Blog

JULY 5

10 – 2.30pm

Shaw rd

Heaton Moor

Stockport

SK4 4AG

Looking forward to seeing everyone at our next market, July 5^th. It should be a little cooler than the week in which I am writing this!

Last month was such a lovely market, not sure exactly why. The weather was middling, so it wasn’t that, it just seemed that everyone was in a good mood. From traders to coffee shops to customers, right through to all the dogs who came. There was lots of chat, lots of greetings, just a buzz throughout the day. Even the dogs were getting on, we usually have a few bust-ups between dogs, but there were barely any.

Perhaps the Police presence put us all on our best behaviour😊 However, I doubt it, the feeling was there well before they arrived. They were fabulous – our people in blue. We had a bunting crisis and the bunting putter-upperers were too busy chatting in Stomping Ground to notice the bunting had collapsed. But the police officers leapt into action and sorted it all out, until the Bunting Team could be winkled out from under their coffee cups to take over😊  

Thankyou to the police officers from all of us at the market. I can’t imagine sorting out our bunting was on their bingo card for the day…

With thanks to jillygdesignjewellery.co.uk for the photos

NEW FACES

This month we are going to be joined by The Little Musicians. From 11am for 45 minutes we will be serenaded by the Strings Group.

I asked Sophie to give us an insight into the group:

Little Musicians Heaton Moor provides weekly music classes run by professional musicians, for children aged 0-10. From a young age, children learn the building blocks of musicianship through fun songs, actions, games, and by experimenting on percussion instruments. Since starting in 2021 we have delivered sessions to over 550 children in the Heatons and beyond!

Our Mini Musicians, aged 0-2, explore new songs, sights and sounds with the help of live music, puppets, bubbles, parachutes and animal friends. Little Musicians, aged 2-4 begin to read rhythmic notation, start recognising pitch for themselves, begin to fine tune their improvising skills, and learn more about different orchestral instruments, all while having lots of fun along the way. From school age, our Super Strings groups can choose a violin or cello of their own to continue their musical journey, learning how to play as part of an ensemble with expert group tuition from professional instrumentalists.

Performing at Heaton Moor Market in July, is the most advanced group- Super Strings. The group is made up of local string players aged between 7-10, and they can’t wait to show the people of the Heatons what they’ve been working on!

We always love seeing new faces- find us on Facebook and Instagram, or visit www.littlemusiciansheatonmoor.co.uk to see what we get up to!

BEHIND THE SCENES  

There is a lot of chat in market circles about AI being used to produce posters and written content. You can imagine there is a lot of disdain plus grudging acknowledgement of why people use it. What’s really upsetting people though is that many of the large market businesses have many, many creative traders but they are the serial offenders who use AI for advertising, never asking their loyal trader base if they could collaborate and produce better, more targeted and higher quality adverts. What do you think?

Rest assured at Heaton Moor Producers Market – we don’t use AI for written content – as you can probably tell if you have read thus far….

Nor do we use it for any artistic content, we use my brother-in-law who is a graphic designer. That may well be nepotism, but that’s an entirely different subject…

See you on July 5th, 10 – 2.30pm

From all of us at Heaton Moor Producers Market

Heaton Moor Producers Market – find us on Shaw rd, Heaton Moor SK4 4AG on June 7th, 10 – 2.30pm 

It feels like ages since the last market! It was a 5 week month with this next market falling on June 7th, the 1st Sunday in June. 5 week months always make us feel slightly discombobulated and I hope no-one went today hoping to see us all there!

I think ‘Phew it’s a scorcher’ has been the appropriate commentary to the last few days, but fear not, the market is coming, normal service will shortly be resumed:)

See you there!

MAKER OF THE MONTH

Well it had to be ExclusiveScoop Tom hand makes ice cream to his own recipes. He is Trader of the Month and Seasonal Pick all rolled into one:)

Here’s Tom’s story:

Exclusive Scoop was born in 2017 as a way of saving me from being a line chef, I wanted to start the most ethical business, almost by chance I bought myself an icecream maker from a charity shop for £10. Just two weeks later I was at lakeland buying the most fancy piece of equipment I could afford and just another 2 weeks after that I had started Exclusive Scoop.

Ice cream is frozen so low waste, eaten from a cone so no packaging and almost never contains meat so vegetarian friendly all points that make it a good candidate for being eco friendly. A very boring and practical way of describing something that has become not just a passion but something that completely defines me.

I use only the finest ethically sourced ingredients I can find avoiding palm oil and producers linked to slavery. The business was a hobby to begin with and not set up originally to make money instead to make the most delicious icecream I could and it has not disappointed on either count.

www.exclusivescoop.co.uk

Facebook- @ExclusiveScoop                        Instagram- @Exclusive_Scoop

SEASONAL PICK

A taste of Italy at the market with @VinoBuono for hand picked wines and Italian deli products. If you would like a little brush up on your Italian before your hols, look no further! If you would like ‘that gorgeous wine’ you drank when you were last there, have a chat with Davide, he knows his Italian wines. If you haven’t discovered Vino Buono on School Lane in Heaton Chapel, we can’t recommend it enough, in fact looking up the address on Google Maps, there is a review on a photo ‘ Really nice vibe to this cosy place, with excellent wine, food and warm service.’

