Selene

Theatre production heading to Knutsford Market Hall

Internationally award-winning experts in storytelling, Wright&Grainger, are heading to Knutsford this summer following a successful tour in Australia, where they received five-star reviews at Fringe World Festival in Perth.

Selene tells the story of the Goddess and personification of the moon, known for her beauty and radiant glow – and what happens when she acknowledges the dark side of herself.

The production is being held at Knutsford Market Hall on Friday 26th June from 7:30pm.

Join Wright&Grainger as they combine Greek Mythology with an epic soundtrack, to turn classical tales to modern myths.

Wright&Grainger said “SELENE is a radical exploding of an ancient myth. It’s about how we grow up living defined by our bodies, and about what happens when that changes.  It’s a story about what we’re stuck in the orbit of. It’s a story about the light sides of us and the dark sides of us and it’s about the stuff inside us. All the wild stuff inside of us.”

The production is being hosted by Knutsford Town Council in partnership with Cheshire Rural Touring Arts. The show is suitable for ages 14+ and there will be a bar available for refreshment.

Tickets are £14 and available at www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/selene

Pictured Knutsford Mayor Cllr Bryan Hartley and Julia Chard from Knutsford Olde Sweet Shoppe with children who took part in the Easter Bonnet Competition.

Bunny Hop Brings Easter Buzz to Knutsford Town Centre

Knutsford Town Centre welcomed families on Saturday 4th April as the annual Bunny Hop returned for an afternoon of Easter Fun.

The Easter-themed trail, organised by Knutsford Town Council, invited families to explore the town centre by searching for hidden bunnies displayed in shop windows. Each bunny featured a letter, with participants collecting them on entry forms to complete the trail and enter a prize draw.

This year’s Peter Rabbit & Friends theme proved popular, with many families dressing up and taking part in the day’s activities. Alongside the trail, visitors enjoyed a range of entertainment including games and activities at the Market Hall on Silk Mill Street and Easter-themed displays across the town.

The Easter Bonnet Competition was a highlight of the day, with a fantastic range of entries. Knutsford Town Council would like to thank Julia from Knutsford Old Sweet Shoppe and the Town Mayor Cllr Bryan Hartley for judging the competition. Congratulations to the three winners and to everyone that took part with their very creative Easter Bonnets.

The event was kindly sponsored by Little Waitrose, Clare & Illingworth Optometrists, Piccolino, and Linden Stores whose support enabled the event to be delivered for the community.

Caroline Haynes, Events Officer at Knutsford Town Council, said: 

“It was fantastic to see so many families out enjoying the Bunny Hop and exploring the town centre. The support from our local businesses and the effort people put into taking part really made the day special.”

For more information about upcoming events, visit www.discoverknutsford.com/events.

George Riley of Heathfields Plants

Heathfields Plants return for the summer season

Popular local nursery Heathfields Plants are returning to Knutsford Market Hall from Saturday 18th April for the summer season.

Run by George Riley, Heathfields will be showcasing their beautiful range of locally grown plants ready to brighten up gardens across the region.

George said, “We are delighted to be back at the market hall for the planting season. Find us outside the market every Friday, Saturday, and Makers Market Sunday. Our popular bedding plants will be available to purchase alongside our ready-made planters and hanging baskets. Free local delivery also available. Come down and visit us!”

Sandra Curties, Town Centre Manager said, “We are excited to have Heathfields back with us. George is always very popular with customers. This is an exciting time for the market hall; we have lots planned for Love your local market from May 15th and are looking forward to welcoming our newest trader – SWEET. Knutsford as well. We urge visitors to visit and explore our wonderful market hall”

The full list of market traders is as follows –

  • The Market Café
  • SWEET. Knutsford
  • Cheshire Party Store
  • Market Hall Barber
  • Slipped Discs
  • Hot Cocoa (until 30th May)
  • Market Hall Butcher
  • Knutsford Mobile
  • York & Co. – The Grocer.

Knutsford Market Hall is open every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and every Makers Market Sunday.

Pop-ups can apply to trade via https://www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/services/market-hall/trade

Charlotte Montgomery from Satya Sanctuary sat on the floor leading a Yoga class.

