A man standing by a public footpath sign

Knutsford Town Council Seeks Volunteers for Public Rights of Way Survey

Knutsford Town Council is asking for volunteers to help survey the town’s public rights of way.

Residents who enjoy walking around the area are invited to participate in the survey which will help identify any improvements needed to the town’s rights of way network of footpaths.

Volunteers will be asked to walk specific footpaths, taking photographs and complete a short condition survey. This information will help establish the conditions, general cleanliness, and accessibility of the paths, enabling the Town Council to devise a plan for future improvements in partnership with Cheshire East Council and landowners.

“Knutsford is fortunate to have several public rights of way across the town and out into the wider countryside providing attractive routes for exercise and active travel. This survey will help record their current condition and help us identify any improvements needed to the network” said Town Clerk, Adam Keppel-Green.

those interested in participating in this initiative are invited to contact Jeanette Hine at jeanette.hine@knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk or contact the council offices on 01565 653929.

Discover Knutsford this Christmas

Discover Knutsford this festive season for shopping, entertainment, and celebration!

The weekend of 30th November and 1st December welcomes the Christmas cheer with Knutsford’s Christmas Markets, two days of the finest artisan market stalls. Join us for great food, drinks, and Christmas spirit. 12-7pm Saturdays 30th November and 11-4pm Sunday 1stDecember.

Also, on Saturday 30th November the stage will be set for a full day of live entertainment featuring choirs from the local primary schools, dancing performances and local singers. The stage will be presented by Silk FM who, with the help of the Mayor of Knutsford and special guests, will switch on our Christmas Lights in Canute Place at 6pm. Headlining the event will be local band The Breakfast Club.

Catch a glimpse of Santa on his sleigh at 5.30pm as he makes his was along King Street, up Minshull Street to Canute Place where he will join the Mayor on stage. The Santa parade will feature music from City of Chester Brass Band and Anna and Elsa!

Children’s Adventure Farm Trust will be raising money for their charity (CAFT) in this year’s grotto which can be found on Silk Mill Street, outside the Market Hall. The grotto will be open Saturday 30th November 12-4pm and Sunday 1st December 11-4pm. No booking necessary.

We are grateful to our brilliant sponsors this year without whom the festive weekend would not be possible. Special thanks to Savills for sponsoring the Christmas Lights switch on, Bruntwood for sponsoring the Christmas Lights, Speedy Freight who sponsor our tree and Cygnet Health for their sponsorship of the Christmas Market.

This year’s Crib Service will take place on Saturday 7th December at 4pm. Join the Mayor’s Community Crib Service where the Mayor’s chaplain will bless the town crib and Christmas carols will be sung supported by the City of Chester Brass Band. The service begins at approximately 4pm.

Remember to pick up your Discover Knutsford Christmas Gift Guide from one of our local businesses or visit the Discover Knutsford team at the Christmas markets to grab up your copy!

For further information please visit www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk or www.discoverknutsford.com or send an email to enquiries@knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk

Notes

Photo credits – Tessa Carrol

Enquiries – alex.molloy@knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk

A lady holding a Taste Knutsford Voucher

Cottons Hotel & Spa now accepts the Knutsford voucher

Cottons Hotel & Spa now accepts the Knutsford voucher

Knutsford’s own high street voucher can now be redeemed at Cotton’s Hotel & Spa along with over forty other Knutsford based businesses.

The Knutsford Voucher was launched in 2020 with the aim to offer a gift voucher exclusively for Knutsford shops that goes directly to local businesses, supporting the town’s economy.

Following a recent refresh of the voucher design, Cottons Hotel & Spa are the latest business to sign up to accept the voucher as a payment method.

Barbara Simms from Cottons Hotel & Spa said: “We are delighted to be a part of the Knutsford voucher scheme. It’s a great way to support local businesses throughout the year, if you have a voucher to spend come down and see us!”

