First women’s focused sports bar in the North heading to Stockport

Rita Ray’s will open in Weir Mill this summer, and pledges to be a place of sport, community and inclusivity.

Date published: 2nd Apr 2026

The North of England is set to gain its first women’s focused sports bar this summer. Rita Ray’s will open in Weir Mill in Stockport within the coming months.

Founded by Becky Brown and named after her grandparents Rita and Ray, the bar aims to celebrate women’s sport and the local community while retaining the atmosphere of a traditional sports bar. Curated wine lists, cocktails, and beers from independent breweries sourced in Stockport and Manchester will be on the menu. 

Weir Mill’s social impact property developers Capital & Centric, whose projects include Kampus in Manchester, Cannon Brewery in Sheffield, and Goods Yard in Stoke-on-Trent, called Rita Ray’s “more than just a bar”, adding, “it’s a new social hub. Think run clubs, quiz nights, pop-ups, morning brews and everything in between.⁠ Named after golden grandparents Rita & Ray (icons, clearly), this one’s all about sport, community and inclusivity.⁠”

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