WHO makes Mid Cheshire’s best roast dinner, pizza or afternoon tea?
Where is the best place to have your hair or nails done?
Which is the area's best independent shop or business?
In April, we launched the Northwich and Winsford Guardian and Knutsford Guardian Best of 2023 competition to find the best that the area has to offer in 23 different categories.
Each week, readers nominated their favourite cafés, gyms and pubs as well as fish chip shops, beer gardens and fitness instructors and we put together a shortlist of the most popular places announcing an overall winner for each category voted by you, the readers.
The winners have all been featured in the Northwich and Winsford Guardian and Knutsford Guardian over the past few weeks but as 2023 comes to an end, we decided to take a look back and find out how they each took one of the Best of 2023 crowns.
Here are the 23 winners in Mid Cheshire:
Oliver GIbney Hairdressing
GOING above and beyond for his clients is all in a day’s work for Oliver Gibney.
He really is a cut above the rest and the popular salon – Oliver Gibney Hairdressing – was named Mid Cheshire’s Best for Hair 2023 – the first winner of our Best of 2023 awards.
After starting an apprenticeship at the age of 16, Ollie has gone from strength to strength opening up his first salon when he was just 19.
His five-star rated salon on Runcorn Road specialises in colour and hair extensions and he has won numerous awards over the past 20 years.
Ka Pie
FANCY a pulled pork pie with spiced rum gravy? How about lamb and sweet potato with garlic and rosemary gravy?
There’s also sweet chilli chicken pies or ones filled with creamy feta, spinach and toasted pine nuts.
Every single pie at Ka Pie sounds mouth-wateringly delicious and they’re officially the best in Mid Cheshire.
Samantha Dean Nails and Makeup
OPENING your own business during lockdown was never going to be easy.
But Samantha Jayne knew that she could make a success of her salon and she was right as it took Mid Cheshire’s Best for Nails 2023 title.
The Red Lion Inn
HOMEMADE hearty food in a charming country pub – what more could you ask for on a Sunday afternoon?
The Red Lion Inn in Little Budworth is the perfect place to enjoy a traditional roast dinner – the best in Cheshire!
Andrew Cartwright and his wife Catherine took over at the pumps last year and have clearly made a good first impression with customers and locals.
Grape and Bean
LET’S raise a glass to Grape and Bean – Mid Cheshire’s Best for Cocktails 2023!
With seven owners and one bar manager, the award-winning Market Street venue has a wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise that has contributed to its success over the past two years.
The wine bar offers a relaxing space for customers to enjoy a wide range of draught and bottled beers and top quality wines as well as locally roasted coffee and an unrivalled collection of teas – and also award-winning cocktails!
Kanya Bistro and Restaurant
WHEN it comes to breakfast, you can’t go wrong with a full English – fried eggs, sausages and bacon with hash browns, beans and toast.
How about an award-winning one from Kanya Bistro and Restaurant – officially Mid Cheshire’s Best for Breakfast 2023?
Monika Palka is the co-owner and manager of Kanya Bistro together with business partner Nagendra Kumar Prasad and they opened the restaurant’s doors in August 2010.
It was originally on High Street in Northwich but moved to its new location at Waters Cross on Watling Street in October 2021.
Simon Daniels
WHEN you love your job now just as much as you did when you started 11 years ago, you know you’re onto a winner.
And Simon Daniels is definitely winning this year after taking Mid Cheshire’s Best for Fitness 2023!
The 28-year-old from Winsford is a personal trainer based at Puregym in Northwich.
He has been in the fitness industry since leaving school and he says it’s the one thing in life that he excels at.
The Corner Fish and Chip Shop
SERVING top quality fish and chips every day is no mean feat but Annmarie and Terry Curzon have clearly got the recipe for success.
The couple, who run The Corner Fish and Chip Shop in Winsford, were crowned Mid Cheshire’s Best for Fish and Chips 2023 after the venue battered the competition from nine other fish and chip plaices.
The Corner Fish and Chip Shop served up a winning portion of the English favourite, taking our latest Best of 2023 title.
Annmarie and Terry, who have been together for 24 years, have been the proud owners of The Corner Fish and Chip Shop on Princess Street for the past 15 years, with the venue first opening in 1965.