Plus there is seating inside and out – what can more can we say:) And, and Italian courses available too.

Just for the market Davide brings Italian Deli products that he doesn’t usually sell in the store. He will be offering not just wine, but also cheeses, sausages, salami, pasta, desserts, sauces like ‘Nduja, and biscuits. If you would like you can order them a few days in advance and he’ll have your order waiting for you at the market.

Vino Buono 

8 School Lane

Heaton Chapel 

SK4 5DG

Email:dpuglielli60@gmail.com

07404456300

FB: @VinoBuono       Instagram: @vinobuonoitalianwine 

GOOD NEIGHBOURS / BEHIND THE SCENES

As a market we are very blessed to be surrounded by very supportive businesses and as an example, last month we had a ‘Curry Bun Crisis’ The small generator that Maki uses to warm her freshly baked Japanese curry buns went on strike. Apparently nothing major (I know nothing about generators…) but unfixable on Shaw rd. It looked as if Maki was going to have to pack up and take all her curry buns with her – I told you it was a crisis! What was I going to do for lunch?!

However Anna who was working in The Art Club was happy for us to plug into one of their wall sockets – thankyou! However we did not have a long enough extension cord…..not to worry, a fellow trader nipped home to get one. We didn’t have enough safety covers for the wire….not to worry, safety covers magicked up! Curry Buns were Go!

Thankyou so much to Anna and Angela Lock of Art Club for saving our bacon  …curry buns. 

Art Club:

25 Shaw rd

Heaton Moor

SK4 4AG

FB: @ArtClub

Instagram: ukartclub

HEATON MOOR PRODUCERS MARKET

JUNE 7th

10 – 2.30pm

FB: @HeatonMoorProducersMarket                             Instagram: @heatonmoormarkets

Welcome to the latest Newsletter, we hope you are not too damp or cold around the edges. Next market is coming soon – March 1st on Shaw rd, 10 – 3pm Weavers will be weaving, the gardeners will be potting and the artists chewing on their pencils already. The food traders have a few days before they will be elbow deep in flour. As organiser it is time to start getting, what I call the ‘back room’ stuff organised. Make sure all dealings with the Council are up to date, all licences are valid, all insurances are up-to-date. To make a Site Plan so that the traders know where they will be setting up, to set numbers in stone and to begin organising all the social media posts that will be going up before March 1st and to begin fretting and worrying about the weather – developing an unhealthy relationship with weather apps…..

NEW TRADER We are delighted to welome Katy Clubb to Heaton Moor, she is a macrame whizz, her stall will be full of her creations and she is literally knotting all day too. Loads of different designs, different colours, commissions taken – I personally know she has designed for an entire bathroom wall and a pair of full length macrame curtains, they are amazing and remind me of theatre curtains, but with holes in….if you see what I mean. You can find her on FB: KC Creations & insta: Katykccreations or if you are familiar with Make it Marple, you can find her there.

Make it Marple is another totally independent market, run by Kala of Kala Walsh Ceramics, one of our traders. It happens on the 3rd Saturday of every month 10 – 2pm on Market st, Marple. You will find some of your favourites from Heaton Moor but also traders from the wider area – recommended!

Looking forward to seeing everyone on Shaw rd, thanks so much in advance for coming and supporting us. March 1st 10 – 3pm Shaw Road Heaton Moor Stockport SK4 4AG

#LocalMarket #sunday #independent #SupportSmallBusiness #community #vibes #friends #friendlyfaces #artisan #homemade #handmade #curated #monthly

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

(with thanks to insta: @alderley_ariel_photograohy

I know we are a bit slow out of the blocks, but this Sunday February 1^st is our first Shaw rd Market of the year.

We have new hours 10 – 3pm. Previously it was always 10.30 – 2.30pm but customers and traders alike have been asking about the hours being extended. Starting half an hour earlier was very easy, you wonderful customers have been coming early to the market for ages, we’ve just made it official😊

Dates for 2026:

February 1^st

March 1^st

April 5^th

May 3^rd

June 7^th

July 5^th

August 2^nd

September 6^th

October 4^th

November 1^st

December 6^th

BEHIND THE SCENES

The Christmas Market is always a bit different and is more of a collaboration than our usual markets.

