Art Club Cafe: A place to inspire your creativity

The Heaton Moor cafe bringing the community together through creative exploration  

Busy parents of four, Angela and Jason Locke are the brains behind a welcoming cafe bringing Stopfordians together. Jason is one of the North West’s leading photographers and Angela is a textile designer by trade.  

The pair had spent five years running workshops across the borough before deciding to open a café of their own dedicated to creativity in order to meet demand.  

Old or young, novice or expert, there’s a creative class to suit everyone. This café-workshop hybrid hosts regular weekly sessions alongside occasional special workshops; all designed to spark creativity within the community and bring people together.  

It’s not just about painting fruit baskets or mountain scenes- though we all love a Bob Ross tutorial – even those who can’t draw a stick figure can explore their creativity in new and exciting ways.  

It’s a space where everyone can leave their mark, even little ones. Younger children can choose between art classes or Lego sessions, helping to build the foundations of their creative future, while teenagers can develop and diversify their skills in more advanced classes tailored just for them.  

For adults, the choice is almost limitless. Thos dedicated to art can expand their skills in life drawing or adult art classes that focus on technique and development. Those looking for a laugh and a good catch-up with friends might prefer something a little more playful, like the (in)famous tit pottery class, perfect for creating a quirky plant pot that’ re guaranteed to be conversation starters at your next BBQ.  

Got a birthday coming up? Try your hand at an oracle card workshop, leather purse making, or even a collage club session to craft a thoughtful, personal scrapbook. 

 If you’re keen to get stuck into something detailed, the diorama model-making class lets you build your own miniature medieval scene, while those who prefer to be out and about can join a photography class and capture the world around them.  

You don’t even have to sign up for a full schedule of workshops, if you don’t fancy it; it is, after all, a café where you can just go, drink great coffee and be inspired. Whether you find yourself with nothing to do on a Tuesday afternoon or fancy somewhere wholesome to catch up with a friend you haven’t seen in a while, it’s the perfect spot. Expect silky, warming coffees, a tempting selection of pastries and pies, and even beer or glass of vino. As you chat, you can take in the artwork around the room or pick up one of the creative books and lose yourself for a while.