A village restaurant based inside a converted farmer's barn has been given a new slot in the prestigious Michelin Guide. La Popote is based in the idyllic village of Marton in the Cheshire countryside, near Macclesfield.
The restaurant has long been known for its French style cuisine, as well as being a popular destination for its traditional Sunday roasts. It is one of 25 restaurants across Great Britain and Ireland who have been newly given a nod in the prestigious foodie guide this month.
La Popote's owners, chef Joe Rawlins and partner Gaelle Radigon, are celebrating the inclusion in the guide and have thanked customers for supporting the family-run business. The restaurant sits at the heart of the pretty little village of Marton, amid a complex of small independent businesses in historic former farming buildings.
Read more : Pep Guardiola spotted at new high end Japanese restaurant MUSU in Manchester
They said: "We're beyond proud to be able to announce that we're now featured in the Michelin Guide!" Thanking all of their customers on Instagram, they wrote: "We're over the moon and couldn't have done it without each and every one of you.
"Thank you all for continuing to support our family run business. Thank you to each of our amazing suppliers who produce the best ingredients and products.
"Finally thank you to our small but very mighty team. You're all brilliant."
The new entry in the Michelin Guide hails the restaurant as a "a characterful converted barn with brick floors, exposed beams and linen cloths, which add a brasserie deluxe feel." Meanwhile service is praised as "friendly and assured".
It points to chef-owner Joe's several years spent working in Paris being evident in the cuisine with its "classic French techniques". The Guide even goes as far as saying: "close your eyes and you could be dining by the banks of the Seine."
The restaurant, which describes itself as "casual fine dining", is based right next to Marton's historic parish church of St James and St Pauls, the oldest timber-framed church in Europe dating back to 1363.
In the summer, the restaurant is a popular destination for wedding parties with a large outdoor terrace and garden area looking out across to the church where you can dine too.
La Popote has been a fixture of village life since 2014, but two and a half years ago was taken over by the current proprietors, chef Joseph and partner Gaelle. They met while working in Paris, but when the Covid pandemic swept Europe, Joseph decided to return to his hometown of Wilmslow.
He would go on to hear that La Popote was coming up for sale seized the moment to take it on. Since then the couple have completely refurbished the restaurant in the former Church Farm barn.
Joseph trained at the prestigious Gordon Ramsay School and worked at the famed Jadis restaurant in Paris under Guillaume Delage. But, returning to the UK, he knew the Marton area well and saw the potential in the restaurant in its location.
They offer a seven course tasting menu at La Popote for £85 as well as a full a la carte menu.
And on Sundays they've become an in-demand spot in the area for their mouth-watering Sunday roast of Beef Sirloin and all the trimmings for £26. It boasts the biggest and tastiest Yorkshire pudding you're ever likely to lay your hands on.
The village hub of Marton is based around the main A34 through the village between Alderley Edge and Congleton in Cheshire.
The village also boasts a popular cafe, beauty salon and historic pub The Davenport Arms across the road from La Popote. Marton is also famous for being the site of one of the oldest oak trees in the UK.
Get the latest What's On news - from food and drink to music and nightlife - straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter .
READ NEXT
-
Inside Stockport's new games bar offering a hit of nostalgia
-
Chef Paul Kitching has died - tributes are pouring in from the restaurant world
-
Gary Neville 'incredibly excited' as full details of new Stock Exchange Hotel brasserie announced
-
Manchester bar hits back at one-star review slamming staff for wearing crop tops
