Stockport’s newest restaurants, cafés and shops open for business

Stockport’s newest restaurants, cafés and shops, plus an art gallery, have opened their doors for the first time as the town centre continues to go from strength to strength.

Openings have included the instantly popular restaurant The Allotment Vegan near Stockport Market Place; independent candle retailer Forever Love; The Café Place on Prince’s Street; Preen Beauty Specialists and EPOK Studios & Art Gallery. A number of other restaurants and businesses including Where The Light Gets In have also announced their plans to open in the town centre over the coming months.

Stockport’s newest restaurants, cafés and shops is great news and comes at a time when there is a buzz about the town and the transformation taking place.

A lot has been happening over the past few months. A stunning modern business district has been created in the area around Stockport train station at Stockport Exchange (Phase 2). The steel frames have begun going up at the £45m leisure development Redrock Stockport and work transforming the former Gorsey Bank area into a 145,000 sq ft industrial park, Aurora Stockport, has begun.

Alongside this, improvements are being made to Stockport’s already excellent transport links; the Prince’s Street area of the town is being given a ‘facelift’ improving the area for visitors and businesses, and investments are being made into the historic Market Place and Underbanks to see it thrive once again.

This is all part of the £1 billion Investing in Stockport programme that will see the town build on its strengths and become even more successful.

At the same time, Vision Stockport and local businesses are looking at how they can play an even greater part in driving forward Stockport’s transformation. A vote is being held next month, that if successful, would see a Business Improvement District established for Stockport town centre. The BID would have at its heart a vision to create an even more vibrant town centre for everyone to enjoy.

Councillor Kate Butler, Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration at Stockport Council said: “I’m delighted to welcome every new business to Stockport. I’m sure each of them will be a great addition to our town and I wish them all a long and successful future.

“Any visitors to Stockport town centre will have seen with their own eyes the work that is taking place at the moment. The scale of this is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity for Stockport, and it is really exciting to think about the benefits and opportunities this is creating for residents and businesses.”

Jennifer Samuel-Bryan, Studio Manager at EPOK Studios and Art Gallery said: “We are excited to have opened our doors after deciding to invest in Stockport. We were drawn to Stockport by its great art community as well as the energetic investment and regeneration that is taking place. Our vision is to create an artist-led space helping artists to shape their own artistic development and education. We have a number of great exhibitions planned over the coming months and have studio spaces available for artists. I am excited about our future here in Stockport and what is taking place across the town at the moment.”

Picture : Devote Associates and Stockport BID.