Stockroom opening brings record numbers to the town centre

With more than 15,000 people visiting Stockport’s new community and cultural hub, Stockroom, for its opening weekend, the town centre saw its busiest week of 2025.

Stockroom opened in the Merseyway Shopping Centre on 24th May, and over the course of the Bank Holiday weekend, hosted 40 events and activities. The wider shopping centre, meanwhile, recorded its busiest week of 2025 so far. Visitor numbers were up 5% compared to the same week last year, and 10% higher than the week before – a clear sign of the town centre’s growing appeal, boosted by the arrival of Stockroom alongside a fantastic mix of shops, food, and family-friendly experiences.

Stockroom attracted over 700 participants who took part in booked events. The hub’s library welcomed 517 new members, with 3,697 book loans and 1,671 book returns recorded. Additionally, the computer facilities were in high demand, with a total of 587 hours of usage. The space is also home to a children’s creative play and learning space, Stockport’s historical archives, a café bar, Stockroom Studios, and welcoming spaces to relax and connect.

Cllr Dan Oliver, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Public Protection at Stockport Council, said:

“We’ve always said Stockroom would be something really special for Stockport – a place to inspire people, spark creativity and bring the community together – and it’s clear that residents feel the same. The atmosphere has been fantastic, and it’s brilliant to see people of all ages exploring what Stockroom has to offer. Combined with another record-breaking week at Merseyway, it’s a great sign of what’s to come. Stockport is thriving – and this is just the start.”

Victoria Nichol, Centre Manager at Merseyway Shopping Centre, said:

“The opening of Stockroom has created an incredible buzz across the town centre and it’s fantastic to see such a strong and positive response from the public. We’ve just experienced our busiest week of 2025 so far at Merseyway – a real reflection of the growing momentum here in Stockport. With Stockroom now open, new state-of-the-art customer facilities and an exciting summer ahead, including the return of our popular outdoor beach, there’s a real sense of energy and optimism. It’s a brilliant time for Stockport – and we’re proud to be right at the heart of it.”.

The visitor numbers mark another high point for Merseyway, which celebrated a record-breaking year in 2024. The centre attracted an incredible seven million visitors – the highest in recent memory – thanks to a packed programme of family-friendly events, the arrival of popular new brands, and the success of community initiatives.

Merseyway and Stockroom’s performance reflects the wider transformation of Stockport town centre, which continues to go from strength to strength as part of the UKs largest town centre regeneration. A combination of shopping, food, culture, and green spaces – alongside major investment in infrastructure and new homes – is making Stockport one of the North West’s most exciting places to live, visit, and invest in.