Something for the weekend in Stockport

Manchester has long been known for its array of bars and restaurants satisfying everyone’s tastes:

“Northern Quarter for quirky and casual; Spinningfields for quality and an excuse to wear your impractical heels, Corn Exchange for the good kind of chain restaurants, and so on,” says Emerald Street.

And now the sparkle of Stockport has caught their eye!

Despite struggling to be able to recommend somewhere for a good steak on a Wednesday night in Stockport town centre, I can see that great things already happening; from craft beers to fine dining, Stockport is beginning to unwrap a few gems of its own and there are more to follow.

Stockport’s suburbs are ahead of the town centre, but only just. The Mounting Stone has just been voted best pub in Greater Manchester; The Indian Tiffin Room has been such a fantastic success in Cheadle, it has now also opened in Manchester; Heaton Chapel’s Heaton Hops is a tap house and bottle shop voted ‘Best Pub 2015’ in the Manchester Evening News CityLife Awards and ‘Best Craft Ale Bar 2016’ at the Manchester Food and Drink Awards.Back in the town centre, the Old Town has come alive: the hugely popular Bakers Vaults has breathed new life into the market place which is now experiencing “an influx of boundary-pushing, rule-bending chefs”. 

A unique dining experience at Where the Light Gets In in Stockport

And that is where I first came across Sam Buckley, covered bearded head-to-toe in brick dust, on his hands and knees in a former coffee warehouse.  He told me he had a vision, a passion to bring a unique dining experience, way off kilter to Stockport!

Was Stockport ready for Sam? Was the North West ready? Was the UK ready? YES – to all three.

In October Sam opened Where The Light Gets In, and indeed a dining experience with a massive difference. For a start there is no menu:

“Each night we endeavour to tell a story through a selection of plates. with a difference. We offer no menu but instead create a dining experience from the day’s catch, harvest and slaughter”.

It’s different, brave and it’s been a phenomenal success and is helping to put Stockport on the UK’s culinary map, thanks Sam!

Another brave step was the opening of The Allotment – “Vegan fine dining? *Vegan* fine dining?! In Stockport?” – another exciting dining experience where they really can “make an aubergine taste better than steak”. 

A great success is Foodie Friday, a pop-up street food and music event which takes place at the market on the last Friday of every month from 6pm – 9pm. Attracting literally hundreds, drawn by the tempting aromas of street food, the musical notes across the market place and the buzz of Stockport’s eclectic community, Foodie Friday has re-ignited the evening economy for all ages.