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

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

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

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

The front of a war memorial with cadets in the background out of focus

Remembrance Sunday 2026

Knutsford Town Council and the Knutsford Branch of the Royal British Legion invite the community to join the services of remembrance on Sunday 8th November.

The programme for the day is as follows:

09:00-10:00         Community Remembrance Church Service at St Johns Church

10:10-10:25         Parade assembles at King St Car Park

10:25-10:45       Parade to Centennial War Memorial

10:55-11:35       Service at the Centennial War Memorial

12:00-12:25        Service at the Crosstown War Memorial

12:45-13:05       Service at the Tatton Park Parachute Regiment Memorial

13:30-13:35       Town Mayor to lay wreath at Centennial Place Memorial Garden

The church service at St John’s will take place before the parade and the parade will march to the Centennial War Memorial.

The whole community is welcome to join any or all parts of the day.

The principal wreath laying will take place at the Centennial War Memorial and organisations wishing to lay a wreath are requested to advise Gemma Jackson, Civic Events Officer, in advance by emailing gemma.jackson@knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk. Only those who have notified the Civic Events Officer in advance will be called up to lay a wreath on the day.

After the main services of remembrance, the Town Mayor will also lay a wreath in the Centennial Place memorial garden at 1:30pm.

Knutsford’s Biggest Heritage Open Days Programme To Date

Knutsford Town Council has delivered its biggest Heritage Open Days programme to date, with 17 events held across ten days — almost double from last year. The programme also saw strong demand for tours, talks, exhibitions and workshops across the town.

The annual programme gave residents and visitors the opportunity to step behind the doors of Knutsford’s fascinating past and discover the stories, people and places that have shaped the town.

As part of England’s largest festival of history and culture, this year’s ‘Working Histories’ theme explored Knutsford’s past through a programme of events highlighting some of the town’s iconic and hidden heritage sites, including places not normally open to the public.

Events included talks and activities exploring life in Knutsford’s historic workhouse at Jubilee Hall and Knutsford Heritage Centre, giving visitors an insight into what daily life was like for people who lived there.

Jenny Collis said: “It was a privilege to share workhouse history with an audience of over 100 people. While facts provide the essential framework, it was the story of Martha, John, and their young children that truly resonated. Hearing that the audience was spellbound, with ‘you could hear a pin drop’, shows how powerful storytelling is for bringing local history to life.”

Visitors also had the opportunity to explore the historic Marble Arch on King Street, formerly the Mermaid coaching inn, and The Yellow House, formerly The Old Laundry. Both tours proved so popular that a second tour was added at each property.

New for 2026 was Knutsford Through Film and Photographs, which offered a nostalgic look at the town’s past through historic postcards and film from the Northwest Film Archive. Around 50 people visited the Knutsford Town Council offices to view the collection.

Visitor feedback included comments that the exhibition was “really fascinating and nostalgic” and that it was “refreshing to see how the town has changed”.

The programme also included exhibitions at Brook Street Chapel, including an Elizabeth Gaskell birthday commemoration, with talks, films and displays exploring the history of the Grade I listed chapel and Knutsford’s heritage.

Guided tours of St John’s Church and self-guided tours of St Cross Church offered further opportunities to explore the history, architecture and heritage of Knutsford, while a special opportunity to climb the bell tower at St Cross Church provided a new perspective of the town from above.

Tabley House also opened its collection to visitors, with a focus on the lives of the servants who worked at the house and estate. The tearoom and chapel were open throughout the event.

Hands-on activities formed another part of the programme, including a traditional willow weaving workshop at Knutsford Market Hall, where participants learnt basic weaving techniques and created their own handmade pieces.

The Town Council also thanked the local organisations and businesses that supported the programme, including Heritage Ghost Walk, Knutsford Market Hall and Arthur Lee Interiors. Their contributions helped bring different aspects of Knutsford’s history and heritage to life, from local ghost stories and family-friendly creative activities to the story of a long-established Knutsford family business founded in 1919 and now run by the fourth generation of the Lee family.

