The teams behind Mackie Mayor, Altrincham Marketand Tender Cow have revealed plans to expand into the world of pubs, letting slip that they’ve just bought a boozer in Cheshire.
Sharing the news on Tuesday morning, the team ecstatically told their followers: “We’ve finally gone and done it. We’ve bought a pub and a rather spectacular one at that.”
They’ll be taking over the Nags Head, they revealed, a stunning, characterful Tudor-style pub in the pretty Cheshire hamlet of Houghton Moss, just outside of Tarporley.
Image: Facebook
Bosses will be joining forces with chefs behind fellow experienced market eateries including Honest Crust pizza, Picos Tacos and Altrincham’s Little Window to help put together this ‘proper, British pub’.
As part of the move, The Nag’s Head team will be rearing their own animals, creating their own charcuterie and moving closer to offering nose-to-tail dining by incorporating whole animal butchery on site.
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It’s one step beyond what the Tender Cow team already does to highlight lesser-known cuts of beef from some of the best producers and farms in Britain at both its Altrincham and Mackie Mayor’s food halls.
Tender Cow is a popular market stall in both the Altrincham and Manchester site dedicated to serving lesser-known cuts of beef from some of the best producers and farms in Britain. / Image: Tender Cow
Grilled leeks and new season asparagus vinaigrette topped with Red Bank organic eggs, crispy capers and Cambridge sauce. / Image: Little Window
Altrincham’s Little Window team – Beth, Ashley, Kate and E – pictured at their stall at the Altrincham Market House for International Women’s Day. / Image: Little Window
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As for local produce, they’ll be working with some of the area’s very best farmers and butchers – including Cinderwood Market Garden, Jane’s Farm Shop, Littlewoods Butchers, Swaledale Butchers, Wholly Cow Beef and Red House Farm.
There’s a strong focus on sustainability, and teams have said it will be ‘a proper British pub tying together everything we’ve been learning and building towards over the last few years.’
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The news of the purchase of the historic boozer follows a two-year appeal led by Cheshire locals to save their historic pub from demolition, after various planning applications were submitted to convert the site into residential dwellings.
Image: Tender Cow
The Grade-II listed building has already survived two world wars and innumerable economic crashes, and now – thanks to the Mackie Mayor and Tender Cow teams – it will hopefully continue to operate as a local community pub for many more years to come.
The new opening will be headed up by Head Chef Alex Coppenhall, who’s been running the Tender Cow kitchen in Macclesfield and is described as being ‘at the forefront of moving us along as a business.’
With an opening date currently set for 9 June 2022, the team is now on a tight recruitment drive to find new team members to help them build their vision of a ‘local, sustainable and honest’ pub.
If you would like to apply for a position, email [email protected] with your CV and cover letter.
Feature image – The Nag’s Head Facebook
News
Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
Georgina Pellant -
19th April 2022 