Ink FX Tattoo
WHEN clients say “this is the best place by a mile”, “amazingly talented” and “a simply lovely experience in a great studio” it’s clear to see why Ink FX Tattoo took our latest Best of 2023 crown.
Frank Barrow runs the relaxed and unrushed studio on Langford Road in Lostock Gralam that has been named Mid Cheshire’s Best for Tattoos 2023.
Ink FX on Langford Road in Lostock Gralam beat off tough competition from 11 other tattooists and tattoo studios taking our latest Best of 2023 title.
Frank opened the studio ten years ago having grown up in Rudheath and emigrating to New Zealand in 1987 before returning to the UK in 1995.
The 62-year-old does tattoos that have he has created or ones that have been designed by customers themselves.
Oakwood Smoke and Dough
WINNING one Best for Pizza award is an achievement but winning two, back-to-back, is amazing.
That’s exactly what Oakwood Smoke and Dough at Oakwood Marina has done.
Owner Gemma Woods picked up last year’s Italian-themed award and has added this year’s title to the collection – Best for Pizza 2023.
Gemma opened the Davenham Road business in 2021 having grown up in Altrincham and moving to Northwich.
She was a chef for more than 20 years in restaurants and pubs all over Greater Manchester and after the Covid-19 pandemic, she decided to start a new street food business.
Willowsway Cat Rescue
A NORTHWICH charity and its loyal team of volunteers was celebrating after taking home one of our newest awards.
The hard-working group at Willowsway Cat Rescue, which is based in Northwich, was voted Mid Cheshire’s Best for Pets – a new category for this year.
We were looking at our furry and feathered friends and the people who take good care of them, with Willowsway Cat Rescue beating off tough competition from nine other businesses.
Liz Peach, Gillian Clewes, Martine Gum and Kerri Pawelczyk teamed up in September 2019 together with volunteers and fosterers.
All four ladies are trustees, Liz, Gillian and Martine are also fosterers and Liz is the registered owner.
Willowsway Cat Rescue is a registered charity run solely by volunteers and is reliant on donations from our loyal supporters.
The Style Hut
A PASSION for fashion is the key to success for Claire Forster.
She’s the owner of The Style Hut at Northwich Indoor Market and after winning last year’s Best Independent Shop award, the business scooped the 2023 honour.
Claire, who turned 50 earlier this year, grew up and still lives in Rudheath with her husband Paul and has two grown up sons – Jack and Harry.
She opened The Style Hut nearly five years ago when her clothes rail inside her hairdressing salon on Northwich Indoor Market in Applemarket Street was proving to be popular with customers.
Claire decided to expand the business and sell more clothes and accessories instead of cutting hair.
Layers Treats
THERE’S the sweet smell of success coming from Layers Treats in Hartford less than three years after the family-run business launched amid the difficult Covid-19 pandemic.
Tom Newey heads the business on School Lane, which opened in October 2020, and everyone at Layers Treats is celebrating winning Mid Cheshire’s Best for Dessert 2023.
Layers Treats has two parts – the chocolate business and the dessert business, which operates from a custom-built airstream trailer.
The Beauty Spot
SEEING the smiles on clients’ faces as they leave the salon is the best part of Rebecca Collins’ job.
The owner of The Beauty Spot and winner of a second Best for Beauty award “loves making people happy and feel good about themselves”.
Rebecca Collins has been in the beauty business since 2001 based in Valentine’s Hair and Beauty in Northwich town centre and more recently from her home salon in Wincham.
The Beauty Spot is a vegan, cruelty free and eco conscious salon using all UK-based brands.
Popcat's Music Time
WHEN Hollie Dunne started her music classes for babies and toddlers it was at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and via the magic of Zoom.
Less than two years after she was able to have face to face classes for little ones in Winnington and she’s winning awards – Popcat’s Music Time is Mid Cheshire’s Best for Kids 2023.
The business started in Wirral in 2014 and was turned into a franchise a few years later with Hollie taking on the Northwich postcode CW8 franchise in January 2021.
Namix Performance Centre
HELPING members become injury free, achieve their fitness goals and feel relaxed at the gym are crucial to the success of Namix Performance Centre.
And they’re just some of the reasons why clients voted for the Northwich venue to win Best Gym in Mid Cheshire for the second year in a row.
Husband and wife team Charlotte and Chris Wood scooped the 2022 title and they added the 2023 award to their collection.
