It has proved a huge hit with parents
07:09, 24 Jan 2026Updated 07:37, 24 Jan 2026
Reporter Chris Slater at Stockroom(Image: Manchester Evening News)
It can be difficult to find things to do with the kids these days. And particularly activities that don’t cost a small fortune.
But as a Stockport resident with a four-year-old daughter, there is one place that has become a go-to and staple destination for myself and, as new figures show, many other parents like me.
Stockroom, the borough’s new town centre library and cultural hub, opened last May. The £16 million centre took over two floors of empty units in the Merseyway Shopping Centre, which once housed a Mothercare and Topshop.
Since then, council chiefs say it has averaged around 100,000 visitors a month. Whilst bosses at the shopping centre itself say it contributed to their footfall topping 10 million last year, an increase of 40 percent on the previous year.
And it is easy to see why. The large and brightly lit space, which is accessed by two entrances off the main shopping centre parade and one off Great Underbank immediately feels welcoming. It looks immaculate and hasn’t lost any of that feeling of newness, even months in.
You can view a selection of pictures from inside Stockroom below
One of the most popular areas is the dedicated children’s library at the back of the ground floor. When I visited again this week, the buggy park was full, with prams also lining the corridor that runs alongside it.
In the kids’ area, is a wooden play area in the form of a treehouse, with steps up into it, activities inside, and a small slide perfect for little ones.
There are lots of comfy seats for parents, meaning they can take a breather whilst sitting and watch their little ones play, particularly handy for those with more than one child.
There are also small tables and chairs with drawing and colouring activities and several armchairs and nooks for kids and parents to sit down and read one of the impressive selection of books.
The play area in the popular children’s section of the library(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Getting your little one to sit still through an entire book can sometimes be a challenge, but the fact I have managed it with my daughter on numerous occasions is testament to the space and the atmosphere they have created, which despite the play equipment and sometimes large numbers of kids, always seems to remain fairly calm considering.
The best bit of course is that it is free and by having a play and borrowing a book afterwards, they still get the feeling they’ve had a day out and been spoiled.
There is a café which sells sandwiches, cakes, coffees and soft drinks. There is a nod to local heroes, with lighted neon signs on the wall spelling out ‘Cool Like You.’ These were used on the front cover of the album of the same name by local indie chart toppers Blossoms.
There is also a sensory room and a parent and child room which has a baby play area, spaces to breastfeed, changing facilities and a toilet which includes a small toilet for little ones.
Neon signs used on the front cover of a Blossoms album decorate the walls of the café (Image: Manchester Evening News)
It has been specifically designed with the parents of young children in mind, and so takes a lot of the stress out of venturing out. And it can save your sanity on a day where you are desperate to leave the house but want something local, affordable and family friendly to do. On that front it has been a particular hit with mums and dads on maternity or paternity leave, or with grandparents on childcare duties.
Upstairs is the adult section of the library with spaces to sit and read as well as computers, printers and photocopiers and a photo booth, which was again chock full when I visited in the middle of a weekday.
Stockport’s historical archives have also been moved into a dedicated room whilst there are also free arcade games and studio space which hosts a year-round programme of different events.
Open seven days a week I have not yet had an unenjoyable visit. And a number of other parents who I spoke to on my latest visit, agreed.
Alex Barbanneau with his son Felix(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Lois Wick, 33, from Reddish brought her two boys, aged two and four months. “It’s the first time I’ve been, but I’ve been meaning to come as I’ve heard really good things about the story time and the space” she said.
“I used to go to the story time at Reddish Library but this is just much nicer. And you can make a day of it by coming into town.
“It’s much bigger than I thought it would be. It’s very clean. It is a great idea having a play area in the middle. My older one loves the slide, he could play on that all day. And it means I can just sit with the baby and let him play.”
Alex Barbanneau, 42, from Davenport was here with his two year-old son Felix. “It’s great,” he said. “Fantastic. We probably come a couple of times a month. It’s great facilities and is a brilliant space for him to play. And it’s great that it’s free, because it can be really hard to find places that are.”
Stockport Council leader Coun Mark Roberts (right) and cabinet member with responsibility for libraries Coun Dan Oliver (left)(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Christina Cradick, 29, from Bredbury, who was with her two girls, aged two and five months. “We come regularly and really enjoy it,” she said. “Especially with the little play area, it’s a bit different. It’s free as well and we can just come down and not have to spend a lot of money. It gets you out of the house, especially in the winter.”
Stockport Council leader Coun Mark Roberts told the Manchester Evening News that the success of the facility had ‘exceeded all our expectations.’ “It’s been designed by the community and it is part of the community, being something for everyone” he said.
“There is a perception that libraries are stuffy places. But I believe this is absolutely what a library should look like, one that has moved with the times.”
Merseyway Shopping Centre says it has helped drive footfall, which shot up last year(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Coun Dan Oliver, the cabinet member with responsibility for libraries, said it had created a ‘buzz’ in the town centre. “So many family and friends who have visited Stockport and come here, have remembered it.
“Where else could we have a space to let young people express themselves like this? But every part of it is never empty. Even the archives and things like that. It’s fantastic to see.”
Victoria Nichol, Merseyway Centre Manager said: “Stockroom has brought a completely new and exciting dimension to Merseyway, transforming former retail space into a popular, cultural destination” she said.
“By hosting unique events, exhibitions and creative spaces, Stockroom really enhances our family-friendly offer, and supports our aim to bring the community together through inclusive activities all year round.
“It has been fantastic to see how the space is being used by all generations, and how it has created a space where people can learn, create and connect.”