STRETFORD TOWN CENTRE LAUNCHES PEOPLE POWERED POLAROID PROJECT
Stretford Town Centre and Bruntwood have launched a people-powered, immersive exhibition that documents a year in the life of Stretford. Made up entirely of Polaroids taken by the people of Stretford over the course of a year-long “photo-relay”, the exhibition is a love letter to the town from the people that live there and is curated by one of the country’s leading photographers, Simon Buckley of Not Quite Light.
In July 2021 members of the Stretford community, Simon and the Stretford Town Centre team embarked upon a journey to document a year in the life of Stretford, seen through the eyes of those who live in the town, using a simple Polaroid camera.
Simon worked with each resident to teach them how to capture the perfect photograph on the Polaroid camera which was gifted to the community by Bruntwood and Trafford Council. After the first session, the photographic relay began, and each week participants took their turn with the camera, capturing their own ‘photo diary’ of their life and town centre that week.
Each collection of photographs has been curated by Simon Buckley, and will be shown alongside a soundscape of voices from participants mixed with a specially created soundtrack of Stretford.
From “Stretford With Love” is free to view and will be on display to the public from 17th February at Stretford Public Hall. It will eventually live permanently at a location in Stretford Town Centre
Oktoberfest is landing in Stretford town centre from Saturday 4th - Sunday 5th October 2025. Dust off your Lederhosen and get ready for the ultimate weekend of Bavarian celebrations, as Stretford’s new Sir Tony Lloyd public square becomes Oktoberfest - featuring an array of delicious beer, street food, drinks and performances from a Bavarian Oompah Band.
Local pop-up bar and events specialists Rainy Heart are opening a brand new Hi-Fi bottle shop, pop-up-bar and event space in Stretford town centre this Friday 3rd October 2025. Located on the newly-restored King Street, the new grassroots arts venue will offer a vibrant space for artistic events, activities and platforming the local talent and voices of the Stretford community.
Rainy Heart is teaming up with Stretford-based hi-fi soundsystem collective Elody, for A Block Party, an all-day dance event on 30th August 2025, from 2-11pm.