Knutsford Christmas Bake Off Returns!

Knutsford’s Christmas bake off is back for 2026!

Hosted by Knutsford Bake Club and held at Knutsford Market Hall, the event will take place on 28th November 2026.

Bakers can drop off their entry at the market hall from 3.30pm ready for judging at 4pm. The age categories are:
4-11 years
12-17 years
18+

The prize for each category winner is “A Day In The Kitchen at Li~Ly” by Aiden Byrne.

Aiden Byrne said, “We are delighted to see the Knutsford Christmas Bake Off return, run by our wonderful local bake club. While we won’t be able to judge the entries—as we’ll be fully hands-on in our own kitchen—we are thrilled to offer all three category winners a day in the kitchen at LI~LY by Aiden Byrne. Nurturing local culinary talent is something we care deeply about, and who knows? We might just discover the next rising star.”

April Johnson, a Knutsford Bake Club member said, “We are excited to bring back Knutsford Christmas Bake-Off. The afternoon will be informal with bakes invited from all levels of bakers and the best thing is there is no theme! Biscuits, traybakes, sponges and traditional Christmas fayre are all welcome. There is nothing better than the aroma of fresh baking to get us all into the Christmas spirit. A huge thanks to Aiden Byrne for offering his valuable time as the prize!”.

Bakers are urged to register their interest via Knutsford Bake Club’s Facebook page or email hello@knutsfordmarket.co.uk

Your Christmas, Made in Knutsford – 2026 Gift Guide

The ultimate guide to all things festive in Knutsford has officially landed. Now in its third year, the 2026 Discover Knutsford Festive Guide is back bigger and better than ever, packed with 28 pages celebrating the town’s renowned independent shopping, vibrant local dining, and seasonal celebrations.

Produced by Knutsford Town Council under its Discover Knutsford brand, this year’s expanded brochure offers a complete showcase of what makes the town a premier Christmas destination. Readers will find inspiration for every gift list—ranging from womenswear and menswear to home decor, children’s gifts, and treats for four-legged friends.

The guide also features essential details on key seasonal highlights, including the Knutsford Christmas Market and Lights Switch-On, with a direct link to explore the full lineup of local events at www.discoverknutsford.com.

The guide includes two competitions, £50 Knutsford Voucher Giveaway: A chance to win vouchers to spend at participating local businesses and a Treasure Trail, a fun cryptic quiz-style trail across the town centre, with a grand prize of a one-night stay for two at the historic Rose & Crown alongside £50 in Knutsford vouchers.

The guide is produced by Knutsford Town Council, under its Discover Knutsford brand and is supported by advertisers from across the locality. Sandra Curties, Town Centre Manager, said “This is our third Christmas guide, and we have increased it to 28 pages to promote the variety of gifts to be found in our wonderful shops and even that increase wasn’t enough, so please follow Discover Knutsford’s socials for more ideas. We are grateful to our advertisers that the production of the guide possible and to Dagmara Studios who kindly provided additional photography free of charge.”

Dagmara Gorska, said ‘Our studio has been open one year this November and we love being part of the Knutsford community. Offering our photography services for the Christmas brochure means we help our fellow business owners during the festive season and play a part in keeping our town vibrant’


The brochure is available at most Knutsford shops and businesses and for the first time is being distributed further afield – including Lymm, Wilmslow, and Alderley Edge. It will also be available to collect at the Discover Knutsford stand at the Christmas Markets on December 5th and 6th.

For full event details and updates, visit www.discoverknutsford.com/events or follow @KnutsfordTownCouncil and @DiscoverKnutsford on social media.

A wooden start with a message to a loved one hanging on a Christmas tree

Tree of Light to Shine in Remembrance of Loved Ones

The Knutsford community is invited to gather, reflect and dedicate a star in memory of someone special at a new event this December

Knutsford Town Council will be bringing the community together for its first Tree of Light event, offering people a meaningful opportunity to remember and celebrate the lives of loved ones who are no longer with us.

The event will take place on Thursday 10th December at 6pm at the Tabley Hill Chapel in Knutsford Cemetery.  Members of the public are invited to dedicate a star in memory of someone special, and the Town Mayor will read the names on each star in a shared moment of reflection, before celebrating the lighting of the tree.

The evening will include festive music by Canute Male Voices followed by refreshments and mince pies served in the chapel.

Stars can be collected in person from the Town Council Offices or the Cheshire Party Store at the Knutsford Market Hall.  Dedications can also be made online at www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/tree-of-light. All stars need to be returned to the Town Council Offices by Friday 4th December.

