The quirky pub and music venue with its own forest on Cheshire border
It's become a local favourite for quirky gigs, niche events and a unique woodland setting
The pub and venue was revamped when it was taken over by new owners in 2022(Image: The Strines Nightingale)
A quirky pub and live music venue with its own forest on the Cheshire border has said they've realised 'the weirder, the better' when it comes to what kind of events they put on. The Strines Nightingale, based in Marpleridge, has garnered a special following over the years for its 'niche' events, which have often included big names like members of the Super Furry Animals and Badly Drawn Boy.
The venue, on Strines Road, was taken over by Chris Slater four years ago and given its new name and purpose after the former Sportsman Pub had been closed for several years. "It was an old pub which had been abandoned and shut for a good few years," Chris, who formerly also ran the Rose and Monkey pub in the Northern Quarter, tells the M.E.N.
"It was a real mess when we decided to take it on, I don't think the locals ever really expected it to ever open again - it was one of those. It was in quite a bad state. Even though it was a mess, we could still see the potential for it and what it could offer. There's a load of land at the back that goes down to the river and we could just see how, with a bit of love, it could be brought back to life, really."
But whilst remaining as a pub, which Chris said was a 'vital' for the local community, he wanted to use its unique surroundings to expand on what the possibilities of the venue could bring. "We still wanted to be a pub but we also wanted it to be a place where people could come together for gigs and events," Chris explains. "We wanted there to always be something on in the evenings for people. There's not many independent grassroots venues in the area - there's definitely nothing else like us where we are.
The team behind the venue said they have noticed that 'the weirder, the better' has worked for locals in terms of events(Image: The Strines Nightingale)
"We're sort of in a bit of a no man's land and a lot of people here aren't really that bothered about going into Manchester at night and coming back late. We're classed as Stockport, but it's right on the edge of everything - half of the village is in East Cheshire and the other half is in Derbyshire. Everybody has different bin days!"
That ambition has paid off so far. Not only has it served as one of the only live music venues in the area for the locals, but it's also brought people from out of the village due to its roster of events, which can span from gigs and theatre productions to comedy nights and daytime festivals. It even has its own community garden and a Pétanque Court to play boules.
"When we first started putting gigs on, things just sold out really quickly because people were just so excited about having something near them," Chris says. "We've found that when something happens locally, they really respond to it and support it."
The Strines Nightingale, based in Marpleridge, near Marple in Stockport, has gained a reputation for its unique setting(Image: The Strines Nightingale)
Asked what some of their most popular nights are, Chris says the locals are not afraid to enter the world of the unknown. "We've definitely noticed that it seems to be the weirder we get the better reaction we have," he laughs. "We've had nights of Tree Music, set up by Andy Votel at Finder's Keepers Records. It's quite alternative and strange, experimental stuff, but it's really fascinating and interesting.
"We've also had people from the Super Furry Animals perform here. They sang in Welsh for a whole hour without any of the hits and it didn't matter, it still got a huge reaction. We've got a big stage in the woods that can host about 200 people and we've held a lot of daytime parties and gigs there in the past. Honestly, that area is massive and there's so many things we want to do with it."
January 26 to February 1 marks Independent Venue Week 2026, which aims to champion the local, grassroots spots that are doing something special in their area. The seven-day celebration, which is also backed by BBC Radio 6 Music, will feature Manchester venues like Gorilla, YES, New Century, The Carlton Club, Salford's The Eagle Inn, The Castle Hotel and Deaf Institute all take part in special events and takeovers. It will also include the Death All Day III extreme metal festival and the Manchester Improvisation Festival.
The Strines Nightingale will be celebrating Independent Venue Week with a special show(Image: The Strines Nightingale)
The week arrives as a recent report from the Music Venue Trust (MVT) found that grassroots venues in the UK only tend to have an average profit margin of around 2.5%, resulting in many struggling to remain open. Met with 'unsustainable tax burdens' relating to national insurance and business rates, the sector had reportedly also seen a reduction of 19% in jobs.
Sybil Bell, Founder and CEO of Independent Venue Week, said of the efforts shining a light on local venues for IVW: "Everyone appreciates the North West has an incredibly strong musical culture, so we're over the moon to see that more than 30 venues across the region will take part in Independent Venue Week. And whilst we recognise the importance of city centre venues like Manchester and Liverpool, IVW is proud to champion venues outside of the regular touring circuit including in Preston, Darwen, Nantwich, Morecambe, Warrington, Lancaster and Clitheroe too.
"We really want to celebrate the role that independent venues play in making sure the arts reach these communities – not only as hubs for live music and entertainment, but as places where like-minded people come together, share ideas and create new culture."
The pub and venue was revamped when it was taken over by new owners in 2022(Image: The Strines Nightingale)
For Independent Venue Week, The Strines Nightingale will feature a performance from Manchester artist Matthew C. Whitaker, who is known for his work with cosmic prog-rave outfit HENGE. He will play the Marpleridge venue on January 27 (more information here), but Chris teases more could also be announced very soon.
"There's a very good chance we'll have a secret gig or something in the week, but we can't confirm anything at this moment as it's all very up-in-the-air," he explains. "But we do want to do something big this week to highlight the fact we're an independent venue and that we're doing something that has been really received well by the community here. It's a great opportunity to shine a spotlight on us and others like us."
Ultimately, Chris says he hopes The Strines Nightingale will help continue to put Marpleridge on the music and events map as they continue to expand their offerings throughout the year. "People tend to be a bit tired of the places that are all doing quite similar things," he suggests as to why he has managed to tap into a market here.
The pub, within its own forest, features stunning views across Cheshire and Derbyshire(Image: The Strines Nightingale)
"I think what we do is quite niche, but it definitely has its place. We're also a freehouse so we put on all these different and interesting beers and drinks. That definitely works in our favour. We're only 20 minutes to Piccadilly Station so we have noticed how a lot more people are travelling from outside the area to visit us, which is great. We're really well connected, there's a bus stop right by as well, we're not as far away as people might think!
"We're just trying to make things work for our community. It's about getting people together and having this big neighbourhood spirit amongst us all. It's working well for everybody so far."