Christmas is set to be even more exciting

IT’S the same debate that we hear every year, ‘Christmas seems to arrive earlier’.

But this year we couldn’t wait to see Stockport shine brighter than ever before. By working together to deliver a Big Stockport Christmas Experience, Merseyway, Stockport council and Totally Stockport have created a festive spectacle, attracting more visitors than ever before.

An extra 10,000 excited onlookers arrived in Merseyway for the Big Christmas Light switch-on and were treated to fabulous acts and a spectacular 3D light show.

This year, snowflakes are dancing across St Peter’s Square and Stockport Exchange. Multi-coloured spotlights shine on Redrock, Stockport’s newest shopping, eating and leisure area and Princes Street is lit up with street entertainment that will delight the whole family.

The historic Market Place is the perfect setting for a Victorian Christmas weekend where market stalls are set to overflow with unique gifts and festive treats; the Makers Market returns and the Vintage market takes us (well some of us) back to our youth!

Sadly, out of season and away from the successful Foodie Friday events, our beautiful Market Place is underused, under-valued and under-appreciated. But, that may all be about to be assigned to the history books.

Altrincham town centre has been transformed, thanks largely to the regeneration of the Market Hall. After an extensive and in-depth selection process, Stockport looks as though it is heading in a similar direction as last week Stockport Council announced that successful and award winning restaurateur Steve Pilling has been selected as the preferred tenant to develop the Produce Hall and 28/29 Market Place.

With the prospect of welcoming both new and old faces to help extend the food and drink offer even further, Stockport town centre has an even more exciting and sustainable future.

The new offering will attract more visitors who will come into Stockport more regularly, enriching the local economy.

Town centres across the UK have hit a challenging era as online shoppers fill their shopping baskets from the comfort of their own homes.

By creating a vibrant community hub in the Market Place, it will become a must-go-to destination and we are breathing new life back into the town centre in a way that our new digital communities cannot replicate.

Exciting times ahead!