Jeanette Hine Corporate Support Manager said, “We know that Christmas is a time when we remember those who are no longer with us, and our Tree of Light event is a chance to bring the community together to remember those we have lost with a smile – we would love to see you there.”

Following the event the Christmas Tree will be lit every evening until 9pm for the Christmas season. Parking arrangements will be in place to facilitate visitors travelling to the cemetery by car.

To help with catering for the event, residents are asked to book a free ‘ticket’ to attend by calling 01565 653929, emailing enquiries@knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk or online at www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/tree-of-light

Local Resident Kate Russell in the Silk Mill Street cycle shelter installed earlier this year

New plan to enhance walking and cycling across Knutsford

Knutsford Town Council has adopted a new plan to enhance walking and cycling across the town.

Developing an Active Travel Infrastructure Plan was a key objective in the council’s strategic plan, which set an aim to enable residents to choose to reduce their reliance on cars by improving the desirability of walking, cycling and using public transport.

The overarching objective of the plan is to make Knutsford a place where residents feel able to choose to walk and cycle rather than using a car for local journeys. It aims to guide work to make infrastructure changes that make walking and cycling easier and safer.

The plan builds on the Knutsford Cycle Infrastructure Plan which was developed by Cycle Knutsford as part of the Neighbourhood Plan and adds action for supporting walking across the town.

It will sit alongside the Cheshire East Council Local Cycling and Walking Plan for Knutsford which focuses on more strategic routes. The Town Council’s plan is more locally focused with practical changes that making walking and cycling easier.

Cllr Scott Lowe, who led the council’s Active Travel Infrastructure Plan working group said “It was clear from the consultation that improving people’s experiences of walking and cycling around our town was really important.”

The plan was informed by a community survey in 2025 which invited residents to share their views on walking and cycling in the town.

Actions to enhance walking include:

  • Installing benches long key walking routes to support those who need to rest along routes
  • Seeking formal crossings at key points including Mobberley Road near St Cross Church, Chelford Road by the Legh Arms and Toft Road by Leycester Road.
  • Seeking dropped kerbs along primary walking routes so wheelchair users can travel more easily
  • Exploring street lighting schemes on Sparrow Lane, by Woodlands Court and along Church Walk

The Town Council will also explore how it can improve the maintenance of pavements, removing overgrown vegetation, leaves and detritus, to ensure full widths of pavements are available year round.

Additionally, the council will look to support cycling by installing covered/uncovered cycle parking stands at key locations across the town, exploring the creation of cycle ways along arterial roads and seeking 20mph limits on appropriate streets. 

The council will fund minor improvements through revenue budgets, whilst seeking grants where possible. The council will also seek funding from development through community infrastructure levy and s106 planning obligations.

Cllr Lowe added “While we don’t have a large budget, we still want to be ambitious in our target.  We will push to ensure developers help fund some of the infrastructure we need to mitigate the impact of all the new houses.”

The plan can be found at www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/services/active-travel

Mayor Cllr Peter Coan with Manor Park PTA

Mayor rounds off fundraising year with a festive quiz night at Dexter & Jones

The Mayor of Knutsford, Cllr Peter Coan, is inviting residents to swap their Christmas jumpers for thinking caps as he hosts his final fundraising event of the year at Dexter & Jones.

Taking place on Wednesday 16th December at 7pm, the festive quiz night will be held at The Dog House at Dexter & Jones on Princess Street, with the fabulous Katy Rickitt taking on hosting duties.

Expect plenty of festive brain-teasers, Christmas trivia and friendly competition, with teams putting their knowledge to the test in the hope of being crowned quiz champions. Whether you’re a Christmas quiz expert or someone who still thinks Die Hard counts as a Christmas film, everyone is welcome!

The evening will raise money for Peter’s chosen charities: Men’s Shed Knutsford and the four Knutsford Primary School PTAs, helping to tackle loneliness and social isolation among older residents to supporting opportunities and experiences for children in Knutsford’s primary schools.

Peter said:

“If you’ve seen our promotional video, you’ll know we’ve already been getting into the Christmas spirit. Katy has promised some tricky questions, so I’m hoping everyone brings their A-game. Come along, have a laugh, enjoy a drink and help me finish the year on a high for my charities. I promise I’ll be much better behaved on the night…!”

Event details:

Date: Wednesday 16th December 2026
Time: 7pm
Venue: The Dog House at Dexter & Jones, Princess Street, Knutsford
Hosted by: Katy Rickitt

Tickets can be purchased here: https://buytickets.at/mayorofknutsford/2502141

For further information or ticket details, contact Knutsford Town Council on 01565 653 929 or email gemma.jackson@knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk.