Sandra Curties, Knutsford Town Council’s Town Centre Manager said, “The scheme is a cost-effective way to direct spend to our town’s independent shops, bars, cafes, and restaurants.”

“The vouchers come in denominations of £5, £10 or £20 and come presented in a beautiful gift card making them the perfect gift!” Sandra added.

A full list of business accepting the voucher can be found on the Town Council’s website alongside how to purchase vouchers. A broad selection of businesses accepts the vouchers including Oil Art Advisory, Flock of Arts, Detaljer, Arthur Lee, Hal Whittaker and Knutsford Olde Sweet Shoppe. Soon you will also be able to purchase them on the council’s tourism focused sister-site – www.discoverknutsford.com

Businesses in Knutsford interested in joining the voucher scheme are encouraged to contact Sandra Curties on 01565 653929. It is important to note only Knutsford based shops, excluding surrounding villages are eligible to join the voucher scheme.

Knutsford at Home

Knutsford was a mini ‘Ideal Home Exhibition’ on September 21st, with its home and interior design shops hosting its third Knutsford at Home Event. Knutsford at Home was sponsored by Slater and Gordon.

The event was a collaboration between the home and interior shops and businesses in the town centre and coordinated by Knutsford Town Council under their Discover Knutsford brand. It offered shoppers a ‘menu of inspiration’ including talks from artists such as Diane Marsland in Holly Johnson Antiques, an alcohol Ink Art workshop In Havwoods and a gardening talk by RHS Associate of Honour Sam Youd. There were also two ‘Ask the Architect sessions’ – Hive Architects in Arthur Lee and Bianca Morgan in Susie Watson Designs. The full list of shops taking part was, Arthur Lee Interiors, Detaljer, Havwoods, Holly Johnson Antiques, Kendal Quality Carpets, NaturalMat, Oil Art Advisory, Oka, RI Home, Sofas and Stuff, Susie Watson Designs and Terzetto Stone.

Helen Dufton co-owner of Arthur Lee said, “’This was our third Knutsford at Home event, and it was lovely to see our shop buzzing with customers both new and old. We opened our side terrace too so customers could enjoy the September sun. A huge thanks to everyone who popped into see us and our fellow Knutsford businesses.”

Andrea Young of Havwoods, said: ‘12 of our lovely clients attended our In Art workshop hosted by our very talented friend and amazing artist Louise Williamson aka Big Canvas Art. I have to say we were blown away by the unique art work that was created by a group of complete novices. Images of ocean landscapes, flower gardens, abstract and my very own atomic explosion. We also welcomed new customers to the showroom throughout the day. A big thank you to everyone who attended and also to Lyndsey Dyson for helping me host such a successful event.’’

Sandra Curties, Knutsford Town Council’s Town Centre Manager, said, “These events are all about promoting Knutsford as a destination shopping venue and offering a bespoke shopping experience that cannot be replicated online. A huge thanks to those who gave up their time to deliver the workshops. We loved the way our shops worked together and seeing visitors mapping out their day using the flyers was fabulous.  We look forward to a better and bigger event next year.”

A group of people sat on sofas inside Oka
Four ladies gathered around a table inside Holly Johnson Antiques
Flyer showing pictures of cakes and bunting

Picnic in the park- Big birthday bake off – Sunday 22nd September 12- 4

Join us and Knutsford Bake Club in the bake-off tent where you can purchase delicious cakes baked by Knutsford Bake Club (with all proceeds going to the mayor’s charities: The Welcome and Just Drop in).

You can also put your baking skills to the test by baking a birthday cake (or tray bake) to celebrate the 50th birthday of Knutsford Town Council.

If you would like to enter the competition, please bring your bread, cake or tray bake between 1-2pm. The Mayor of Knutsford will be judging entries at 2:30pm, with the winners taking home a gift voucher. All ages and abilities are welcome.

For more information, please email gemma.jackson@knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk

Heritage Open Days comes to Knutsford 6-8th September

A bustling programme of heritage activity is available in Knutsford next weekend as part of the national Heritage Open Days event.