Knutsford Health & Wellness Week 2026 Brings the Community Together

Knutsford held its third week-long celebration of health and wellbeing this March. Organised by Knutsford Town Council, in collaboration with a range of the town’s health and wellbeing specialists, this year’s theme was ‘Nurturing Mind, Body and Soul’ with both residents and visitors enjoying a varied programme suitable for all ages, needs and abilities.

The week began with Re-Fresh Knutsford, a vibrant community fair at St John’s Church and Knutsford Methodist Church. Visitors explored a variety of local clubs, groups, volunteer opportunities, and wellbeing businesses and discovered new ways to get involved in the community.

The week highlighted how fortunate the town is to have such a wide range of health and wellbeing businesses on its doorstep, offering services and support that can be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike throughout the year.

Rodger Lewin from Knutsford Hearing Centre
Sign of Refresh Knutsford with blue and white ballons.
An arrangement of grapes, a smoothie, eggs
Womens Hormones talk at York & Co with speakers Monique Qureshi (Yoga Practitioner), Louise Carter (Dietician), Claire Milton (Womens Health GP), Claire Millington (Personal Trainer) and Lucy Norris (Presenter)

Throughout the week, participants took part in an exciting programme of free and discounted taster sessions, including Pilates, yoga, boxing, circuit training, massage, sound baths, and hypnotherapy. Health checks and screenings were also available, covering dry eye care, oral health, osteopathy, cardiovascular wellness, hearing tests, and musculoskeletal assessments. Specialist talks covered nutrition, menopause, infant and child food, posture, and relationship coaching.

Richard Clare, Managing Director of Clare & Illingworth Optometrists, the event’s sponsor, said:

“We were proud to support Knutsford Health & Wellness Week 2026. It was wonderful to see the community come together to explore a wide range of health and wellbeing opportunities, and we were delighted to be part of such an important initiative.”

Sandra Curties, Town Centre Manager at Knutsford Town Council, added:

“Health & Wellness Week provided an excellent opportunity for residents and visitors to engage with local wellbeing services and activities. We are grateful to all the businesses who participated and helped make the week so enjoyable for the community.”

The Town Council would like to thank Clare & Illingworth Optometrists for sponsoring the event and all participating businesses for their contributions.

Businesses involved included:

  • Roberta Beauty Redefined
  • Elite Health
  • Clare & Illingworth Optometrists
  • King Street Dental
  • Casbah Fitness
  • Soul Reformer
  • NC Health & Wellness
  • Judi Quirke Hypnotherapy
  • Find Your Backbone
  • King Street Dental
  • Satya Sanctuary
  • Tor Nutrition & Guided Outdoor Adventures
  • Siân Winslade Relationship Coach
  • York + Co.
  • Nicola Parish – Non-Linear Movement Method® and Reiki Healing Meditation
  • Empower Dance
  • Tomorrow Cardiovascular Wellness
  • K Clinic Dental
  • Knutsford Hearing Centre
  • Stable Minds
  • Carmichael Clinic of Physiotherapy & Acupuncture
  • Helen Jones Nutrition
Pictured Richard Clare from Clare & Illingworth, Charlotte Pearson from Waitrose

Knutsford Bunny Hop Returns for a day of family fun.

Families are invited to hop into Knutsford Town Centre this Easter for the return of the much-loved Knutsford Bunny Hop, taking place on Saturday 4 April 2026.

The annual Easter trail will see children and families exploring the town centre in search of hidden bunnies, each displaying a letter. Participants note the letters on their entry form and once completed, post it into one of the dedicated Bunny Hop post boxes to be entered into a prize draw. Entry forms can be collected from

The Bunny Hop has become a firm favourite in Knutsford’s events calendar. The event was originally created by a group of local residents alongside its ‘sister’ event the Knutsford Pumpkin Path, before being taken on by Knutsford Town Council in 2018. The Council has organised the event ever since.

Taking place between 12pm and 4pm, there will be plenty of fun to enjoy across the town centre alongside the trail. Families can look forward to activities and games at the Market Hall on Silk Mill Street, competitions, Easter displays in the town and more. Expect to see creative costumes, beautifully decorated shop windows and lots of Easter cheer throughout the town.

Attendees can also bring along their Easter bonnets and take part in the Easter Bonnet Competition, held opposite Knutsford Olde Sweet Shoppe. The competition will be hosted by shop owner Julia and judged by the Mayor of Knutsford from 12.30pm on the day. All participants will receive a small gift for taking part, with prizes awarded for first place and runners-up for the best bonnet.

