Tag Archives: Community

Alfresco dining will take place in Knutsford on four summer Sundays in July and August this year.

Minshull Street will close on 9^th June and 11^th August from 9.30am to 10.30pm, and on Sunday 28^th July and 18^th August a section of King Street will do the same. This will allow restaurants, bars, and cafes to place tables and chairs outside for outdoor dining.

Knutsford Town Council has collaborated with town centre restaurants and cafes to organise the road closures and allow for large scale outdoor dining days throughout the summer. Core Highways will be providing traffic management services, and the roads will re-open at 10:30pm ready for the next day’s trading.

The first alfresco evenings took place in September 2021 as part of the Town Council’s work supporting local business during post lockdown recovery. The event returned in 2022 and 2023 with less success due to poor weather.

Sandra Curties, Town Centre Manager said, “We are pleased to be working with our hospitality venues on this event. Last year was a disappointment due to the weather and after reviewing the event with those involved, it was agreed to move them to a Sunday. This gives the venues more time to welcome dog walkers and Sunday shoppers as well as more time for the rain to stop!”

The Minshull Street and Princess Street closure and covers the following:

• The entire length on Minshull Street
• The section of Princess Street outside Lost & Found.

The King Street, road closure takes place on and covers the following areas:

• King Street from the junction with Church Hill to the junction with Minshull Street.

The following venues will be providing alfresco dining or drinking tables from 9.30am to 10.30pm –

Princess & Minshull Street (9^th June and 11^th August)

• Café on the Corner
• Lost & Found
• April’s Kitchen
• Linden Stores
• The Angel

King Street (28^th July and 18^th August)

• Morgan Edwards
• Gusto
• Smokehouse and Cellar
• King Street Kitchen
• Wine and Wallop

Sandra continues “These road closures provide additional outside space to venues for their customers to enjoy the amazing food and drink Knutsford offers while also enjoying the iconic surroundings of Knutsford town centre. We hope these sessions are busy and give the town centre a lively continental atmosphere during the summer months. August 11^th also coincides with FamilyFest, so this is definitely a date for the diaries”.

Patrons are urged to contact their chosen venue direct to see whether they need to book a space in advance. If the evenings are cancelled due to adverse weather, the cancellation will be announced across the following social media platforms; Discover Knutsford, Knutsford Town Council, and the participating venues.

Knutsford will once again be on the Heritage Open Days map as the Town Council is working to coordinate a programme of activity for the country’s largest festival of culture and heritage.

Heritage Open Days takes place every September with the aim of providing free events that bring history to life and provide access to interesting historical places. The 2024 festival runs from 6^th to 15^th September.

The council is setting up a working group of interested parties to develop activity for the festival and is keen to hear from anyone who would like to take part.

Town Clerk, Adam Keppel-Green said “Knutsford has so much heritage to celebrate, from incredible buildings to links with multiple notable people from history and Heritage Open Days is a great opportunity to showcase what we have.”

The council is also keen to hear from owners of historic properties who would be willing to open them up to the public as part of the festival to small tour groups, offering a rare chance to see part of the town’s history that isn’t routinely on show.

Anyone who is interested in delivering an event as part of Heritage Open Days or able to provide access to a historic site, can contact Sara Frith on sara.frith@knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk

Flash Fashion Knutsford is set to return this year on the 18^th May, providing the perfect opportunity for shoppers to get inspired and refresh their wardrobes for summer.

The day-long event started in 2019 as a collaboration between Knutsford Town Council and local boutiques to highlight the wonderful collection of independent fashion retailers in Knutsford.

The day will kick off at 11am in Lost and Found with a fashion show featuring the latest looks from local boutiques, compered by Katy Rickitt of Dexter and Jones. Attendees then peruse the shops and enjoy a variety of complimentary services in store including on-hand stylists, beauty treatments, a glass of fizz and goody bags.

Participating stores include

• Kanoa Living
• Cocaranti
• Redress at Dexter and Jones
• Blossom Boutique
• Paris Ladies Boutique
• Bare Necessities
• Willow Boutiques
• Smook Styling
• Chalk 33
• Milania Boutique
• Roberta Beauty Redefined
• Zapatos
• Milania Boutique
• Second Hand Styling
• Clare and Illingworth
• L ’Atelier London
• Smook Styling at Gusto
• Lanigan and Hulme

Sean Spooner, General Manager, of The Lost and Found, said, “We are delighted to host the catwalk show again. We love being able to support our wonderful independent fashion boutiques. It is great fun and there is such a lovely buzz during the show. We also offer 20% of our brunch menu for all the fashionistas on the day too!”

Davina Armitage from Cocaranti said “We are so excited to be involved in Flash Fashion Knutsford again this year. The shop always has a lovely vibe with customers enjoying an extra special shopping experience from all the fashion indies in town. And we can’t wait to show everyone our Spring Summer collections” .

New for this year is a talk by Laura Davies of Smook Styling which will focus on 5 steps to Unforgettable Style which is kindly hosted by Gusto Restaurants.

Maps will be available from shops and eateries around Knutsford shortly to allow shoppers to plan their day. There will also be free parking for the day at Silk Mill Street, King Street and Princess Street car parks from 10am.

This January, Knutsford will experience its first Wellness Week. Organised by Knutsford Town Council, this weeklong event will showcase a range of talks, presentations and taster sessions focussing on physical and mental health. The pop ups, from a broad variety of Knutsford based health and wellbeing businesses, will take place across different venues in Knutsford town centre starting on Saturday 20^th January and running until Saturday 27^th January.

The activities will start off at Lost and Found with informative pop-ups from Helen Jones Nutritional Therapist, Jem Gunn Body Image Therapy, Sian Winslade Coaching, Reflexology Manchester and Just Drop in. As sponsors of the event, Slater & Gordon Knutsford Family Law will also be there to talk about the services they offer.

Georgina Chase who runs the Slater & Gordon Knutsford Family Law office at 10 Church View said “Slater & Gordon are proud to be sponsoring the Knutsford health and wellness week, raising awareness of how important wellbeing is to people in the community”.

Throughout the week there will be opportunities to book onto sessions such as fitness, yoga, podiatry, life coaching, hearing checks and counselling to allow Knutsford residents to try out new services related to their wellbeing. Many of the taster sessions will be complimentary or discounted.

Roberta Dyer from Roberta Beauty Redefined said “January is the perfect time to evaluate your health and wellbeing.”

“We are excited to be part of the wellness week showcasing taster treatments that help health and skin concerns.”

Sandra Curties, Town Centre Manager at Knutsford Town Council said “We are delighted to facilitate this week long event to shine a light on the health and wellbeing services available in Knutsford.”

“As many of the taster sessions are complimentary or discounted, this collaboration will allow residents the opportunity to easily try new techniques or support services to improve their wellbeing.”

“Booking is essential for some events; this can be done directly with the host. A full programme, including all booking details, will be available to pick up from town centre businesses from early January.”

Businesses involved include:

• Helen Jones Nutritional Therapist
• Jem Gunn Body Image Therapy
• Sian Winslade Coaching
• Reflexology Manchester
• Just Drop In
• Yogi with Sho
• Nxtep Gym
• Saks Hairdressing
• Knutsford Iyengar Yoga Centre
• NaturalMat
• Roberta Beauty Redefined
• Outside the Box Therapies
• Nancy Camp
• Carrot Banana Peach
• The Wellness Web
• Carmichael Clinic
• Healthwatch
• The Mum Club Knutsford
• Lotus Blossom Gift Co
• Knutsford Hearing Centre
• Stable Minds