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.

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.

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.

New Visitor Information Information Launches

Knutsford Town Council has launched a new ‘Visitor Information Guide’ under its Discover Knutsford brand, designed to provide overnight visitors with essential local information for a seamless stay. Distribution is underway across the town, with copies delivered to local hotels, traditional pubs, self-catering accommodation, and cottages within Tatton Park. Designed to pair with the existing Town Centre Shopping Map, the guide offers a comprehensive resource for exploring the historical market town.

Kyri Miller, Tourism and Marketing Officer for Knutsford Town Council, said:

“Knutsford is one of Cheshire’s premier destinations. Whether visitors are staying for business, attending a weekend wedding, or enjoying a short break, we want to ensure they have essential local details right at their fingertips. This new guide perfectly complements our shopping map and the Discover Knutsford website.”

Local accommodation owners have welcomed the initiative, Natasha Kelly, of Tatton Kelly, who manages several self-catering holiday lets in the town centre said, “It is great to have these two guides to Knutsford in our places. Whether staying overnight for a wedding, travelling for business or making a weekend of it, having local up to date local information helps our guests make the most of their stay”.

Kath Gibb, co-owner of The Silk Rooms collection said, “We are a small boutique design led mix of 10 rooms in the heart of Knutsford. We welcome both leisure and business guests and additional information such as this helps our guest’s visitor experience.”

Local overnight accommodation providers, wishing to stock the guides can contact Kyri Miller directly at  kyri.miller@knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk

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.

Winner Beatrix Bird aged 5 and her brother Felix Bird. Credit- Mark Bird

Young Treasure Hunters Help Raise Over £250 for Pirate Pete’s (Mayor of Knutsford) Charities

Families across Knutsford took to the streets during the summer holidays to follow the clues, discover hidden treasure, and explore some of the town’s local businesses.

The trail, which ran from 18 July to 2 September, proved a hit with families, with the event receiving a very warm response from residents and visitors.

The Mayor of Knutsford, Cllr Peter Coan, said:

“It has been fantastic to see so many children and families getting involved with Pirate Pete this summer. We wanted to create something fun that encouraged people to explore our town while also raising money for Men’s Shed Knutsford and the four primary school’s PTAs.

A huge thank you to everyone who bought a booklet, followed the clues and took part. Most importantly, thank you to all the local businesses who helped make Pirate Pete’s adventure possible.”

The treasure trail was sponsored by Satya Sanctuary, Knutsford Heritage Centre, York & Co, Knutsford Olde Sweet Shoppe, Linden Stores, Detaljer, Dexter & Jones, Tatton Perk, Booths and Real Fruit Creamery.

Children who completed the trail could hand in their completed booklet to be entered into the Grand Prize Draw, with one lucky treasure hunter taking home the main prize.

Beatrix Bird aged 5 was drawn as the grand-prize winner.

The mayor’s charities for 2026/27 are Knutsford Men’s Shed and the PTAs of Knutsford’s primary schools, with funds raised from the trail being shared between these causes.

The mayor added:

“Pirate Pete may be sailing off for now, but I think he has left his mark on Knutsford! We’re delighted that the trail has not only given families something fun to do over the summer but has also raised over £250”.

The mayor will also be hosting a bingo night on the 27th of November, with a bar and cash prizes to be won. Tickets are £15 and can be purchased here

Paint Knutsford Brings Art, Culture and Creativity to Knutsford

Knutsford was transformed into a celebration of art, culture and creativity on Sunday 16th August as artists from across the area took to the streets for Paint Knutsford 2026.

The event saw the town centre filled with over 40 artists capturing Knutsford’s streets, buildings and surroundings on canvas, paper and even vinyl records, creating a fantastic atmosphere for both artists and visitors. It was an amazing day, enjoyed by people of all ages and a wonderful opportunity to experience the town through the eyes of the artists taking part.

After a day of painting, the final competition took place at Knutsford Market Hall, where the artwork was brought together for judging. The judging panel included Laura Blansky from Clarendon Gallery, Anna Bates Patel from the Tabley House Collection and local artist Kay Davenport.

The standard of artwork was incredibly high, making it a very difficult decision for the judges. A huge congratulations goes to Amanda Mulquiney, who was named the overall winner of Paint Knutsford 2026, with John Mills awarded runner-up. Both artists produced fantastic work, and their awards were very well deserved.

The event also offered plenty of opportunities for people to get involved with art themselves. A life art class was held at Wallwood, giving participants the chance to explore life drawing and painting, while a children’s art area on The Moor encouraged younger visitors to get creative and have a go at making their own artwork.

Running alongside Paint Knutsford was Knutsford Alfresco Dining, with an amazing 14 local businesses taking part and bringing outdoor dining to the town throughout the day. This added to the fantastic atmosphere across Knutsford, with visitors able to relax, enjoy the sunshine and soak up the artwork and activities taking place.

The combination of Paint Knutsford and Alfresco Dining meant Knutsford was full of art, culture, fun and festivities, creating an amazing day for residents, visitors, artists and local businesses.

Paint Knutsford was made possible thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and partners: Tatton Perk, King Street Dental and the Tabley House Care Home.

Mark Lee-Kilgariff from main sponsor, Tatton Perk, said, “What a wonderful day celebrating art, creativity, and the amazing talent that Paint Knutsford brings together. It’s fantastic to see the town come alive through the artists’ work and to be part of such a brilliant community event. Our sponsorship of Paint Knutsford is part of Tatton Perk’s wider support for artists across Cheshire. Alongside supporting events like this, we’re proud to host regular pop-up gallery evenings and a curated gallery wall at our Chelford coffee shop and bar. It’s wonderful to be able to provide opportunities for local artists to showcase their work and connect with the community.”

Caroline Haynes, Events Manager at Knutsford Town Council, said, “Paint Knutsford was an amazing day, and it was fantastic to see the town filled with artists, residents and visitors enjoying everything the event had to offer. We would like to say a huge thank you to all of the artists, volunteers, judges, sponsors and local businesses who helped make the event such a success, and congratulations to all the artists for taking part.” The event showcased the creativity and character of Knutsford while bringing people together to enjoy art, culture, food and entertainment. It was a fantastic celebration of the town and a wonderful event for everyone involved.