The perfect place to enjoy a drink in the sun with a view of the lake

The venue, which won last year’s Best Beer Garden in Mid Cheshire, has just done the double and scooped this year’s title as it continues to be the number one destination for a drink and a bite to eat al fresco.

Each week, we will be searching for the best Mid Cheshire has to offer in different categories and we’ve given out 17 awards for 2023.

The winners so far:

Best for Hair – Oliver Gibney Hairdressing

Best for Pies – Ka Pie

Best for Nails – Samantha Dean Nails and Makeup

Best for Roast Dinner – The Red Lion in Little Budworth

Best for Cocktails – Grape and Bean

Best for Breakfast – Kanya Bistro and Bar

Best for Fitness – Simon Daniels

Best for Fish and Chips – The Corner Fish and Chip Shop

Best for Tattoos – Ink FX Tattoo

Best for Pizza – Oakwood Smoke and Dough

Best for Pets – Willowsway Cat Rescue

Best Independent Shop or Business – The Style Hut

Best for Desserts – Layers Treats

Best for Kids – Popcat’s Music Time

Best Gym – Namix Performance Centre

Voting for Mid Cheshire’s Best for Afternoon Tea is currently taking place and we’re also looking for nominations in our latest search - Best for Burgers.

Next on the list was the search for Mid Cheshire’s Best Beer Garden and The Carriers Inn took the latest Best of 2023 crown taking back-to-back awards.

The award-winning view from the beer garden

Leigh Capon and Joanne Dewar took over at the pumps on Delamere Road in May last year and just three months later they claimed their first Best of award.

Fast forward 12 months and the couple have scooped a second.

Leigh said: “The business is a country, lakeside pub serving good pub food and we are also a live music venue.

“We have invested heavily into the business to bring the community together and we recently opened our new garden bar which allows guests to enjoy our stunning outside space.

“We serve a wide range of popular drinks and food from our carefully engineered menu.

“We have a selection of delicious burgers from our Carriers collection including a Hacienda Burger and we also offer classic pizza favourites and a selection of bespoke Italian pizzas together with pub classics like beer battered fish and chips, pies and gammon steaks.”

The Carriers Inn at Hatchmere Lake

Employing 16 local people, The Carriers Inn hosted its first live music event on Friday, August 4.

The award-winning Abba tribute band Kiss The Teacher entertained visitors to the beer garden and the garden room veranda was the perfect stage for the artists.

The sold out event was first of many which a further four dates in the diary for 2024 with tickets available in the next few weeks.

Leigh said: “The Carriers Inn deserves a place on the map as a great venue for not only a quiet drink and a delicious meal for everyone but also a great music venue.

“We decided to open our own business having spent lockdown together at home enjoying family life.

“Returning to working for others was not giving us the quality of life we were looking for and we decided if we were going to work as hard as we do then why not invest our time into something we love and a business we could grow together?

“We are both award winning managers having operated multiple sites throughout the UK.”

The first live music event took place in the beer garden earlier this month

Leigh has been successfully running pubs and hotels for more than 30 years, turning pubs from the depths of despair to highly profitable businesses.

He also likes to DJ and get the crowds up dancing at New Year’s Eve and the live music events.

Joanne has worked in the catering and hospitality industry as an operator for more than 35 years, owning a restaurant in southern Ireland during the early 2000s with her parents.

Her passions are around great food and great service and surrounding herself with a great team.

So why a country pub? What drew Leigh and Joanne to The Carriers Inn?

Leigh said: “We are experienced all round operators.

“We have a wealth of knowledge between us from head chef to recruitment and finance to HR and marketing.

“We fell in love with The Carriers Inn on our first visit.

“We have been welcomed into the community and love our new home.

“Who wouldn’t love their morning coffee in this beautiful beer garden?”

The Carriers Inn Leigh Capon and Joanne Dewar

Leigh and Joanne have handpicked individuals who are exceptional in their field and as passionate about the business as they are.

Staff training, progression and retention is important and they continue to invest in their team.

But what do the customers think about The Carriers Inn? Why did they want them to win our latest award?

One nomination said: “I don’t know of anywhere else locally where you can chill in the beer garden overlooking a lake.

“Perfect after a stroll around Delamere Forest.”

The garden room veranda

Leigh said: “The best thing about our roles within our business is that it doesn’t feel like work.

“It feels like we are entertaining family and friends in our home every day.

“Our team and regular customers have become friends and we care about each of them.

“We were extremely happy to hear we’d made the shortlist for Mid Cheshire’s Best Beer Garden again this year as we have invested a lot of time and money into making our beer garden a place of beauty.

“We were delighted and very proud that all our hard work has paid off and that our guests and customers were in agreement that our beer garden is the best.

“We would like to thank everyone for voting for us and we’d also like to thank our team for all their hard work in making our beer garden the best, especially Ian and George our gardeners.

“Keeping a garden looking beautiful is a full-time job and takes dedication and pride.

“And now it’s a double award-winning garden!”

For more details go to facebook.com/carriersinnhatchmerelake