Basking in its golden era

Bask is back. Stockport's live music and entertainment venue has returned refreshed and revised, with a programme of events giving indie rock fans somewhere to hear new and classic acts.

A relaunch party with DJs including Mark XTC and Jon Fitz kicked things off last month, and with upcoming gigs from the likes of The Bluetones and a Jimi Hendrix tribute night lined up, the venue is re-establishing itself as a destination for music lovers.

Back when Bask first opened, I remember it as the place to go and see live indie music without heading into Manchester, and that was a real draw. We have some excellent high-calibre music venues in the town like the Spinning Top and Holy Diver, each catering to different crowds. Bask had more of an acoustic indie focus with the likes of Liam Fray (The Courteeners), John Power (Cast), and Ben Ottewell (Gomez) all performing low-key gigs at the venue.

After closing in 2025 and a brief chapter as Fitzpatrick's Irish-American Bar & Grill, Bask is now back for Version 2. Original co-founder Benji Taylor has returned alongside Jon Fitzpatrick, and together they've relaunched the bar with a clear vision: to bring back what they call “the Golden Era”.

They hosted a relaunch party at the beginning of last month with house DJs and live music pulling a friendly crowd of new and old faces, setting the bar for what’s to come.

So What's Changed?

The most significant shift is in the approach to the evening. There's no late licence this time. Jon and Benji have been open about why, they feel the original Bask became a victim of its own success with late-night trouble from a small number of problematic punters effectively spoiling it for everyone else.

This time round they're keeping things tighter and more considered. There will be plenty of entertainment, a bigger food focus with the kitchen open seven days a week and later than before. There’s an almost daily programme of events lined up including bingo, quizzes, karaoke, comedy nights and live sports.

The Live Music Calendar

Jon and Benji have been clear that the aim for Bask is to be a destination that brings credible, exciting music to Stockport. Two weeks in, it appears they're already delivering on that.

The regular Monday Acoustica night kicks off the weekly programme with a live music night sure to become a staple that’s already building a loyal following, particularly on a night when the rest of the town is generally pretty quiet.

Then there's Are You Experienced? on Friday 12th June from 7pm; a Jimi Hendrix tribute night that should go off. If you've ever wondered what Purple Haze sounds like ricocheting off the walls of a Stockport bar on a Friday night (and you weren't around in 1967 to hear him do it live) this will be your chance.

And with Britpop icons The Bluetones confirmed for 1st August, the tone for what Bask V2 will be is firmly set.

In addition to the music, there's a full schedule of entertainment planned with stand-up comedy, karaoke, quiz nights and darts (not to mention it's THE place to go and watch County play, if you haven't got tickets to Wembley on Sunday).

The Verdict

Benji Taylor said "it feels like coming home" when the doors reopened. When I dropped by, there was a buzzy atmosphere and you can tell the bar is run by a team of people who care. The menu offers a solid selection of comfort food and classic options (pizzas, jackets, loaded fries and pies) and one of the few places in Stockport with the kitchen open after 3pm, making it a solid late lunch spot with some excellent vegan options too. The music is great, and the crowd is a friendly mix of commuters, after-work folk, regulars and visitors.

Given its convenient location right in front of the station, Bask is perfectly placed to offer a big "Welcome to Stockport", and so far, so good.

The Bluetones tickets are expected to move fast. Keep your eye on thisisbask.co.uk and Bask's social channels for details. Don't say we didn't warn you.

Find Bask at: 20 Railway Road, Stockport, SK1 3SW right by the station. Follow @thisisbask on Instagram.

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