An Independent Guide to Stockport

Stockport has become the new hotspot amongst locals and new visitors alike, both travelling near and far to visit this town located 8-minutes from Manchester. The town offers an array of hidden treasures from bustling modern shopping areas to quaint cobbled streets, as well as heritage attractions such as Stockport Air Raid Shelters, Bramall Hall, Staircase House, Stockport Plaza, and the iconic Hat Works Museum. In recent years Stockport has also become something of a foodie hub and the Underbanks is now an independent shopper’s haven.  

Check out our guide for anyone looking to spend some time in Stockport and some staple places to visit: 

Too good to ignore foodie spots in Stockport 

Stockport’s Produce Hall has gone through several makeovers over the past 160 years, from being home to fish and meat markets, cheese stalls and sweetshops. Now, home to various food stalls that cater to all tastes from British classics to Spanish delicacies. If you’re a Mackie Mayor or Altrincham Market lover, you’ll love this place.  

Join Foodie Friday Stockport every last Friday of the month from 6-9pm at Stockport Market. The event has become a huge success bringing the local community together, as well as attracting visitors from afar putting Stockport on the map for its ever-growing food and drink culture.  

Be prepared to be left drooling over the variety of traders this event has to offer such as, I Knead Pizza, Oh Mei Dumpling, Oh My Glaze, and Tapas y A La Carta, just to name a few.  

Another one to tick off the list is Stockport’s indoor Market Hall, an old Victorian market, full of independent food stalls and local market fresh goods. 

A must-visit is Sticky Fingers, a Polish bakery located inside the Market Hall, which is proving to be more and more popular among residents and visitors. They offer a huge selection of breads, traditional cakes, pastries and more. Be prepared to be wowed by their displays that are always full to the brim.  

This beloved bakery has also revealed it will be opening a new store on the Underbanks. The bakery will open on Great Underbank opposite The White Lion Pub. An opening date has been set for March, so be sure to visit them once they have opened their very own brick-and-mortar bakery. 

Ōdiobā is an artisan coffee house by day, serving amazing coffee, bakes, and cocktails. By night, they have local DJs spinning vinyl, over 3 floors and is the perfect balance between spacious, cosy and cool. Ōdiobā, is the latest concept by the team behind NAM, formerly based in Ancoats. 

Hillgate Cakery is a great vegan family business offering hot food daily and the most delicious homemade cakes. Tea, coffee, and soft drinks are available to sit in or take away. 

And if you are after a quick coffee to go, Yellowhammer is famous on the streets for its exquisite coffee and most tasty freshly baked bread. They are also a pottery hub and, in the evenings, serve small plates and become a wine bar – this place really has it all!  

Calling all vintage lovers here’s your Stockport checklist: 

Ghost Stock Clothing is your local, affordable, independent streetwear dealer, and is Gazza Barlow approved. It’s a unique blend of street and skate brands. The store is, “A space you can walk into with a tenner in your pocket, or a pocket as deep as the ocean. There is always something for everyone. And everyone is welcome through the door, with a warm greeting.” Selling clothes that not everyone has at reasonable prices has made this one to watch in and around Stockport. 

Read more about Ghost Stock Clothing here.  

Yeppa Clothing

While you're exploring the Underbanks area, make sure to visit Yeppa Clothing, stocking a unique collection of vintage, preloved, reworked and locally made clothing and accessories. The store is welcoming, the owners are so friendly and knowledgeable about their craft. Be sure to pop in and say hello! 

Still Life Story

Still Life Story is an independent homeware and lifestyle shop and florist promoting slow living. Nordic inspired and local wares thoughtfully selected to transcend fast moving trends. You will find cute, unique statement pieces that no one else has and be amazed by the gorgeous interior inside.  

They also have a kids' shop inside Stockport’s Indoor Market.  

20th Century Stores

20th Century Stores is Stockport’s very own equivalent to Manchester’s iconic Afflecks Palace, get ready to get lost in their bohemian maze. 20th Century Stores is a vintage lovers paradise, the shop homes specialist independent traders that pride themselves on unique items including homeware, decorative items, furniture, costume jewellery, clothing and accessories. There is no vintage shop in Stockport like this one. 

Other quirky spots to visit: 

White Dragon Tattoo is the longest standing tattoo shop, with 35 years of operating, this place is a staple place for anyone visiting with its old school tattoo sign and regular walk-ins for tattoos and piercings. 

Plant Shop was the first independent retail store to set up in the Underbanks, helping to kick-start the new wave of cool businesses that followed, including Rare Mags and SK1 Records. They are proud to have been part of the area’s transformation and to see it continue to thrive as a creative and independent hub.

Plant Shop Manchester began with a spontaneous, last-minute trip to Melbourne, Australia, in 2016. Surrounded by the city’s lush nurseries and overflowing plant shops, the owners realised what Manchester was missing—more green. What started as just 100 mini cacti placed outside an office has since flourished into a thriving brick-and-mortar store in the heart of Stockport's Old Town, filled with an ever-changing selection of houseplants, pots, and botanical accessories.

Rare Mags stock rare mags and rare books and hold creative events and talks regularly. Get ready to be wowed by their cute decor and warm welcomes. 

SK1 Records is an independent record shop and café in the heart of Stockport's old town. They buy, sell and trade records and hold regular street parties on the Underbank that are always a huge hit!

You may also like Top of the Town Vintage, Squound, All Night Flight Records, and Agapanthus Interiors.  

This diverse array of shops makes Stockport a great place to shop throughout the week - not just on weekends. With the Market Hall, independent retailers, and a growing number of unique shops, there’s so much to explore any day of the week.

Street Art in Stockport and the Underbanks area 

Throughout the Underbanks, you will find pieces of street art that reflect the area and its history. For example, the Jimi Hendrix Mural by Artist: Otto Schade, Garden Tiger Moth by Artist: Paintsmiths, Shop Small, Love Local by Artist: Emily Flanagan, the Underbanks Mural by Artist: Qubek and its latest addition, the Sarah Harding mural paying tribute and celebrating the life of Sarah which can now be found at 11 High Street in the town’s Underbank area. 

You can find out more about these pieces here.  

Nightlife in Stockport:

• The Spinn Off is a neighbourhood bar offering craft beers, natural wines and cocktails and holds street parties with neighbours SK1 Records.  

• Ōdiobā at night turns into a listening bar made up of 3 floors of different levels of listening with built in DJ decks and a bespoke house made speaker system. Make sure to head down for a boogie.  

• MØ6B is a café, bar and record shop. It’s a great little bar, as it feels like you could be anywhere in the world. A relaxed vibe, industrial setting with a little balcony.  

• Thread lives just opposite the Market Hall and is a Belgium-style bar with a wide range of beers on tap.  

• Bohemian Arts Club is a speak easy bar with a cosy, relaxed setting and amazingly master cocktails with great tunes.  

• The Banshee in an Irish bar serving pints of Guinness and live entertainment all weekend long.  

• Stanley’s of Little Underbank is a vintage bar on the cobbles serving up comfort food and cosy vibes (look out for the place with the fairy lights and quirky dog sign on the door).  

And around the Market Hall and underneath the Underbank there are many more bars as nightlife is forever growing. From 2000s classics, or some alternative pop punk. The Bakers Vaults and its surrounding neighbours have you covered.