Hundreds of families enjoy Knutsford’s Pumpkin Path celebrations

Knutsford town centre was filled with Halloween spirit on Friday 30th October as hundreds of families turned out for the annual Pumpkin Path, enjoying an evening of spooky activities, live entertainment and community celebrations.

Organised by Knutsford Town Council, the popular event saw families follow the pumpkin trail around the town centre, with businesses across King Street, Princess Street and Minshull Street getting involved through Halloween window displays, fancy dress and trick-or-treating opportunities.

The town’s shops and businesses helped bring the event to life, with creative decorations and a warm welcome for visitors. Families also enjoyed live performances from Knutsford Beats and Halloween-themed dance entertainment from SMB Dance, which got the crowds dancing along the street.

This year’s revamped Wallwood area proved to be a particular highlight, with spooky lighting in the trees, a witch’s cauldron and a cemetery-themed setting providing plenty of opportunities for families to explore and take photographs.

The event was kindly sponsored by NFU Mutual and King Street Dental Practice.

Georgia from NFU Mutual, the event’s gold sponsor, said: “The Pumpkin Path is a brilliant example of what makes Knutsford such a special community. We were incredibly proud to be the main sponsor of this year’s event and to see so many families enjoying the activities on offer. Supporting local events and bringing people together is something we’re passionate about at NFU Mutual Knutsford, so it was a pleasure to be involved. We’d like to thank everyone who helped organise the event and everyone who came along to make it such a success.”

Caroline Haynes, Events Manager at Knutsford Town Council, said: “Pumpkin Path is always a popular fixture in Knutsford’s events calendar, and it is wonderful to see the town come together to make it such a memorable evening. We really appreciate the support of the local businesses who stayed open, decorated their windows and got involved, as well as the families who came into town, dressed up and enjoyed the trail and activities. It is a fantastic opportunity for the community to come together and enjoy the town centre, and we are grateful to everyone who helped make it happen.”

Knutsford Town Council would also like to thank The Lambing Shed Farm Shop for kindly donating the pumpkins, and Knutsford Hosts for their help in delivering the event.

Pumpkin Path is part of Knutsford’s programme of community events, bringing residents and visitors together throughout the year. To find out more about upcoming events, visit www.discoverknutsford.com or follow @discoverknutsford on Facebook and Instagram.

Get Festive with the Mayor at his Christmas Bingo Night

Guests can expect a fun-filled evening of bingo, with cash prizes, festive silliness and a chance to get into the Christmas spirit, with Peter taking on the role of bingo caller. Whether you’re a seasoned bingo player or just fancy a different kind of night out, everyone is welcome to join in.

Tickets cost £15 for a book of five games, with proceeds supporting Peter’s chosen charities: Men’s Shed Knutsford and the PTAs of Manor Park Primary, Bexton Primary, Egerton Primary and St Vincent’s Primary School.

The charities support a range of community needs, from tackling loneliness and social isolation to helping local children access opportunities and experiences that enrich their school lives.

The evening will also feature a raffle and a cash bar, making it a great opportunity to get together with friends, enjoy some festive entertainment and support good causes in the Knutsford community.

Cllr Coan said: “I’m looking forward to a night of festive, friendly competition. I can’t promise everyone will go home a winner, but I can promise we’ll have a good laugh while raising money for some brilliant local causes. I’ll try to keep my Christmas costumes under control, but no promises!”

Event details

  • Event: Mayor of Knutsford’s Festive Bingo Night at Knutsford Market Hall
  • Date: Friday 27 November 2026, doors open 7pm
  • Tickets: £15 per person over 18s only).
  • Includes: Festive bingo, raffle and cash bar

For tickets and further information, visit https://buytickets.at/mayorofknutsford/2205959 or contact Gemma at Knutsford Town Council gemma.jackson@knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk 01565 653 929

Town Mayor, Jenny Collis and Booths Assistant Manager with the blue plaque

New blue plaques highlight town’s judicial heritage

Two new blue plaques have been installed in Knutsford town centre, highlighting the town’s historic role as a major hub for county justice over the past 500 years.

A blue plaque on Café Nero highlights the site of the original home of justice in Knutsford. It was on this site that a building which was used as a court room stood until 1818, when the new courthouse was built. This blue plaque replaces a long-removed slate plaque which was affixed to the building some decades ago.

