It's the picturesque village that is home to an astonishing four Michelin Stars.
Less than an hour from Manchester city centre, Aughton in Lancashire is rapidly becoming a must-visit for food lovers. Last week, So-Lo in the village was awarded a Michelin Star for the first time.
Add that to Moor Hall's two and its casual little sister restaurant The Barn's one, and Aughton now boasts three more Michelin Stars than Manchester. The remarkable feat has left locals in awe yet also unsurprised, reports Lancs Live.
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"It can only be a good thing and I'm very proud of them when talking to other foodies who don't live round here," said Sarah Lawton. And there is also a feeling of 'inevitability' about highly-experienced chef Tim Allen's first solo venture joining the prestigious Michelin party.
"It is awesome, but I think people just expect it now," said butcher James Henshaw, who runs JW Henshaws in the village 'high street'.
He added: "No one is really talking about it, but it is still brilliant for the area, it brings attention to Aughton. The village is becoming place to visit, not just for the Michelin stars but people can stay here and then travel into the city [Liverpool] as we have our town train station."
He's right, too, with Town Green station ideally located next to the small row of shops lining Town Green Lane, providing residents with vital daily necessities, a light lunch, fresh meat, hair cut, coffee to go or glass of wine. Aughton is next door to Maghull, the larger historic market town of Ormskirk, Edge Hill University and close to motorway networks.
It exudes affluence in the form of tree-lined Granville Park area and its multi-million mansions. Despite this, the area remains relatively rural and quiet, with clusters of housing hamlets down narrow country lanes surrounding it.
Moor Hall executive chef Mark Birchall started Aughton's journey to becoming the village to be for fine dining, wining its first Star in 2017 and a second followed a year later, with The Barn's in 2022. So-Lo has barely been open a year and Tim's “modern but approachable, nothing too outlandish” menu has won over the notoriously- hard-to-please Michelin judges.
However, Sarah touches on a potential downfall to Aughton's success, and fears prices will "double" at So-Lo, despite it currently being relatively affordable. But either way, fellow resident Michelle Smith, hopes Aughton's restaurant prowess will have a "knock on effect" on neighbouring Ormskirk.
"It’s lovely to know it’s on our doorstep and we can get a superb meal, " she added. "Also puts an obscure little northern town on the map. A bit like Cartmel and L'Enclume. Couldn’t be happier."
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