Leisure and culture news

Oldham Council has locked in a calendar of free events stretching from this autumn to next spring, giving families a way to stay busy without spending. The programme covers four Festive Saturdays in the town centre, the Christmas lights switch-on on 15 November, and a heritage trail that turns local streets into an open-air classroom.

While the parties are being planned, the borough's cultural buildings are still playing catch-up. The Old Library will open its doors for a one-off open day on 16 August, but the Old Coliseum Theatre, once the heart of local drama, will stay dark until 2026. That leaves a gap in the cultural map for another full year.

Money is still moving into smaller venues. NxtGen Boxing has taken over the refurbished Marlborough Centre in Glodwick, Chadderton Wellbeing Centre has added a women-only gym, and £228,000 from the National Lottery will help Chadderton Together restore Grade II-listed Foxdenton Hall. Three other community sites will share £80,000 of council cash for basic repairs.

Traders are also shifting ground. Tommyfield Market has asked to move into the new unit inside the revamped Spindles complex when the lease ticks over in January. The council has already printed a 'shop local' gift card, ready to spend in independents and chains alike, and a hospitality group has signed on to turn the Old Town Hall's Egyptian Room into a food hall.

The risk is timing: the lights go up in November, the market may not move until January, and the Coliseum remains closed for at least another twelve months. Residents get free entertainment now, but the bigger cultural anchors are still works in progress.