The £60 million restoration of Stockport's Grade-II listed Weir Mill is set to complete in the coming months, transforming the 18th-century cotton mill into a new riverside neighbourhood with 253 one, two, and three-bedroom apartments. The development, led by Capital&Centric in partnership with Stockport Council and Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC), includes a new public square, Weaver's Square, which will host a range of independent food and drink spots, live music, street food pop-ups, and al fresco dining under the arches.
Weaver's Square: A New Public Space
Weaver's Square will feature 65,000 sq ft of outdoor spaces, including a riverside terrace for evening drinks, a central courtyard as a green oasis, and a sunken courtyard as an intimate nook. The square is part of Stockport's ambitious £1bn town centre regeneration plans, which aim to create 8,000 new homes, modern transport links, and sustainable neighbourhoods. Major projects already completed include Stockport Interchange, which opened in March 2024 with a bus station and elevated two-acre public park, and the revitalisation of The Old Town and Underbanks, now a hub for independent restaurants and bars.
Independent Food and Drink Concepts
Social Trattoria
First announced in March, Poynton's award-winning Social Trattoria will open at Weir Mill. Known for Italian small plates, pizzas, and traditional pasta, the menu includes calamari, roasted garlic flatbreads, burrata, 8-hour cooked beef shin ragu, pan-seared seabass, and pork Saltimbocca, with desserts like tiramisu, white chocolate panna cotta, and Sicilian lemon tart. Owners Jeremy Hague and General Manager William Okill previously ran the Edgerton Arms in Knutsford before acquiring the former Ciao Restaurant on Poynton High Street in 2021.
Rita's Ray
Rita's Ray, a sports bar dedicated to women's sport, the first of its kind in the north of England, will open at the development. It aims to 'champion the rise of women's sport while keeping the proper sports-bar buzz' with big games on screen, great drinks, and a lively social atmosphere. By day it will be family-friendly, shifting to a social hub by night with music, drinks, and post-matchday energy. It will also host run clubs, classes, quiz nights, book clubs, pop-ups, and community meetings. Owner Becky Brown named the bar after her grandparents Rita and Ray, who were 'known for their love of life, games, golf and good company'.
Prologue
In April, owners of Simply Books in Bramhall confirmed plans for a second location, Prologue, blending a bookshop, wine bar, and coffee shop with a late-night offering. The venue will feature a new stage for in-store events, signings, comedy shows, and open mic nights. It will stay open until around 9pm most evenings, except Sundays. Co-owner Ben said: "We want people to feel they are able to come and grab a coffee or a glass of wine whilst reading a book, but we also want to be able to deliver more events because we know that’s what people have been asking for."
Jane Eyre
Jane Eyre, a neighbourhood bar and restaurant with locations in Ancoats and Chorlton, will take a prime spot at the heart of the mill. It will serve simple cocktails, local beers, a menu of beautiful wine, small plates for sharing, and Sunday roasts. The team promises a mid-century inspired interior with soft lighting, stacks of candles, and great glassware. Charlie Bradley from The Jane Eyre said: "We’re really proud to be opening at Weir Mill. Stockport is home for us, and we’ve always believed in it - so to be part of a project like this feels very special."
Kontrol Wellness Studio
A new wellness studio named Kontrol will also open, mixing 'classical Pilates principles with a more contemporary approach'. It will feature nine luxury beds for reformer Pilates and a dedicated area for mat Pilates and barre. Founded by Stockport native Vanessa Lees, the studio will offer beginner, intermediate, and one-to-one sessions led by expert instructors. Ms Lees said: "I grew up in Stockport so it's not only really exciting to be part of the Weir Mill development but also to watch the town evolve and grow."
Weir Mill will open in Stockport Town Centre in the coming months.
