6 restaurants, cafés and eateries keeping customers well fed this year

Our Food and Drink Heroes features give owners and managers the chance to shine a spotlight on their business and showcase their work.

In 2023, we’ve heard from six Warrington business owners in the hospitality industry and they’ve shared their career journeys, passion for their work and their hopes for 2024.

If you would like to appear in one of our Food and Drink Heroes features, email heidi.summerfield@newsquest.co.uk

Eastern Point

Eastern Point

Eastern Point opened at The Cookhouse in Warrington Market almost three years ago.

From noodles to bao buns and chicken to spicy fries, there promises to be something on the menu to suit all tastes and appetites.

Here, in our latest Food and Drink feature, owner Alan Atherton shares the secret to his success and his hopes for expanding the business in Warrington and further afield.

READ MORE:

Korean fried chicken and bao buns tempt the tastebuds in Warrington Market

Mamars

Mamars

Not much beats the smell of fresh, home-baked bread in the morning.

Team that with some locally sourced cheese and coffee roasted in Burtonwood and you’re onto a winner.

This is exactly what Mamars, at the old bank on Bridge Street, does since moving from Warrington Market almost 18 months ago.

Here, in our latest Food and Drink feature, owners Sonia Jackson and Sarah Oliver tell us why a sense of community is so important to running a successful town centre business.

READ MORE:

The artisan bakery and delicatessen bringing people back together

Vandal

Vandal

Vandal, the town centre venue, opened its doors on September 22 last year serving food and drink at The Treasury Building on Palmyra Square.

Owners Jenny and Matthew Carey – Matthew is also head chef – and general manager Michael Butler have more than 15 years’ experience in the hospitality industry and opened Bold Street House, also on Palmyra Square in 2019.

They wanted to open another venue in the town centre offering “something a bit different”.

Jenny tells us about opening Vandal - and before that Bold Street House.

READ MORE:

Cheers to Vandal – first birthday celebrations at town centre bar

To Pie For

To Pie For

Fancy a wedding cake made from pork pies?

How about a personalised pie for a special occasion?

Shane Neild has been making mouth-watering pies at To Pie For in Fearnhead for the past four-and-a-half years.

The filled pastry delights have won countless industry awards so what’s the secret to success?

Shane Neild talks everything pies.

READ MORE:

13 times award-winning pieman has the perfect recipe for success

Toast

Toast

Katherine Hibbert and Stuart Lawton are old school friends and they’ve spent many hours talking about opening a business together over the years.

Two years ago, the dynamic duo put their ideas into practise opening Toast and then Toast Treats in Latchford before moving the hugely popular Toast to a bigger venue that was able to welcome their growing customer base.

Here, in our latest Food and Drink feature, Katherine and Stuart talk all things treats – breakfast, lunch and treats and how they’ve made the most of their opportunities to make two businesses an instant success.

READ MORE:

Meet the coffee shop owners warming everyone’s hearts with tasty treats

DIck's Bean Bar

Dick’s Bean Bar

Dick’s Bean Bar has been keeping customers satisfied with freshly roasted coffee and well fed with homemade treats for the past seven years.

Owner Robert Bamford is passionate about hospitality and coffee, having spent 30 years working his way up from pot washer to general manager in several establishments around the country.

Here, in our latest Food and Drink feature, Robert tells us how the Covid-19 pandemic saw the creation of a cosy garden area and upstairs seating and why winter is a busy time for coffee makers.

READ MORE:

Artisan coffee shop that’s brimming with community spirit