Knutsford Town Council has coordinated a programme of activity as part of the heritage festival which aims to celebrate the rich heritage across the UK. The council’s aim is to promote Knutsford as a place to visit for the first weekend of Heritage Open Days and to foster a better appreciation of the rich heritage we have on our doorstep. Materials to support the event have been funded by the UK Government as part of the Shared Prosperity Fund.

Heritage Open Days is always a free programme of events and Knutsford’s main events take place over the weekend of 6th– 8th September. While all events are free, some do require booking so please visit www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/heritageopendays for full details and booking information. 

Printed guides are also available from the Heritage Centre, Library, Council Offices and businesses around town.

Taking place on Friday 6th September is a tour of Booths Hall, Booths Mere and the ruins of St Helena’s Church, an exhibition on Knutsford’s links with Mrs Gaskell and the arrival of the railway and two screenings of the Knutsford: Tales of War film at the Curzon. Friday also sees the launch of a new book by local historian Jenny Collis with a book talk and signing for Knutsford, our streets through time.  You can also take a guide tour of St Cross Church, visit the Tabley House collection and take part in a ghost walk!

Saturday 7th starts with a fully booked tour of the Courthouse and later that afternoon there is a talk at Egerton Place on the Egerton Connection from Knutsford to Kenya.

On Sunday 8th you could take part in a guided tours of the town’s historic coaching inns, take part in the ghost walk you missed on Friday evening or visit the Brook St Chapel for a special history themed service.

Perfect Park Pictures

Perfect Parks Exhibition

A mini display of Knutsford’s primary school pupils’ artwork depicting their ‘perfect park’ is currently being exhibited at Knutsford Market Hall on Silk Mill Street. 

The exhibition was part of Knutsford Town Council’s Green Spaces research which took place before the school summer holidays. The perfect park competition asked children to draw their perfect park whilst adults completed a survey giving their opinions on the town’s current green spaces. The results of this research will help to inform, guide and secure investment in public open space across the town.

Town Clerk Adam Keppel Green said “The pictures children drew were delightful and deserve to be seen by everyone. We had everything from paddling pools and climbing walls to a giraffe DJ!”

The display will be at the Market Hall until end of September.

Sigiriya Knutsford

Sigiriya joins Taste Knutsford

One of Knutsford’s newest restaurants, Sigiriya, has joined Taste Knutsford, a popular monthly food tour that takes place in Cheshire’s leading foodie market town.

Don Buddhika owner of Sigiriya said, “We are excited to join the Taste Knutsford team and meet the tour guests. We will be offering a lunch option with a range of our ‘small plates’ giving customers a true and authentic taste of Sri Lanka.”

Sandra Curties, Town Centre Manager, said, “Sigiriya opened in late 2023 and has become a popular fixture on Knutsford’s hospitality scene. Our tour only champions our independent and small regional eateries and Sigiriya offers something a little bit different. We are sure this will be a popular stop!

Sandra, continued, “We love arranging these tours and our venues always roll out the red carpet to our guests. The feedback we receive regarding the tours is always positive with guests leaving very full! Our tour guides are knowledgeable about each venue and the town, encouraging quests to stay, linger and spend in Knutsford.”

Taste Knutsford was established in 2018 and promotes and supports a range of independent venues in the town centre including: April’s Kitchen, Cranford Café & Sandwich Bar, Dexter and Jones, Evuna, Morgan Edwards, Hot Cocoa, King Street Kitchen, Real Fruit Creamery, Café on the Corner, The Market Hall Butcher, The Market Café, The Tea Room, Detaljer and Tatton Perk.

Any small regional or independent hospitality venue can take part in the tour and if you wish to take part in a tour you can book via www.tasteknutsford.co.uk  Private tours for 8 or more can also be arranged.