About September we hear from the Stockport Lamplighters (Rotary) enquiring if we would like Santa to make an appearance. Of course! Is always our resounding response. They are such lovely people to deal with, raise impressive amounts of money and can squeeze Santa and his sleigh into position on a sixpence. How they listen to 6 solid hours of feverish Christmas songs is beyond me, but they always do it with smiles and laughter 😊 They are always looking for volunteers, if you would like more information FB: Rotary Club of Stockport Lamplighter

This year we also had the pleasure of welcoming back the Contemporary Chorus, an ever growing network of community choirs. They meet every Monday 7-8.30pm in St Winifred’s Church, Heaton Moor. We liaise with Dan Taylor and he brought a tuneful crowd to a damp Shaw rd, they were very warmly received and I received very positive feedback from many people. I also loved that we provided cover for them with a double gazebo but Dan was too tall to stand under it, so he had to stand in the drizzle😊 Perfect attribute though for a choir leader, to be so tall. My 5ft 0 inches would need a sturdy box to stand on….                                                                                                                             To contact them : https://www.thecontemporarychorus.com

WHAT’S NEW?

We have some new faces, some traders rotating their spots, alternating with others and lots of your dependables, your favourites whose business it is to make sure we are well fed and well served!

Personally I can’t wait, I already have my shopping list started:

Olive oil / bread / new earrings / ask Tiska to mend my favourite leather bag / present for my 4 year old nephew / feta cheese / ginger marmalade / momo’s and a cocktail to take home – because we are all worth it 😊

Our big news this month is this!

It is definitely that time of year! Our last market of the year is our Christmas one – prepare yourself for some pretty dreadful Christmas jumpers, lights, tinsel round gazebo legs & extra stalls selling the most amazing handcrafted individual products. We have extended our hours, we are on Shaw rd until 4pm, we have extended our ‘space’ we move down Shaw rd a little for this one and we have stalls on Moorfield Grove too.

The Rotary Club of Stockport Lamplighter with Santa and his helpers will be at the top of Shaw rd. Photo opportunities and a chat with Santa available all day, donations will be taken and every penny goes to charity, everyone is a volunteer. (If you would like to help on this or the Sleigh Ride, have a chat)

The Contemporary Chorus will be joining us for some festive singing and Darryl will be in his annual spot on Derby Range with carousels. All the bars and cafe’s will be open and welcoming.

The traders have been sending me pics of their seasonal offerings and here is just a small selection:

JillyGDesign

FB: JillyGDesign Insta: jillygdesign https://www.jillygdesignjewellery.co.uk

This autumn I attended 2 days training at The Jewellers Academy Brighton, learning how to make jewellery using Silver Metal Clay. It feels like magic! You get to play with clay & fire which turns the pieces into fine silver. The silver clay I used is 100% recycled silver (as is all the silver jewellery that I make) & eco-friendly. It produces a 99.9% pure silver piece. To put that in context, Sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver. At lunchtimes we got to fight the seagulls for our sandwiches….

Et Libri

http://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/etlibri email: p.sweasey@gmail.com Trader Profile My name is Penny & I studied bookbinding at http://www.hotbedpress.org in Salford and that led to marbling which led to learning about stitching and binding….and that led to a 3 year printmaking course. I now make a range of books, cards, prints & marbled items, such as Christmas baubles, combining the crafts with my passion for paper. Talking of paper, I have a room full of papers from makers in Nepal, the UK and Japan, specifically Morita Washi in Kyoto. I could have stayed all day in that shop & spent a fortune! As my skills have grown, I have been able to share them with others – workshops given to schools & Women’s charity groups on card making & bookbinding. Through Heaton Moor Market and my online shop http://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/etlibri I have worked with people to create special books to share their personal stories or to re-create special books and papers from the point of disintegration! One example of a bespoke item is a magnetic folding box made to fit precious documents or a book exactly. I am always very happy to discuss commissions for special books or stationery, so please chat with me or email: p.sweasey@gmail.com

Last but definitely not least, we will have The Cheshire Tree Co as always at the top of Shaw rd with Xmas trees & handmade wreaths. Take home today or place your order!

See you at the market! We will be there 10.30 – 4pm but feel free to come early!

Established traders, new businesses, rabbits in front of the headlights traders….60 traders squuezed onto Shaw rd, taking over with colourful gazebos, smiles and chat on the 1st Sunday of every month except January.

All our traders are local, some very local 200m – Audrinka Art away to farther flung Liverpool – Artisane Bakery (if you are near Woolton, we highly recommend a detour to their bakery / patisserie shop) and Tiger Tea who keep us stocked up with loose leaf teas & kombucha. Just short of 50 of our traders are from within the Stockport area.

All our traders are passionate about what they sell and what they create, when you buy from one of our traders, you are directly buying from the person that kneaded that pizza dough – Crescent Pizza, triangulated his samosas – Alam’s or mixed the paint – Kate O’Brien Art. The word to describe our traders is very overused, but very apt in this case – they are artisans.

Every trader either makes their own products – Recut Co / Barkley & Fetch or they source it – Rosemary Lane Vintage / Greek Oil Direct. Ours is a market where everything is handmade, personally sourced (with a back story) hand roasted – Ground Effect Coffee or farmed – Traditional Farmhouse Meats. We have a substantial waiting list of traders wanting to join us, because the word is out that this is a market that values artisans and works hard to avoid duplications.

Come and have a look, see if you agree that we are a small, perfectly formed local, artisan market!