April 2019 saw the Manchester Local Guides return to the art deco splendour of Stockport Plaza Super Cinema.
@TimBull previously organized a meet up for afternoon tea and a tour of the extensive air raid shelter tunnels, but this time we were there for a screening of 50s comedy classic The Titfield Thunderbolt. We met at 6pm for food in Stockport’s 750 year old market place, which hosts a successful street food market called Foodie Friday once a month.
14 stalls vied for our attention around the Victorian “Glass Umbrella” market hall. While some went for arancini and others for nasi lemak, @ZoeOooe felt it was a warm enough spring day for a Rhubarb Ice Cream
We were pleased to welcome two new Local Guides to this meetup,
@rodentracing and
@Johnbhewitt along with family, friends and stalwarts
@AdrianLunsong and
@PeteMHW . The walk to Stockport Plaza went via the the Stockport “dungeon” (a slightly oversold drunk tank) and the 16th century timber framed Underbank Hall.
In Stockport Plaza it’s always 1932. Every classic film it shows is preceded by a vintage newsreel or comedy short, an interval where the mighty Compton organ rises and plays a medley, and concludes with the national anthem (standing is no longer mandatory).
The night concluded with a visit to the Magnet Freehouse and it’s 14 cask beer hand pumps and 7 keg taps; with 21 beers to choose from there’s one for every taste, even Adrian’s. Sadly that also means there’s no photos and fewer memories, a clear sign we had a good meetup!
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Great recap @deadmanjones !! I’ll need to add my photos to the shared album… I’ve just been caught up with other stuff! And I’ve yet to leave a review at all the places we stopped at!
I have to say I was a bit unsure about the movie… still unsure whilst watching the movie but overall, I have to say I really enjoyed the experience. It was truly fascinating to see the way films used to be shown and the Pathé infomercials were really weird in a fascinating way… like a portal into a bygone era! The movie was different for sure… no aliens, no killings, no conspiracies… just plain simple storyline.
Thanks again Alan and @ZoeOooe for showing us around! And very nice to have met @Johnbhewitt and @rodentracing 
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Great to meet you all in Stockport and everyone was really friendly to a newcomer. Thanks @deadmanjones for organizing the meetup. Foodie Friday was a great idea as was the vintage cinema/ theatre at Stockport Plaza.
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