Tattoo convention moves after artist licensing row

Tattoo convention organisers said they have been driven out of town due to a council's decision to charge each artist £80 for a temporary licence.

The Stockport Tattoo Convention will now take place in nearby Wythenshawe next August after Stockport Council insisted 50 visiting artists would need locally issued permits.

Event organiser Mike Gribben said he was "gutted" at having to move the convention - visited by thousands of people - from his hometown because of the local authority's stance.

Stockport Council said it was reviewing its policy "so things run smoothly in the future".

Organisers did not inform Stockport Council before the most recent convention, which was held at Edgeley Park in 2023.

While tattoo artists must have a licence from their own local authority, many use them when doing temporary work elsewhere, including at conventions.

Mr Gribben said organisers of next year's event had already checked all artists were licensed and insured before inviting them to take part.

"We're not doing it for the money," he said. "It's about bringing artists together to show that this industry is brilliant."

Mr Gribben said Stockport Council's requirement for a local licence meant those coming from as far away as Scotland were facing having to fork out £80 for only one or two days of work.

Next year's convention will take place at Wythenshawe Forum.

Organisers claimed the switch had left them £2,000 out of pocket.

Stockport Council said it was reviewing its licensing policy because it "doesn't reflect the changing nature of the industry".

But the local authority, run by the Liberal Democrats as a minority administration, pointed out that event organisers were responsible for giving notice and handling registrations.

Opposition Labour Councillor Joe Barratt complained that the council's "heavy-handed" approach had lost the town "thousands of pounds".

He urged the council to speak again with the convention's organisers to try to bring the event back to Stockport.