TUESDAY, April 24 is when the Chorlton cats finally get the cream. That’s the date when eagerly-anticipated The Creameries finally opens its doors on Wilbraham Road.
The bakery and kitchen will be serving freshly baked bread and a selection of the finest British cheeses alongside lunches and suppers from: 8am-3pm Tuesday; 8am-11pm Wednesday to Saturday; and 9am-9pm Sunday.
We couldn't resist popping our head round the door during a rather intensive staff training night and it all looked deeply attractive (unlike the clutch of fast food joints along this side of Wilbraham Road). We also couldn't resist buying one of the rye loaves from the front counter.
“We cannot wait to get going,” chef proprietor Mary-Ellen McTague (below) told us. “This project has been a long time in the making and we’re delighted to be nearly there. We’ve had so much support from people in Chorlton who’ve been popping in to say hi as the building works have progressed and we are so looking forward to welcoming everyone.”
The trio of co-owners have thought long and hard about what they’re offering. The snacks and cheese menu reflects the heritage of the building and showcases British and Irish cheeses, home churned butter, fresh curds, to eat with freshly baked bread.
The lunch and supper menus will all be made from scratch, featuring locally grown vegetables, ethically sourced fish and seafood, and wild meat.
Use of space has been given equal consideration, according to baker Sophie Yeoman: “We have purposefully placed our bread oven right in the heart of our building and our kitchen is open for all to see. We want to be able to talk to our customers and we hope that this approach will spark conversations about food, where it comes from and how it’s made.
“Nothing is hidden away here. You might arrive just as the bread is going into the oven, or as we are preparing lunch, or curing and smoking some meat, which I think is great as it will connect customers to what they’re eating.”
The final member of the team, designer Soo Wilkinson adds: “As well as having a kitchen that encourages interaction, we have spent time a huge amount of time thinking about what families, groups of friends, and local residents want from us.
“We have created a beautiful, lasting space that will hopefully make everyone feel at home. We’ve built into our design a children’s area for art, playing and reading, and planned a programme of events that spans from wine tastings to cheese and beer evenings to children’s cookery classes.
“We want The Creameries to be a place where everybody can come and enjoy what we offer, and maybe find new ways of engaging with food, drink and the local community.”
The opening will be the culmination of a major refurb that has been supported by the womens’ own funds and in the latter stages by crowdfunding which raised £32,000. Follow the final stages of the project via @hellocreameries.
The Creameries, 406 Wilbraham Road, Chorlton, Manchester M21 0SD. To book visit this link.