Born out of chance and circumstance, over the past seven years Little Window Alty has become a staple for regulars at Altrincham’s Market House. That is, until Wednesday night when it announced it will be closing up shop for good.
Leaving fans of its inventive, ingredient-led salads, soups, large plates and snacks bereft, the team shared an emotive post to the Little Window Alty Instagram page saying that now felt like the right time to hang up their aprons.
Describing their time running Little Window as ‘an incredible journey in food’, they thanked their audience for the support and spoke about their pride in the food they have created whilst reflecting nostalgically at how, a little over seven years ago, Little Window was born.
Image: Little Window Alty
They wrote: “A little over 7 years ago the honestcrustsourdoughpizza team, still very much in its infancy, started using the vacant unit in the corner of @altymarket to mix and roll dough. Then came a little chalk menu with a couple salads and snacks. And so Little Window was born.
“That became the start of an incredible journey in food for us. We took on some great suppliers, some excellent people and bought some lovely cookbooks. Over the years we’ve built an audience that we’re really proud of.
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Sharing images of different chefs who’ve worked for them over the years, the team sang the praises of those who’ve passed through the kitchen – tagging prestigious Manchester eateries and bars with whom they now work.
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The Creameries, The Moor Cock Inn, Sugo, Flawd, Pollen, The Pack Horse at Hayfield, Cinderwood Market Garden and Isca Wines all got an honourable mention.
The post continued: “@hammancheese will open her own space in Marple later this year. Lucky Marple.
“If you’ve eaten with us in the past few years and enjoyed what you’ve had it’s almost certainly down to Beth. She is the single most talented, intuitive and naturally gifted cook I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside.
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“I expect if you’ve read this far and not skipped to the end you’ll know what’s coming. This Friday will be the final day of Little Window.
“I’d like to thank everyone who’s joined us for food in that 7 years. A massive thank you to Jen and Nick @altymarket who’s encouragement, feedback and support have been so instrumental in our progress. Thanks to our amazing suppliers. And thanks and love to all our team, wherever they are now.
Altrincham named one of the UK’s best places to live in 2026 in The Sunday Times’ annual ranking
Emily Sergeant
A popular Greater Manchester town has been named among the UK’s best places to live by the Sunday Times in its annual ranking.
That’s right… it’s that time of year, once again.
The Sunday Times is known for pulling together a list of what it considers to be the most sought-after places to live in the UK every year, and 2026’s ranking has officially been published today – with dozens of locations across the country making up the comprehensive guide, and six of those coveted locations being right here in the North West.
The Sunday Times’s expert judges have visited all locations on the list, and assessed factors such as schools, transport, culture, broadband speeds, access to green spaces, the health of the high streets, and much more to devise the always-talked-about annual ranking.
Macclesfield in Cheshire, Eden Valley in Cumbria, Lancaster in Lancashire, and Aigburth in Liverpool are just some of the North West areas named by the publication in the 2026 list.
Altrincham has been named one of the best places to live in the UK / Credit: The Manc Group
A spotlight has also been shone on two Greater Manchester towns, and one of two has even been given the regional North West title… but which are they?
Where has taken the top spot as the best place to live in the North West for 2026, and is therefore one of the best places to live in the whole of the country? Well, that honour has been given to none other than Greater Manchester’s very-own Altrincham.
The publication described the Trafford town as ‘classy, cool and effortlessly comfortable’.
“Altrincham is a top-notch town brimming with independent businesses and big brands, and now it’s flying even higher,” The Sunday Times said.
The fact that co-working has now arrived on the high street thanks to the conversion of the old Rackhams department store, and that the town’s cultural and creative ‘cachet’ is also on the rise, have been highlighted as reasons as to why Altrincham has been chosen as the North West’s winner, as well its newly-flourishing fitness scene.
Of course, the town has also been praised for its transport links into Manchester city centre and across the region, as well as it being a great place for families thanks to the excellent local schools on offer.
Didsbury was the other Greater Manchester town chosen to represent the best of the North West – with the Manchester suburb described as being ‘stylish, solid, safe, and, yes, a little bit smug in parts… but that’s okay’.
You can read the full Altrincham feature here, and see where else The Sunday Times included in its list for 2026 here.
Featured Image – Geograph
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11 arrested and £70k cash seized during early-morning police drug raids across Greater Manchester
Emily Sergeant
11 people have been arrested, as well as a large amount of cash and drugs seized, during early-morning raids across Greater Manchester.
The raids took place during the early hours of the morning yesterday (Thursday 19 March 2026), where Greater Manchester Police (GMP) successfully executed eight warrants simultaneously across Tameside, Oldham, and Rochdale to tackle a ‘suspected criminal network’ involved in the distribution of class A drugs and firearms.
Officers from Tameside Programme Challenger team, the District Intelligence Unit (DIU), and GMP’s Tactical Aid Unit (TAU) were deployed to each of the addresses.
Following weeks of intelligence gathering and preparation, a total of 11 people – each aged between 24 and 77 – were arrested on suspicion of drug-related offences during the raids.
Eight men and three women were arrested on suspicion of a range of offences, including conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs, being part of an organised crime group, possession with intent to supply, money laundering, and possession of an offensive weapon.
They all remain in police custody for questioning at this time, GMP confirmed.
During searches of the addresses, various class A, B and C drugs – including crack cocaine, heroin, cannabis, and nitrous oxide – were seized, while further recoveries of £70,000 in cash, a zombie knife, a BB gun, and four vehicles were also made at the same time.
Speaking following the success of the raids yesterday, Chief Superintendent Shan Nasim, District Commander for Tameside, said: “[This] operation has been a powerful example of our continued, determined effort to dismantle organised crime in our district and Greater Manchester.
“We have 11 people in custody being questioned by our investigation teams in relation to an organised crime group (OCG) that have been causing widespread harm across our communities.
“This action caused significant disruption of an organised crime group (OCG) and has prevented drugs and weapons from reaching the streets, as well as the associated harms that come hand in hand with organised crime.
“Organised criminals exploit vulnerable people and blight our communities; we will take robust action to catch offenders, keep our communities safe, and protect vulnerable people across Greater Manchester.”
Georgina Pellant -
5th May 2022 
