Stockroom celebrates first birthday

To mark the first birthday of Stockport’s new library and community and cultural hub, Stockroom will host a packed weekend of free events from 22nd to 24th May.

From games and disco dancefloors to storytelling, live music and a cake competition, the birthday weekend promises something for everyone as Stockroom celebrates becoming one of Stockport’s most loved destinations.

Cllr Mark Roberts, Leader of Stockport Council, said:

“Stockroom’s first year has been incredible to watch. In such a short space of time it has become a real part of everyday life in Stockport, somewhere people of all ages feel welcome, inspired and connected.

“What makes Stockroom special is the atmosphere people have created here. Whether it’s families coming along to events, young people discovering new opportunities, students spending time here after college, or residents simply dropping in for a coffee and a chat, it’s clear this has become a space people genuinely value.

“This birthday celebration is a chance to recognise everything that has been built over the last year and to thank everyone who has supported Stockroom from the very beginning. The response from the community has been amazing, and we’re excited to see what the future holds.”

Cllr Dan Oliver, Cabinet Member responsible for Culture, said:

“One of the best things about Stockroom has been seeing how quickly people made it their own. From day one there’s been a real sense of energy, creativity and community here, and that’s only continued to grow over the last year.

“Stockroom was always intended to be more than just a venue. It’s a place where people can spend time, try something new, meet others, enjoy culture and creativity, or simply feel part of town centre life. Seeing that happen every single day has been brilliant.

“The birthday weekend is all about celebrating that community spirit with a packed programme of free events and activities for all ages. It’s going to be a fantastic few days and a really special way to mark Stockroom turning one.”

The celebrations begin with a relaxed Friday warm-up, build into a huge birthday party on Saturday, before winding down with a feel-good Sunday packed with stories, music and creativity. Events include:

Friday 22nd May

• Dementia Disco – 5pm – 7pm – booking required. We’re teaming up with Dementia Disco to open the dancefloor to people with dementia and their loved ones. Music is magic – come and join the action!

Saturday 23rd May

• Stockroom Cake Off -11am – 12.30pm – register in advance. Bring your best bakes to our cake making comp. The brief is simple – birthday! Bakers of all ages welcome.
• Guilty Pleasure Disco with Creative Women – 5.30pm – 9.30pm – £3, ticketed event. Join us for Guilty Pleasures where we play all your favourite bops.
• Massive Musical Statues – 2 – 3pm. The party classic, hosted by Red Rodeo Club, is taking over Merseyway! Join us for a giant game of musical statues, with some brilliant prizes up for grabs.
• Party hat making – 1-5pm – drop in. Is it even a party without hats?

Sunday 24th May

• Storytimes Specials – booking required. Internationally renowned storyteller Jan Blake will make her Stockroom debut, bringing her dynamic storytelling, and award-winning author and broadcaster Nihal Arthanayake reads us one of his favourite books for kids. Jan Blake – under 5’s 11.15am, age 5-7 – 12 noon. Nihal from 2pm.
• Live music – 1.30pm – 3.30pm. Midnight Matters are bringing their gorgeous neo soul / jazz fusion to the Living Room, to add the mellow and soothe the mind.
• Party Puppets – 11.30am – 3.15pm. A creative workshop for children, led by Caroline Coates.
• Qi Gong Taster – 11 – 11:30am. Kickstart your Sunday with gentle movement and try out Qi Gong on the Stockroom Balcony. RSVP here

Visitors can find full event details, book tickets and register online at Stockroom.

Located in the heart of Stockport town centre, Stockroom has quickly become a vibrant and much-loved destination. Created by, with and for the people of Stockport, it is a welcoming space for creativity, learning, culture and connection, a place to read, work, meet friends, attend events, try something new or simply spend time together.

In just one year, Stockroom has already made a huge impact, including

• 226 creative events hosted, mostly free
• 55,323 books borrowed
• Visitors have enjoyed 44,507 brews, with a latte leading the way as the drink of choice
• Featured on The One Show
• Highly commended in the Greater Manchester Building of the Year Awards and shortlisted in the National Revo Awards 2025 for Best Repurposing and Placemaking Project
• Helping contribute to Merseyway Shopping Centre’s busiest year in 2025, with footfall topping 11.4 million

Part of the UK’s largest town centre regeneration programme, Stockroom is helping bring new life, energy and opportunity into the town centre, supporting culture, wellbeing, creativity and community connection, while encouraging more people to spend time in the town centre.