The owners of Altrincham Market have unveiled their latest plans for a pub they have bought in Cheshire. The people behind the popular food halls will be taking over The Nags Head in Haughton just outside of Tarporley, which is set to reopen in the summer.
The Nags Head, which announced its closure on New Year’s Eve in December 2019, was threatened with being developed into two dwellings with five additional houses being built in the grounds. But it is now set to be reopened by the company who brought Altrincham Market, Mackie Mayor and the Picturedrome in Macclesfield to life.
Set to become a traditional British pub with a 'twist', it will play host to independent food operators Tender Cow, Honest Crust, Little Window and Picos Tacos. With plans to open by mid June this year, the pub will receive a makeover and once opened it will butcher its own meat and feature an outdoor pizza oven.
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Speaking to Cheshire Live, Matthew Walsh who runs the Tender Cow, says the pub will focus on sourcing meat locally and providing 'quality' for their customers.
"The big focus is one animal butchery and that’s why we are working so closely with the farms. With that we get a much better focus on quality and consistency," Matthew said.
"We will work Hollowood farm, Pool Hall Farm, Wholly Cow and Hill Farm, which is only ten minutes away and their dairy products are fantastic.
"We are going for an education into what is available in the local area and buying animals means we know exactly where they come from and how they are cared for. We can have a much better focus on quality and we feel that’s the route the meat industry should be going down."
Although undergoing a refurbishment the pub's interior won't have any drastic changes apart from being repainted and more communal tables will be added. In a move away from how their other venues operate, there will be a table booking system in place as well as walk-ins available.
Tender Cow will be rearing and butchering its own animals for the menu, which was a project that started during the first lockdown. Named the 'Pastured Ewe Project', the company bought retired ewes and will be selling fresh mutton at the Nag's Head.
As well as sourcing fantastic meat products locally, Matthew revealed the Nag's Head will be a traditional British pub 'with a twist'. He says they will produce 'forward-thinking' food for customers.
"It will be a quintessential traditional British pub with a twist. The foundation of it is the quality of the food and drinks," Matthew said.
"It’s going to be heavily focused on great British forward thinking pub food. There will be will be pub classics and there will be a focus on our chef Alex’s menu.
"We want it to be a safe, family hub for the locals and we want people to walk in and our staff to recognise people in the area of Haughton."
The Nags Head is a Grade II listed building that dates back to 1680 and is now set to reopen to locals under an exciting new ownership that will bring new ideas to the forefront of the old pub. Matthew says that by next summer they are aiming to open a huge barbecue space inside a refashioned exterior farm building and become an outdoor live fire cooking space.
Alex Coppenhall is the head chef at Tender Cow and will also take on the same role at the Nag’s Head. He told Cheshire Live that the pub will serve classics but they will be 'elevated'.
He said: "The depth of flavour from the meat on our ewe project is incredible, it produces the best lamb. There will be pub classics on the menu but there will be elevated pub food."
Alongside Alex in the kitchen will be pastry chef Sarah Hatton. Using her particular skill set, Sarah will create a light, classic and refined menu for the planned summer opening.
She will be utilising summer fruits and classic flavours, as well as her wide repertoire of skills. This will include baking fresh bread and making delicious sausage rolls and pies that will be available at the pub.
Jessica Newsome, the employee liaison and coordinator, revealed the Nag's Head are looking for front and back of house staff ahead of opening in June. She says the team are keen to bring their 'ethos' to the Nag's Head.
“It will be in the style of a traditional pub and we are bringing our ethos of really looking after our staff and supplying the best produce we can."
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