos will open at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester on 13 February 2026 for an 11-month run before heading down to London, and tickets are now on sale priced at £10 – with family discounts available, and under-threes going free.
Manchester Cathedral to host charity Christmas carols service to raise money for local NHS hospitals
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Cathedral will be hosting a charity Christmas carols service to raise money for our local NHS hospitals.
Organised by Manchester NHS Foundation Trust Charity and now in its twelfth year, Christmas Carols in the City will take place in the spectacular surroundings of Manchester Cathedral in a couple of weeks time, and it’s sounding set to be an enchanting experience for the whole family to be involved with this festive season.
The Grade I-listed Manchester Cathedral is one of our city’s most unique buildings, with the Gothic architecture truly being a thing to behold.
Christmas Carols in the City is being described as a ‘great way’ to start the festive season in style.
Hosted by Hits Radio’s Mike Toolan and sponsored by PG Tips, performances on the night will come from local Manchester choirs.
The event is family-friendly and festive fun for everyone, all while raising funds for the Foundation Trust’s family of NHS Manchester hospitals.
Every penny raised from this year’s event will help to build and run a MediCinema on the Oxford Road hospital campus, which will aim to bring the ‘therapeutic magic of the movies’ to patients of all ages cared for by hospitals such as Manchester Royal Infirmary, Saint Mary’s Hospital, Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, and Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.
Manchester Cathedral is hosting a charity Christmas carols service to raise money for our local NHS hospitals / Credit: Supplied
With room for wheelchairs, hospital beds, and medical equipment, and supported by dedicated nurses and trained volunteers, the new MediCinema will offer 260 screenings a year of the latest releases, alongside much loved film favourites.
In recognition of the MediCinema Appeal, Christmas Carols in the City will feature some much-loved Christmas movie classics at this year’s concert too.
Christmas Carols in the City will return to Manchester Cathedral for 2025 on Tuesday 11 December, with doors opening from 7pm and tickets now on sale.
Danny Jones -
5th May 2025 
