A chip shop in Stockport that’s been serving its community since the 60s has been named one of the best in the country.
Tucked between a pet food shop and an Iceland outlet, Taylors location in Woodley seems pretty unassuming – but according to a whole host of accolades, including an OBE being given to its owner for how well she treats her staff, this is the place to go if you want a cracking chippy tea in Stockport.
Owner Annie Wallace prides herself on using only the finest ingredients and stresses that the potato selection is just important as the fish. She has run the shop since leaving school at 16, with it having been opened by her parents in 1966, and reckons she won’t ever retire.
The popular local fish and chip shop has just been named in the ‘Official Guide to the UK’s Quality Fish and Chip Shops 2021′, an annual award it always wins, hosted by National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF) and Sarson’s vinegar.
Regularly selling more than 200 fish at peak chippy tea time on a Friday, inside choices include staples like scampi, fish cakes, scallops, and a selection of breaded cod, haddock and hake – not to mention some of the chunkiest, vinegar-doused chips around.
ADVERTISEMENT
Image: Taylors via Facebook
Sausages are also available, but if you want batter you will be left disappointed – as it’s not on the menu. That said, there’s plenty of homemade pies like steak and kidney and meat and potato, plus mince, chilli, and chicken nuggets, so they aren’t exactly short of meaty options either.
And at Christmas, they do mini battered sausages wrapped in bacon and served with Cranberry sauce – the ultimate treat worth waiting for.
ADVERTISEMENT
Elsewhere, you’ll find classic sides like mushy peas and gravy, baked beans, curry sauce, Irish curry, hash browns, ketchup, special housemade tartar using Taylors’ own recipe, and muffins either buttered or filled with chips.
Image: Taylors via Facebook Image: Taylors via Facebook
It’s very reasonably priced too, with a large portion of chips coming in under £2 and a portion of battered cod at just under £5.
At 71, owner Anne has been in the shop her whole life – and still works alongside her 73-year-old husband Robert three days a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
ADVERTISEMENT
She told The MEN on a recent visit: “My mum was still frying fish and chips when she was 92 and I think it kept her young.”
The shop before the refit with its old team. / Image: Taylors via Facebook
Day to day the shop is now generally overseen by manager Jamie, who has himself been with the company since age 16.
As well as offering collection, the popular fish and chip shop always has a delivery service – both running their own within a 30-minute radius from the shop and also partnering with delivery app Just Eat.
You can find the fish and chip shop on Woodley Precinct, in Woodley, Stockport. It’s open from 11.30 am to 7 pm, Tuesday to Saturday.
Dispute over Manichester now ‘resolved’, say Mounfield family
Danny Jones
The family of the late, great Manchester musician, Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, have said that the drama surrounding the highly-anticipated tribute festival in his name, Manichester, has now thankfully been settled.
Now the focus can once again return to remembering him as best as possible.
Following plenty of talk about the project following his passing late last year, a live music festival honouring Mani was finally confirmed in March, and the reaction following the event’s announcement has been unsurprisingly phenomenal.
Well, at least for the most part, as there was also some confusion over whether or not Manichester was still a charitable effort as advertised, with son Gene Mounfield disputing claims online. Fortunately, it all seems to have been put to bed now.
On behalf of the boys, and as their legal guardian, I want to thank everyone for the kind messages and concern for their wellbeing. There was a misunderstanding regarding the upcoming Manichester tribute concert, but we’re pleased to share that everything has now been resolved. pic.twitter.com/j8jEMrFzsD
Being organised by Madchester.com and locally-founded fashion label, GIOGOI, the debut edition was said to have the total blessing of Mani’s family, including his brother, Greg Mounfield.
It was also said that the funds raised by the show would be going to the legendary Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassists’ twins, George and Gene, but the latter recently argued that “nothing” was going to either him or his brother and that the news was “dropped” the plans just a fortnight prior.
Gene also said that “if it was a charity gig it would be at Co-op [Live] or Heaton Park, and it would be done by SJM [Concerts]”: a Manchester-based promoters and events company.
All of this was also wrapped up in ever more paper talk and sensationalism, as some were reporting that Noel and Liam Gallagher, as well as other members of Oasis, would be surprising fans as the still yet to be revealed ‘major headliner’.
These rumours have since been quashed, as has whatever miscommunication caused the misunderstanding between the parties concerned, and we are now back to simply looking forward to seeing an already stacked lineup here in the city centre this May.
Damon Minchella of Ocean Colour Scene (a fellow bassist who also tours with Richard Ashcroft) is helping organise and will also be performing on the night itself. As for the surviving Mounfields, they went on to add in an accompanying Instagram post: “We would also like to express our gratitude to PH.
“It means a great deal to all of us that so many people loved Mani enough to give their time and energy to honour his memory in this way. We are genuinely touched by the support.
“It has been an incredibly difficult few years for the boys and for our whole family. We hope this event will bring some much‑needed joy and create new, positive memories for everyone who cared about him.
“With love and thanks – The Family”
It goes without saying that we can’t wait for this city and Greater Manchester as a whole to honour a Manc icon and are looking forward to another year celebrating the thing that never fails to bring us all together: music.
Featured Images — livepict.com (via Wikimedia Commons)/Publicity pictures (supplied)
News
Rochdale is bidding to become the UK’s first-ever Town of Culture in 2028
Emily Sergeant
Rochdale has announced its intention to bid to become UK Town of Culture 2028.
Entering into the national competition launched by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), following on from the success of the already-existing City of Culture award, the Greater Manchester town is hoping to be the first-ever town to claim the title.
The Town of Culture competition invites towns across the UK to showcase their cultural story and develop ambitious programmes that celebrate local heritage, creativity, and communities.
The winning town receives a £3 million grant from the Government to deliver a major year-long cultural programme in 2028 designed to boost civic pride, attract visitors, and provide everyone with the opportunity to participate in cultural activities.
Rochdale’s bid is being led by Rochdale Borough Council and Rochdale Development Agency, alongside cultural groups, education providers, and community organisations.
The bid will build on the town’s history as the birthplace of the Co-operative movement, and a centre of political reform, collective action and working-class cultural innovation.
A town of national and international significance, whose people and ideas have shaped the social, democratic and cultural life of the UK and beyond, Rochdale Council says the town’s story is ‘distinctive’ and as highly relevant today as it ever has been, and this is a driving force behind its Town of Culture 2028 bid.
Not just historically, but over recent years too, the town has made a significant contribution to the UK’s popular culture, producing internationally recognised musicians, artists, writers, and performers.
Local leaders say the bid to become the UK’s first ever Town of Culture underlines Rochdale’s ambition after just completing a ‘hugely successful’ year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture for 2025.
Rochdale is bidding to become the UK’s first-ever Town of Culture / Credit: The Manc Group | Rochdale Council
“We have a strong foundation for a bold and future focused UK Town of Culture programme and an incredible story to tell,” commented Cllr Neil Emmott, who is the Leader of Rochdale Borough Council.
“We’ll be developing a fabulous programme of new events and activities as well as amplifying our existing offer and recently transformed town hall square and centre.
“As we have already seen during our year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture, we have an established infrastructure of creative partners ready to go, who have already expressed their support for our bid, providing significant capacity and scale to deliver a UK town of culture programme in 2028 that would leave a permanent cultural legacy.
“We have exciting and varied attractions and iconic venues that have seen significant investment, an array of creative talent and we’re very well connected.
“This bid will allow us to share this in new ways and invite others to experience it.”
Georgina Pellant -
29th October 2021 
