Since the Stockport Business Improvement District launched in April, a warm, orange glow has begun to filter out across the borough. The Totally Stockport red coats team have been out and about again promoting the Town Centre and the businesses within the BID area. In August, Foodie Friday, the Stockport Classic Car Show and Poynton Show became a sea of orange as visitors collected their Totally free, Totally Stockport Totes bags, a perfect accompaniment for a shopping trip to Stockport !
Although the A6 through Stockport is currently closed for essential repairs, Stockport is very much open and attracting new businesses on an almost weekly basis. Office occupancy is at a recent high. Stockports largest commercial property owner, Orbit Developments, is nearing capacity within many of its town centre offices, while the brand new grade A Offices at Stockport Exchange became fully let upon completion and way ahead of expectations.
But it isn’t just the commercial business community who are enjoying an upsurge. New enterprises to attract visitors are also choosing to locate their business here. The Old Town has attracted two very
different restaurateurs in the past few months, namely Sam Buckley and Matt Nutter, who have brought with them their own unique style of dining. Sams Where The Light Gets In, housed in a former coffee warehouse on Rostron Brow, delivers his own choice of dishes that endeavor to tell a story through each selection of plates. No menu is offered – instead we create a dining experience from the day’s catch, harvest and slaughter. By absolute contrast is Matts The Allotment Vegan Restaurant where nothing slaughtered would ever see the light of day! But he does promise to make aubergine taste better than a steak. The two are already making waves across the North Wests culinary industry; they are currently in the running for an amazing six awards in the prestigious Manchester Food & drink Festival Awards
The coffee warehouse may have long since doffed its cap in a final farewell, but a new type of coffee house has arrived on Bridge Street. Step in side the old bank where Hatters Coffee Co has brought a fabulous look, scrumptious cakes and roasting aromas to the town.
Sitting perfectly in the Market Place, both restaurants would sit just as perfectly alongside the preferred eateries of Chelsea and Kensington. Another business bringing a touch of the capital to Stockport is Tramp, a hair boutique with a definite twist.
Ready to ruffle a few feathers and make waves in the styling world are catwalk stylists and Kristin Evans and Naomi Graham who describe their latest venture as bursting with colour and vibrancy – an Instagrammers Dream. The pair spent years sharpening their own unique style on the famous and fabulous of London and New York, including Amy Winehouse, Noel Fielding and Agnes Deyn –as well as working on London Fashion Week, the BAFTAs and the BRIT awards. Now back in Naomis home town they chose Little Underbanks for its quirky, creative and slightly edgy feel and nicknamed the area #stockportsoho. Although they also want to expand Kristian says we wanted to come back to our grass roots and showcase our influences under one roof. So Stockport is very much open – come and sample the new delights for yourself.
Helen White – Marketing Stockport