The much-loved Cheshire Smokehouse has had its plans passed for a comprehensive upgrade of its site in Morley Green near Wilmslow. The family-run business intends to create a new food production facility which will help safeguard the business for another generation. Plans also include a new café and an enhanced visitor environment.
The Cheshire Smokehouse has been attracting customers from Cheshire and beyond for the past thirty years. Over this period, it has developed to include an in-house butchery, an on-site bakery, a fine wine area, a grocery selling fresh fruit and vegetables, and a deli offering cheeses, charcuterie and other specially selected produce.
With sustained and growing demand for its locally made produce, the business intends to reconfigure the site to improve facilities. A contemporary food production building will enable the Smokehouse to continue to produce its famous smoked goods on site and comply with current food production requirements.
The ever-popular shop will remain in situ, but its entrance will be relocated so that it becomes much easier to access. The car park area will also undergo improvements whilst being fully landscaped to incorporate trees and green space in fitting with the rural surroundings. Sustainability is at the heart of the improvement plans which feature solar panels, EV charging points and plenty of outdoor space for cyclists and customers with dogs.
The highly anticipated new café will be positioned on the ground floor adjacent to the new food production building, providing disabled access and plenty of outdoor seating. The menu will offer customers the opportunity to enjoy Smokehouse products and other locally sourced delicacies. However, the building schedule forecast will take 18 -24 months to complete, so eager café customers will have to wait a while longer.
Darren Ward, Owner of Cheshire Smokehouse, said: “Our business dates back to 1907 when my great grandfather, John Ward, opened a bacon smoking business in Cheetham Hill, Manchester after returning from Canada where he learnt how to smoke food.
“In 1992, we opened our site in Morley Green which has gone from strength to strength. We now employ 36 members of staff and support a wide variety of local businesses and farmers.
“Our improvements give us the opportunity to open a new and improved, fully accessible café which is requested by our customers on a daily basis. Customers will be able to watch the smoking process through glass windows from the cafe and get an insight into the way we work.”
Manchester-based Up North Architects will be working on the project and Euan Kellie Property Solutions delivering on the planning process. Before submitting a planning application to Cheshire East Council, the Smokehouse has been sharing its plans with members of the community for their comments.
The shop will remain open while the building works take place and frequent updates will be available on www.cheshiresmokehouse.co.uk and on the Smokehouse social media channels including Instagram @cheshiresmoke and Facebook Cheshire Smokehouse Limited.