Sigiriya is located on 15 Tatton Street Knutsford WA16 6AB and bookings can be made here https://www.sevenrooms.com/reservations/sigiriyagrill

Family Fest Knutsford

Fun family day out at Family Fest

The sun was shining on Sunday 11th August for the second Knutsford Family Fest. Families flocked to the town to take advantage of the variety of family friendly activities across shops, restaurants and community spaces in Knutsford town centre.

Attendees had options to start the day gently with a yoga session from Sataya Sanctuary or enjoy a morning story time at Waterstones. Stable Minds also opened their doors for the day allowing families to do some mindfulness activities and view their art therapy rooms and sensory area.

For the creatives there were music taster sessions from Popcat, art sessions hosted by Kim Smart Art and even pizza making at Gusto. Party Time punctuated the end of the day at Charlton Lodge with a party session hosted by Bunny Business and Disney character Stitch.

The Knutsford Fire Service was in attendance outside the Lost and Found showing children around the fire engine and Knutsford Police were positioned at the top of Minshull Street allowing families to view the police car. Minshull Street and the area outside The Lost and Found were both bustling with diners as restaurants hosted alfresco eating.

Knutsford Olde Sweet Shoppe hosted a fancy dress competition presenting a prize from Hal Whittaker for the overall winner and a little bag of sweets for each entrant. The competition was judged by former mayor, Cllr Peter Coan.

The sponsor of the event, Evuna, put on a special Family Fest menu especially for the kids. They also had a visit from Disney character Stitch over lunch time, much to the delight of the children.

Sandra Curties, Town Centra Manager at Knutsford Town Council said; We were delighted with the response to our second family Fest. The sun shone and children of all ages seemed to have a wonderful time. Thanks to everyone who collaborated on this event, we can’t wait for Family Fest 2025!

Natalie Abrams from Popcats Music Time said ’I loved being involved in Family Fest this year. Getting to know new families and exploring music and movement together. What a fun day we all had! As a family we also enjoyed the activities that were on too’

Business reps gather to promote Knutsford at Home

Knutsford At Home to return in September

Knutsford at Home, Knutsford’s home and interiors inspiration event, returns to the town centre this Autumn on Saturday 21st September. Designed to inspire attendees with their upcoming home projects no matter how big or small, the event is the product of a collaboration between local interior businesses and Knutsford Town Council.

Highlighting the vast collection of home interior shops and specialists available in Knutsford, the day includes artist workshops, architect consults, exclusive offers, and the launch of new collections.

Participants can also attend a talk by former Head Gardener at Tatton Park, Sam Youd. He will draw upon his vast experience in horticulture to present a talk titled ‘Plotting & Planning’ held in the Secret Room at Lost & Found.

There will also be several artist workshops including one focussed on ‘Alcohol Ink Art’ at Havwoods, a flooring shop on Regent Street. Hosted by Louise Williamson from Big Canvas Art, this day long workshop will take you through the process to create stunning artwork. At Holly Johnson Antiques decorative surface designer Diane Marsland will be demonstrating her techniques for hand painting chinoiserie silk. The next day on the 22nd September she will be co-hosting a taster Silk Painting Workshop alongside Julie Hamer where participants can further explore these painting techniques themselves.

Designer experts and architects will be available throughout shops in town to advise and inspire attendees with their projects. Many shops will also serve light refreshments for a relaxed shopping environment.

Business taking part include;

  • KQC, King Street
  • Havwoods, Regent Street
  • Detaljer, Princess Street
  • Oka, King Edward Road
  • Arthur Lee, Toft Road
  • R.I Home, King Street
  • Holly Johnson Antiques, Egerton Square
  • Oil Art Advisory, King Street
  • Susie Watson Designs, King Street
  • Terzetto Stone, King Street
  • Naturalmat, Tatton Street
  • Fired Earth
  • Bianca Morgan Architects
  • Hive Architects

The event has generously been sponsored by the Knutsford Family Law office of Slater & Gordon.

A leaflet containing information about the event including all booking details for  activities has been distributed around Knutsford Town Centre. There is also further information on www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk and on socials @discoverknutsford.