All events were free, with advance booking required for some activities due to limited capacity. All bookable activities sold out, highlighting the strong interest in Knutsford’s heritage and history.

A group of volunteers standing on a public footpath

From Overgrown to Open: Volunteers Work Their Magic

Knutsford’s Tidy Town Days are taking off as once again residents came together to help improve access along the well-used footpath.

As part of its strategy to support active travel and accessibility for the community, and keep Knutsford well maintained, Knutsford Town Council arranged its third Tidy Town Day to help clear the build-up of detritus and overgrowth which has been narrowing the footpath from Kenilworth Avenue to Manor Park South

On Tuesday 25th August, 5 volunteers kindly gave their morning to cut back overgrowth, clear leaf litter and remove other vegetation from the route. The small but mighty team worked their magic, helping to make the footway tidier, safer and more welcoming for residents. 

Jeanette Hine, Corporate Support Manager said “I am really pleased with how the Tidy Town Days are bringing our community together.  It is lovely to see everyone getting stuck in and having fun to help make the town cleaner, brighter and easier to explore.  We would like to thank everyone who gave their time to help support our Tidy Town Day and make it such a great success”

The next Tidy Town Day will be Tuesday 15th September, helping to clear another section on Sparrow Lane.  Anyone who would like to register an interest, please get in touch with Jeanette Hine at jeanette.hine@knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk or contact the council offices on 01565 653929.

A footpath covered in leaf litter
A man and woman clearing leaf litter from a footpath

Debt Centre Encourages Community Not to Suffer in Silence

Hope Central Knutsford has been granted £1500 through Knutsford Town Council’s Community Grant Scheme to support the work of its debt centre.

The Debt Centre is a vital local service, supporting residents facing unmanageable debt to take control of their finances, find a way forward and breathe a little easier.

Debt can have a devastating impact on people’s mental health. Christians Against Poverty (CAP) reports that 46% of its surveyed clients had considered ending their own life as a way out of debt, highlighting just how important services like this can be.

One local resident who used Hope Central’s services said, “A huge weight has been lifted and we have been given a fresh start for our family. Reach out, don’t suffer in silence. It’s never too late and there is always a solution.”

Hope Central provide face-to-face appointments, usually in the client’s home offering practical financial guidance and emotional support which is particularly important for people who may struggle to access other services. The Debt Centre operates in partnership with CAP, which provides the specialist systems, guidance and regulated debt advice required to deliver the service. The Town Council grant will help fund this essential partnership and enable the service to continue supporting Knutsford residents.

Barney Howard of Hope Central said “We are incredibly grateful to Knutsford Town Council for their financial support of our Debt Centre. This funding enables us to continue helping people become free from the weight of unmanageable debt.

Since launching the centre in partnership with CAP in 2021, we have supported 156 households. This funding means we can not only help people become debt free, but also empower them to rebuild their lives; whether that’s returning to work, gaining the skills to manage their finances confidently, or reconnecting to community.

Anyone can find themselves in debt, and no matter how overwhelming it feels, there is always a way forward. If you are struggling with debt or arrears, please contact our team on 0800 328 0006 to book an appointment.”

Hope Central is a Christian charity committed to bringing hope and relieving poverty across Cheshire East. Recognising that poverty and financial hardship can affect anyone, the charity provides practical support to those in need. Through its food banks, Debt Centre and employment support, its services create long term solutions to protect and support vulnerable people to live an independent life.

For more information about Hope Central please visit https://hopecentral.org.uk/. To refer yourself or someone else to their debt service please call 0800 328 0006.

The Town Council’s Community Grant Scheme provides grants of up to £1,500 to support community projects and activities within Knutsford. Funding priorities include providing services/opportunities for young people or older people, providing new or improved assets or services for the community and enhancing the profile or reputation of the Town.

The next deadline for Community Grant Scheme applications is 11th September. For more information visit: https://www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/services/community-grants.