Helloooo darling, and welcome to the most sparkly, pinkest, twirliest corner of the internet – Pink-Tutu.com! It’s your girl, Pink Tutu Sparkles, back again with another travel tale, and this time I’ve set my glittery sights on the charming town of Stockport, right in the heart of Cheshire! Now, I’m sure some of you know I’m a big fan of exploring by train, so this jaunt was pure joy from the moment I boarded the carriage (the carriages, really, because let’s be honest, we can’t go anywhere with one).
Remember the time I told you about how I got so hooked on tutus when I tried one on for charity? (If you haven’t read it, you simply must - you’ll find it in the archives, and yes, there is an outfit picture of me rocking that tulle!) Anyway, a couple of weeks ago I was rummaging through my old Uni clothes - those comfy t-shirts and jumpers that we all hoard for ‘just in case’, right? – when I came across a beautiful, bright pink ballet costume that I'd picked up years ago. It felt like a sign!
I was getting ready to put together my new act, which I was going to debut in… you guessed it, Stockport! The show had a ballet theme and would be performed in a theatre right by the town’s amazing new train station. So, I thought, 'why not really make an entrance? And what better way than to give this fabulous tutu a brand new, glittery lease of life?!' (Can you tell I get really excited about these kinds of things?)
It’s amazing how much inspiration you can find in your old belongings. Just look at this amazing ensemble, a totally bespoke Pink Tutu creation, which had me channeling a sassy swan lake, sprinkled with just enough ‘Stockport-on-the-go’ cool, if you know what I mean. 😉
[Image of Alex in the new pink tutu ensemble, standing outside Stockport railway station, giving the “Pink Tutu Sparkles” pout.]
The train journey was absolutely beautiful - and a bit scary, especially for the driver because I nearly tripped on my voluminous, tiered tutu as we rolled out of the station. Who knew train steps and a three-layered, 12-foot diameter tulle could make such a dance? Let’s just say I think I got my ‘grand jete’ on. 😉
I spent the journey reading through my new setlist – all the best pink and ballerina-inspired classics like 'Pink’ by Aerosmith, and “Ballet” by Cabaret Voltaire! I even wrote a little verse dedicated to my favorite local delicacy: "There’s nothing better than a warm Stockport pie, just watch me spin as you give me a bye bye!”
[Image of Alex’s notes for the setlist on the train, surrounded by pink sticky notes and glittery pens. The final page includes the handwritten "Ballet" verse.]
My favourite part of the trip was definitely the journey on the Mersey Valley Explorer - it’s like a real-life horse-drawn carriage! It even had some horses dressed up with little pink tutus, and guess what?! They were wearing miniature ballet shoes – how adorable is that?!
[Image of Alex standing outside a horse-drawn carriage with two horses adorned with tiny pink tutus.]
But back to my show… I was definitely a little nervous, but all those pink sparkly faces staring back at me as I came on stage really gave me the confidence I needed! Everyone had really got into the whole pink theme, there were tutus everywhere! My own fabulous sparkly tutu had its first dance and all eyes were on it! They were even using it as a prop in the local pub!
[Image of the theatre where Alex was performing, showing the full theatre space in a pink theme. In the background are two people dancing. They're holding the same tutu used in the carriage photo.]
After the performance, everyone was so enthusiastic! They loved the combination of dance, pop culture and … shall we say… extra sparkle?! And, for some, the biggest takeaway from the night was my encouragement for them all to get in on the ‘Pink Tutu’ action – just what my life purpose is all about, you know! The biggest highlight of the evening? Meeting a whole group of ballet dancers, they even let me watch their rehearsal!
[Image of Alex wearing the pink tutu standing in the street, surrounded by children wearing colourful tutus. In the background is a ballet studio.
I'm not going to lie, this trip made me think, perhaps I should get another one of these magnificent tutus. I am already working on a new Pink Tutu inspired collection! Just think – maybe soon even my darling Derbyshire will be seeing a whole bunch of tutu-wearing twirlers out and about!
Oh, and before you all rush off to your local tutu shop, here are some of the best spots I found in Stockport:
For the food lover:
- Stockport Market: The perfect place to find everything from freshly-baked pies to handmade chocolates, you really can't go wrong! (I highly recommend a slice of strawberry & rhubarb pie).
- The Old Rectory: This award-winning pub and restaurant is a beautiful spot, and the menu is full of delicious, local produce.
- The Unicorn a gorgeous old pub with a wide range of beers and food – great for a proper post-tutu pub meal with your crew.
For the shopping enthusiast:
- Stockport Underbanks: Take a walk through this amazing independent shopping arcade and you’ll discover everything from art and design studios to local boutiques with everything you could ever need in your tutu wardrobe!
For the cultural enthusiast:
- The Stockport Air Raid Shelter: Go on a fascinating journey back to World War II and see a real-life shelter!
- The Stockport Museum: With all sorts of artefacts from the area’s history, this is a great way to really get a feel for the local culture.
- Stockport Plaza: You HAVE to visit this gorgeous art deco theatre! The shows are fantastic and the space is even more impressive!
- Stockport Town Hall: This grand Victorian building is not just impressive from the outside, the interior is just as spectacular.
Stockport truly was a dream destination for a pink-loving, tutu-touting gal like me. If you’re thinking of your next adventure, give Stockport a chance!
[Image of Alex in her Pink Tutu outfit giving the peace sign at a bus stop in front of the town hall]
So that's it from Pink-Tutu.com! Have a sparkling day, don't forget to subscribe, follow my travels, and see you next time for another adventure, or at least until I find a better word than ‘adventure’.
Yours truly, Pink Tutu Sparkles XXX