This year’s theme is Peter Rabbit & Friends, so visitors are encouraged to dress up and join in the fun.

Caroline Haynes, Events Manager at Knutsford Town Council, said:

“The Bunny Hop is always such a joyful day in Knutsford and it’s wonderful to see families exploring the town and supporting our fantastic local businesses. The Peter Rabbit & Friends theme is perfect for Easter and we’re really looking forward to seeing everyone’s costumes and the town buzzing with excitement.”

Many of Knutsford’s amazing local businesses will also be taking part. Look out for ‘Bunny Hop Friendly’ posters in shop windows to find businesses offering special promotions, activities and giveaways during the event.

The Bunny Hop is kindly sponsored by Waitrose, Clare & Illingworth, Piccolino and Linden Stores whose generous support helps make the event possible.

The event takes place casually across the town centre and roads will remain open, so parents and guardians are asked to ensure children are always supervised while enjoying the trail.

For enquiries about the event, please contact enquiries@knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk or call 01565 653 929 or visit www.discoverknutsford.com.

A Pond

Pondlife event to launch year of action

Residents are invited to find out more about what they can do to support wildlife that depends on ponds.

On Saturday 21st March from 2pm-4pm, Knutsford Town Council is launching its year of action for Frogs and Pondlife. After 2025 focused on pollinators, 2026 will be seeing a programme of activity aiming to encourage residents to create ponds and support the wildlife that depends on them.

The event is being held close to World Frog Day (20th March) which raises awareness about the vital ecological role of frogs and the urgent need to protect them from threats like habitat loss, climate change, and pollution.

Visitors can hear from local ecologists about why garden ponds are the one of the most effective ways to support biodiversity and find out how simple and safe creating a pond in your garden can be.

Two competitions will be launched, a children’s art competition and a Knutsford Ponds competition with the event offering a chance to find out more about how to enter and the prizes on offer.

Knutsford Bake Club are busy this week baking to support the event, so expect some delicious homemade cake. Also on hand will be colouring and crafts, and facepainting for young visitors! The council will also be handing out special ‘pond diaries’ for children to track the progress of their aquatic adventure.

Deputy Town Clerk, Bob Allen said “Our Nature Action Plan is about making Knutsford a sanctuary for wildlife. We’ve seen incredible community engagement with our pollinators last year, and now we want to see the town ‘dive in’ to help our amphibians. Whether you have space for a sunken bucket or a full-scale pond, every pond can foster a host of wildlife”

Smoke Knutsford Joins The Town’s Voucher Scheme

One of Knutsford’s newest dining spots, Smoke Knutsford, has officially joined the growing list of local businesses accepting the Knutsford Voucher.

Located in Princess Street, the day to night venue opened in November 2025 and has quickly become a firm favourite amongst both residents and visitors.

The relaxed dining venue serves coffee, brunch, small plates, and curated wines from morning to late often accompanied by live music. George, owner, said “We are delighted to be part of the voucher scheme. It’s a fantastic initiative that encourages people to ‘eat indie’ while providing a versatile gift option. We look forward to welcoming voucher holders to enjoy Smoke’s hospitality very soon”

The scheme, which launched in 2020, now boasts over 50 participating businesses. Sandra Curties, Town Centre Manager for Knutsford Town Council, noted the programme’s impressive growth,

“When we launched in 2020, we couldn’t have predicted just how much the community would embrace it. Today, the voucher (complete with a gift card) is a wonderful gift for all ages. It’s a point of pride that you can now use it for everything from a traditional Italian dinner, tapas, toys, and sweets!”

Vouchers can be purchased via the Discover Knutsford website or in person at the Town Council offices. Each voucher comes with a gift card, and 100% of the value goes directly back to the local business.

Winners of the 2025 Town Awards on stage with the Town Mayor holing their awards

Nominations invited for 2026 awards

The community is invited to submit its nominations for this year’s Knutsford Town Awards.

The Knutsford Town Awards recognises and celebrates the Knutsford community and the people that collectively make Knutsford a thriving and dynamic community. The winners each year are always chosen based on nominations put forward by those in their community.