Quarter Sessions were held in Knutsford from 1575, and from 1760 it was one of just two places where this level of justice was dealt in the county. Quarter Sessions were an intermediate tier of justice between lower magistrates courts and higher assize courts. Justices were empowered to enforce national political, administrative and religious policy, the criminal law (including committal proceedings to the Assize courts), taxation, rating, the poor law, maintenance of gaols, roads and bridges, regulation of wages, prices and alehouses and the hearing of petitions. Courts were held four times a year – Epiphany (January), Easter, Midsummer and Michaelmas (Autumn). In Knutsford the Quarter Sessions moved in 1818 to the new Sessions House on Toft Road. The Quarter Sessions were replaced by Crown Courts in 1971.

The second plaque was installed on Booths, which was the site of Knutsford House of Correction. The gaol was built in 1820 alongside the new court building and housed up to 700 prisoners. The prison was demolished around 1935 and in the 1980s Booths supermarket was built on the site.  Local historian Jenny Collis proposed the blue plaque to highlight the town’s judicial history following her sell-out talks on the prison in 2025. The location of the plaque was chosen to give a sense of the scale of the site.

Town Mayor Cllr Peter Coan said “For almost half a millennium Knutsford was a major centre for justice in Cheshire. Whilst these two buildings no longer remain, the blue plaques highlight what once stood on these sites and help passersby connect with our town’s rich judicial heritage”

The Town Council would like to thank Booths supermarket, and the landlord of Café Nero fo their permission to install the two new blue plaques.

The Town Council Offices

New Town Clerk Announced

Mark Bailey

Knutsford Town Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Mark Bailey as our next Town Clerk.

Mark is an experienced local government officer who has served as Town Clerk to Winsford Town Council since 2016 prior to which he was Corporate Policy Manager at Staffordshire Moorlands District Council. He attained a PhD in Local Government from the University of Portsmouth in 1999.

Mark lives in Cheshire and has a wide range of interests outside of work, including amateur dramatics. He will become Knutsford’s 12th Town Clerk when he joins the council in late January 2027.

Mark said, “I am delighted to be joining Knutsford Town Council and I am looking forward to carrying on the great work done by Adam and his team over the last few years.”

The Town Clerk is the council’s chief officer, with responsibility for the overall management and delivery of the organisation, working alongside the elected councillors to ensure the council delivers for the community. The role is also the responsible financial officer, with overall responsibility for sound financial administration.

Town Mayor Cllr Peter Coan said “We had a rigorous recruitment process to find the best candidate to help lead the council over the coming years. Mark brings a wealth of experience to help him hit the ground running and we very much look forward to working with him from the new years”

Incumbent Town Clerk Adam Keppel-Green leaves the council on 3rd November after 14 years with the Town Council, as he takes up the position of Chief Officer (Town Clerk) at Congleton Town Council. Deputy Town Clerk Bob Allen will serve as Acting Town Clerk until Mark joins the council in January.

Mayors’ cadet Jenson Webb embarks on a life changing Nepal expedition

Jenson Webb, the Mayor’s Cadet and a member of Knutsford Fire Cadets, flew out at the weekend on Saturday 24 October for an incredible 14-day volunteering trip to Nepal.

Jenson will join 14 other Cheshire Fire Cadets and eight leaders to help build classrooms in the remote Himalayan Solukhumbu district. Each cadet has had to raise £3,600 to help cover building materials and travel costs, while learning valuable skills in teamwork, leadership and community service.

Working alongside UK charity Classrooms in the Clouds, the team will help build earthquake resistant classrooms and support local teacher training, giving children in remote Nepalese villages a safer place to learn. The trip will also include a challenging trek through the Himalayas with local Sherpa guides.

As Knutsford’s Mayor’s Cadet, Jenson’s duties involve attending the Mayor Making event, participation in Mayoral Processions / Civic Service, participation in the Remembrance Sunday Parade and Services and other occasions as requested by the Town Mayor.

Town Mayor Cllr Peter Coan said: “Jenson is a brilliant example of the young people we have in Knutsford’s uniformed groups. What he and the rest of the team are doing is a fantastic achievement, and we wish them all the best for their adventure”.

Applications for the next Mayor’s Cadet will open in February 2027. Young people involved in local uniformed groups, including Air, Army and Fire Cadets, Scouts and Girlguiding, can apply through their unit leaders. Groups are welcome to nominate more than one person. Civic Events officer Gemma said, “The Mayor’s Cadet role is a great opportunity to experience the civic role, meet new people and gain experience, confidence and public speaking skills.”

Anyone interested in applying can contact Gemma Jackson, Civic Events Officer at Knutsford Town Council, for more information:

Email: gemma.jackson@knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk
Telephone: 01565 653 929

Knutsford Town Council wish Jenson and the whole Cheshire Fire Cadets team the very best of luck on their adventure!

Want to support their fundraising? You can donate through their GoFundMe page: https://gofund.me/0a862e90a