Man About Town – July 2026

By Greg Hall

It seems like only yesterday that I was penning my first Go Local article of the year, and here we now are, in the seventh month of 2026, peering into the desperate abyss that is the downward slope to Christmas (you’ll be hard pressed to find a bleaker opening sentence elsewhere in this magazine – or any publication throughout the month of July, for that matter).

Still, while the shops will no doubt be selling Halloween costumes, fireworks and mince pies any time now (B&M, I’m looking at you), there is still much to enjoy this summer in our wonderful little town.

Last month, I wrote about the live music scene in Sandbach, as June featured not one but four massive events throughout the town, but if you managed to miss all four and now regret it, fear not, because the BACHFEST pop extravaganza will be returning to Sandbach Cricket Club on Saturday 18th July. As well as some incredible local acts, including Kno Duo, Oliver Hawkins, and 90 Band Set (which is, one hopes, a reference to their musical style being very 1990s, and not the number of musicians they plan to squeeze on stage) there will also be tributes to the Spice Girls and Ariana Grande. By which, I mean tribute ACTS, rather than memorial tributes because, to my knowledge, none of the Spice Girls nor Ariana Grande have passed away.*

Then, if live music still isn’t your thing, but you enjoy a good laugh (of course you do, you’re still reading this), then St. Mary’s Church is hosting another of its ever-popular comedy nights the very same evening. Doors open at 7pm and the laughter begins at 8pm.

Whether you go to either event, or simply stay at home, make sure you don’t overindulge if you’ve decided to enter this year’s Sandbach 10k event, as that takes place the next morning, Sunday 19th July, at 10am sharp. As someone who has entered the race three times (although, alas, my crumbling knees have kept me away since 2020), it’s a tremendous – and, mercifully, flat – course that remains one of the best locally to push for that PB.

Finally, for those who prefer a more sedentary lifestyle, Sandbach Cinema returns to the Town Hall at the end of the month, when you can watch the British comedy-drama ‘The Battle of Wallis Island’, featuring the incredibly talented Tim Key and Carey Mulligan (among others).

So, as you can see, there is still much to enjoy before the nights draw in and we reluctantly succumb to that first play of the insufferable Mariah Carey while choking down some hot, spicy wine. See you in August!

*(at the time of going to press)