Social Osteria brings a taste of Italy to Weir Mill
The award-winning Italian foodies behind The Social Trattoria are bringing a fresh concept to Weir Mill – Stockport’s canal side community being brought to life by social impact developer Capital&Centric.
The first in a vibrant line up of indie operators set to be announced at Weir Mill, the Social Osteria will open this Spring in the East Mill – a 2,000 sq ft spot with exposed brickwork, vaulted ceilings and an original kiln retained within the space. Outside, a sunken courtyard to the front and riverside seating overlooking the River Mersey make it the perfect setting for alfresco aperitivos in the sunshine.
An osteria is traditionally an Italian inn or tavern, somewhere locals gather for good wine and simple, honest food at communal tables. At Weir Mill, that translates to low lighting, small plates, fresh pizzas, and traditional pasta – a place to take your time and unwind after work before settling in for dinner.
The Social Trattoria – the Poynton go-to founded by Will Okill, Jeremy Alexander, and Daniel Barron – was named best Trattoria at the Italian Awards UK 2025 and is up for four more this year.
For the team, Italian food runs in the family, with cooking rooted in traditional methods passed down through the generations and brought to life using fresh ingredients. The Social Osteria will bring that same philosophy to Stockport, wowing modern palates with classic Italian techniques.
It's a natural fit for Capital&Centric, who've taken the same approach to Weir Mill itself – embracing the character of the historic mill and turning it into a buzzing community for a new generation.
Tom Wilmot, Joint Managing Director at Capital&Centric said:
“Landing Social Osteria is a big deal for Weir Mill. An award-winning team with proper indie credentials choosing to set up here shows where this neighbourhood is heading. Picture finishing work, grabbing an aperitivo on the river, tucking into pasta, before heading up to your apartment. That's the kind of place we're creating. With Social Osteria now signed up, and with more set to be announced soon, we’re starting to see it all coming together. Weir Mill's set to be Stockport’s new destination for food and drink.”
Will Okill, Co-Founder of Social Osteria said:
“You can't help falling in love with this building, and that's what happened when I walked into Weir Mill. It was stripped back to its bare bones, but the atmosphere was already there, you could feel the character. And then the outdoor space overlooking the river sealed it. As soon as I saw it, I could picture what we'd create here. We're all about taking traditional Italian cooking and making it fresh for today – everything from scratch and using locally-sourced ingredients wherever we can. Stockport's indie food scene is booming and we can't wait to be part of it."
Set beneath Stockport's iconic viaduct, the £60m neighbourhood will be home to 253 rental apartments alongside buzzing indie cafés, bars and restaurants, plus green spaces and riverside hangouts throughout.
It's all part of Stockport's £1 billion Town Centre West masterplan, adding to the town's growing rep as one of the best places to live in the UK – tipped by the Sunday Times for two years running.
Weir Mill is one of eight live construction sites for Capital&Centric, who are investing £3 million a week in bringing new life to towns and cities across the UK, including Buxton, Wolverhampton, Gateshead, Sheffield, Stoke-on-Trent and Cambridge.