Namix Performance Centre on Denton Drive is owned by Chris and Charlotte and managed by Tom Merrick.
Brother and sister Tom and Charlotte grew up in Hartford and Chris grew up in Wincham.
The therapy business was established in 2013 with the gym side of the company opening in August 2019 just a few months before the Covid-19 pandemic hit.
The Carriers Inn
WITH picturesque views of Hatchmere Lake, not much beats a cold drink outside in the sunshine at The Carriers Inn.
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.
Leigh Capon and Joanne Dewar took over at the pumps on Delamere Road in May last year and just three months they claimed their first Best of award.
Fast forward 12 months, and the couple scooped a second.
Goostrey Home and Leisure
HOMEMADE sausage rolls, quiches and freshly made sandwiches followed by fruit scones topped with jam and cream and mini cakes – the number one afternoon tea menu in Mid Cheshire.
Loyal customers at Goostrey Home and Leisure voted for their tasty treats to win our latest award – Mid Cheshire’s Best for Afternoon Tea 2023 – and Rebecca Randles and her hard-working team are quite rightly celebrating their win.
The family-run café and gift shop business opened on Goostrey Lane in Holmes Chapel in 2003 with Rebecca taking over between 12 and 15 years ago.
They sell a wide range of goods from fruit and vegetables to gifts for all occasions.
Smokehouse & Cellar
WHEN it comes to ordering a burger at Smokehouse & Cellar, customers are spoilt for choice – which of the award-winning creations should you try first?
The Dirty Double or the Miss Piggy? How about a Buffalo Soldier, a Pitmaster Stack or an Outlaw burger?
The mouthwatering menu is at Smokehouse & Cellar – Mid Cheshire’s Best for Burgers 2023.
The business opened in Royal George Building on Regent Street in Knutsford just six months ago after moving from Manchester city centre and is owned by Sarah Johnson.
Smokehouse & Cellar was originally created around eight years ago in Manchester and was aimed at feeding people’s passion for BBQ food.
It also reached out to diners who were looking for good quality meat and fish dishes that were presented to a high standard and served on quality plates with high end service not as the usual BBQ food on paper plates and in plastic containers.
Board Beans
FANCY a cup of coffee and a game of monopoly?
How about a quick game of Cluedo or Labyrinth and a delicious slice of cake?
Board Beans on Witton Street in Northwich has beaten off some tough competition and taken Mid Cheshire’s latest Best of 2023 title – Best Café or Coffee Shop.
Frazer and Betsy Eden, who are both 38 and moved to Northwich 20 years ago, own Board Beans on Witton Street and opened the doors in April 2019.
Bombay Lounge
FOUR years ago Afzal Hassan took over as the new owner of Bombay Lounge with big plans to relaunch the business and make it thrive.
He clearly has the recipe for success as hot on the heels of winning last year’s Best for Curry and Best Restaurant awards, the Winsford venue has scooped Mid Cheshire’s Best for Curry 2023.
Afzal Hassan, known as Hassan, opened Bombay Lounge – formerly Bombay Tea Lounge – in 2019 having grown up in London but lived in Cheshire and Staffordshire for the previous 20 years.
The Wharton Road venue offers dine in, takeaway and delivery services.
The Cheshire Cheese
GRATEFUL staff at “a unique, traditional pub” are raising a glass to their loyal customers after being voted Mid Cheshire’s Best Pub or Bar 2023.
The Cheshire Cheese only reopened a few weeks following a six-week refurbishment plan and it is officially the best pub in the area.
Janice Oxley has been the manager at the award-winning pub on Lewin Street since March 2020 – just two weeks before the Covid-19 pandemic plunged the country and the rest of the world into lockdown.
The Cheshire Cheese is owned by Admiral Taverns and was a pub with a cottage adjacent to the main building.
The brewery bought the cottage and knocked through making the once small pub into a spacious place with a beer garden and stage for performers.
It reopened in mid August after extensive refurbishments which took six weeks.
Bombay Lounge
AFZAL Hassan has the magic touch.
Just two weeks after Bombay Lounge was named Mid Cheshire’s Best for Curry 2023, the popular Winsford venue has scooped a second award and been named Mid Cheshire’s Best Restaurant.
The awards have come in pairs again this year after the restaurant took home the same honours in 2022 and Afzal, known locally as Hassan, is rightly celebrating another well-deserved win.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here