'This is what Stockport has been missing'

Stockroom has opened in Merseyway Shopping Centre.

It’s the trendy new place to be in Stockport. Opening its doors to the public for the first time on May 24, Stockroom is the town’s new library, as well as a place for art, culture, events, families, and a café.

The opening weekend was celebrated with a packed schedule of events, and hundreds of people popping through the doors to check out Stockport’s new cultural hub.

But Stockroom is also playing a role in the town’s massive regeneration, by bringing former shops back into use.

The building is based in Merseyway Shopping Centre, spanning two floors of what was once a Mothercare and Topshop.

What has replaced them could become a centre of culture for both Stockport and Greater Manchester.

“This place is what Stockport has been missing,” says Max Chandler, an events assistant at Stockroom.

The 24-year-old has signed up to be part of Stockroom’s future, helping visitors during events in the new hub.

She added: “Everyone’s very curious, a lot of people haven’t seen the building or heard about it before, so they’re coming in asking what it is, and having an explore.

“I think it’s great, it’s nice to get everyone together, we’ve got things for everyone here, it’s nice that we’ve got a welcoming and inclusive space.”

It’s fair to say there was a lot of interest in the opening days of Stockroom opening.

During a visit after the opening weekend, the Local Democracy Reporting Service found it to be busy with visitors.

Families brought their children to see the new learning areas, while others were chatting over coffee, and some were using the space as a place to work.

Stockport council says there were more than 15,000 visitors over the opening weekend and May bank holiday Monday, and that Merseyway enjoyed its busiest week so far in 2025.

Kris Overend is a Stockport resident who visited Stockroom just after the opening weekend.

“It’s really important for Stockport as a town centre to have a space like this,” he said.

“It’s connecting the wider community together, and putting Stockport back on the map and inviting other communities to come in and use the space.”

Rachel Hall, the library manager at Stockroom, added: “We’ve had a really warm embrace from everybody, lots of curious people exploring the space and seeing what we’re about.

“The life of it is going to make Stockport even more of a destination, and there’s already so much happening, so it’s nice to establish ourselves as part of that.”

Stockroom has opened at a time when huge changes are taking place around Stockport.

A short distance from Merseyway Shopping Centre, Stockport’s transport interchange opened last year, with links to the railway station and calls for a future Metrolink extension.

There are also plans to build around 8,000 new homes in the town centre over the next 15 years, to help meet the huge demand for housing in the borough.

Places like Stockroom are designed to help all of that, by bringing more people to Stockport, and offering a place which residents can enjoy all-year round.

But it also plays an important role as the town’s new library, especially with Central Library on Wellington Road being closed temporarily since May 12, for ‘essential maintenance and improvement works’.

Funded by the government's Future High Streets Fund, the project was initially expected to cost around £14.5m, but the overall price of the scheme hit more than £16m due to rising inflation, which Stockport council helped to finance.

Lucy Harris brought her two children to Stockroom to see what all the fuss was about.

She said: “I think this is fantastic, it’s just what Stockport needs. It’s great to see other families as well, it just makes it accessible for everyone, which is great.

“It’s great to see this funding being spent so well.”

Council leader Mark Roberts described the opening of Stockroom as a “celebration” of Stockport itself.

“Stockroom is going to be a place where ideas come to life and people connect - and a big part of Stockport’s future,” he said.

“I’d encourage everyone to pop in, explore the space, and get involved - there’s so much to discover, and something for absolutely everyone.”

Coun Dan Oliver, the council’s lead on culture, said Stockroom opening was a “proud” moment for the town.

“By attracting new visitors and providing a welcoming space for everyone, it will play a key role in revitalising our town centre and supporting a thriving, connected community,” he added.

“Stockroom is a celebration of local talent and a hub for creativity and I can’t wait to see how local people make this space their own.”