Nominations can be submitted for any of the following categories:

Civic Award which recognises the work of individuals. Thee awards are made in this category with previous winners including Beer Festival Chair and former councillor Andrew Malloy, May Day Committee stalwart Eileen Podmore and scout leader Rob Lyons.

Youth Award which recognises those aged 21 and under. Last year the award went to Ella Williamson for her volunteering with Crosstown Community Orchard.

Business Award recognises businesses who give something back to their community, previous winners have included Tatton Perk, Oliver Valves and Peter Murray of Pulse of Perfumery.

Community Award shines the light on local charities, committees, and other groups. Stable Minds scooped the prize in 2025 joining the likes of Knutsford First Responders Trust, Canute Lunch Club and The Welcome in the hall of fame.

Extra Mile Award is for those who go above and beyond in their paid work for the benefit of the local community. There was no award made in 2025, so nominations in this category are particularly sought!

Committees involved in managing community organisations are also able to submit a nomination for the “Volunteer of the Year” award.

Town Mayor Cllr Bryan Hartley said “During my time as Town Mayor I have been amazed by the incredible work that goes on in our community and these awards aim to shine a light on this. I want 2026 to be the year we see a record number of nominations – so to each and every person reading this I want you to think about which groups and people inspire you in our community and get a nomination submitted today” 

Since their launch in 2013 the Town Awards has been generously sponsored by the Forum of Private Business. The awards are organised by Knutsford Town Council and will be presented as part of the annual town meeting on Wednesday 29th April at Knutsford Little Theatre.

Nominations close on Friday 10th April.

Photo of the empty kitchen unit at the market hall

Knutsford Market Hall Opens Doors for Next Generation of Hospitality Entrepreneurs

Knutsford Market Hall is officially inviting applications from ambitious small hospitality businesses to join its vibrant, centrally located trading community.

Following a history of nurturing successful local ventures—including the likes of Morgan Edwards—the Market Hall is now seeking an enthusiastic new operator. Available from mid-April (or potentially sooner), the space represents a “low-risk, high-reward” opportunity for a business to scale without the prohibitive overheads of a traditional standalone high-street unit.

Knutsford Market Hall is in the heart of Knutsford, sharing a communal dining space with the popular Market Café. The monthly rent of £371.61 (inc. VAT), which includes essential services like Wi-Fi and waste management.

“Since 1964, the market has been a launchpad for local talent,” says Sandra Curties, Town Centre Manager. “While we have pillars of the community like our Market Hall Butcher who have been with us for years, we also pride ourselves on being a space where businesses can test, learn, and grow. We are looking for a unique food or drink offering that complements our existing traders and brings something fresh to the Knutsford scene.”

Photo Credit Lee Boswell Bahattin Atar of The Market Cafe

The successful applicant will join an eclectic mix of established local businesses, including, The Market Café, Hot Cocoa, Market Hall Butcher, and York & Co. (The Grocer), Market Hall Barber, Slipped Discs, Cheshire Party Show, and Knutsford Mobile.

Knutsford Market Hall operates every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, as well as every Makers Market Sunday and during the Christmas markets.

Interested entrepreneurs are encouraged to review the application process online knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/services/market-hall/trade

For further information or to discuss a proposal, please contact Sandra Curties at Sandra.curties@knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk.

A noticeboard full of posters

Millennium Bursary open for applications

Calling all second-year university students residing in Knutsford or Toft! Applications for the 2025 Knutsford Millennium Bursary are now open, offering a valuable £735 boost to your final year projects and dissertations.

This annual partnership between Knutsford Town Council and the Knutsford Lions has been supporting local students for over two decades, recognising academic merit and alleviating financial pressures during the crucial final year.

Whether students need funding for research materials, travel for fieldwork, or simply a helping hand with living expenses, the Millennium Bursary can make a real difference. Past recipients have used the award to access specialist software, conduct international research, and even purchase essential equipment for their projects.

The application process is straightforward. If you’re a second-year student with a term-time address in Knutsford or Toft, all you need to do is complete the application form on the Knutsford Town Council website and submit a written statement outlining your academic aspirations and how the bursary will help you achieve them.

Applications are open until 10th April, so don’t miss this chance to secure additional support for your final year project or dissertation.

Applications can be completed at www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/services/millennium-bursary