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Free Mad Hatter tea party at Stockport Market on 20 June: what residents need to know

A wooden table filled with tea cups, pastries, cupcakes, and appetizers at a market.

Stockport Market Place will host the first Saturday Snack Down event on Saturday 20 June, with a free Mad Hatter’s Street Tea Party planned as the opening date in a new monthly food-themed series.

The event is due to take place at Stockport Market Place, Market Place, Stockport. Entry is free, no booking is required, and the programme is aimed at all ages. A start time has not been listed in the source material.

The launch event is being organised through Stockport Council and Market Place (Europe) Ltd, which manages Stockport Market and events on the council’s behalf. It forms part of a wider summer programme intended to bring more visitors into the historic Market Place.

Free monthly food event starts on 20 June

Saturday Snack Down is a new food-themed event series running monthly from June to October at Stockport Market Place. The first edition, Saturday Snack Down: Mad Hatter’s Street Tea Party, will bring food, entertainment and surprises into the town centre for a one-day event.

The council says the Market Place will be transformed for the Mad Hatter theme, with the event designed for people of all ages. The published details confirm the date, venue, free entry and no-booking requirement, but do not give a start or finish time.

For visitors, the key practical point is that this is a drop-in town-centre event rather than a ticketed festival. Anyone planning around meals, family routines or onward plans should check the day’s timings closer to the date if they need a fixed arrival window.

Detail Confirmed information
Event Saturday Snack Down: Mad Hatter’s Street Tea Party
Date Saturday 20 June
Venue Stockport Market Place, Market Place, Stockport
Price Free
Booking No booking required
Audience All ages
Time Not listed in the source material

Food, entertainment and a busier Market Place

The Mad Hatter’s Street Tea Party is being presented as the first event in a new monthly food festival series. Confirmed highlights include entertainment, food and themed surprises, with the Market Place used as the setting.

It arrives during a period of growth for Stockport Market, which is described by the council as home to more than 50 independent traders and more than 750 years of trading history. The market has recently welcomed new independent businesses including Stockport Provisions, The Pet Grocer and The Brick Prof, while artist Kate O’Brien has expanded into a larger stall.

Lou’s Café has also taken over the long-established John O’Mara’s café unit in the Market Hall. The council links these changes to wider growth in Stockport town centre, including more than 10 million visits to nearby Merseyway in 2025.

Who the event is likely to suit

The confirmed audience is all ages, so the event is positioned for families, regular market visitors, food fans and people looking for a free town-centre day out. The LEGO-focused Brick Prof stall and the wider independent trading mix may also make the market an easy add-on for shoppers and collectors visiting the area.

The format should suit people who want a casual visit rather than a fixed-seat event. There is no booking requirement, and the source does not mention tickets for Saturday Snack Down’s launch.

Stockport Market Place will also host other events across the year, including Foodie Friday, Makers Market, STOCK Party, Armed Forces Day celebrations and Stockport Pride. A separate Stockport Vintage Spectacular is listed for Sunday 12 July in the Victorian Market Hall, with vintage fashion, vinyl, jewellery, homeware, collectables, live swing music and retro entertainment.

Practical details before you go

The confirmed venue is Stockport Market Place, Market Place, Stockport. The event is free and no booking is required for the Saturday Snack Down launch.

The organisers listed for the event are Stockport Council and Market Place (Europe) Ltd. The source material does not provide accessibility, transport or parking details, and it does not list the start time.

Cllr Micheala Meikle, Stockport Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy, Regeneration and Skills, said the summer programme gives more people the opportunity to experience the market, while Andy Pidgen of Market Place (Europe) Ltd said the programme is intended to give people more reasons to spend time in the Market Place, discover local businesses and enjoy food and entertainment.

Source: Stockport Council

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Eleanor Thompson

Eleanor Thompson

Eleanor Thompson is a dedicated journalist with over a decade of experience covering local government in Greater Manchester. At demoduck.co.uk, she focuses on Stockport Council’s planning decisions, budget allocations, and public services. Eleanor is committed to transparent reporting, ensuring that residents stay informed about civic developments and community initiatives. Her deep understanding of municipal policy helps demystify complex local issues for the Stockport community

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