Cobbled streets, a thatched pub, beautiful countryside on all sides: in some ways Knutsford is the archetype of an English market town. In others, it’s a different fish entirely. Read our Guide to Knutsford to find out why.
Architectural oddities such as the Gaskell Memorial Tower and the Ruskin Rooms by Richard Harding Watt look like they belong on the Mediterranean shore rather than in landlocked Cheshire. These quirky Victorian era creations, planted on a Medieval street pattern, and bordered by the rolling parkland of Tatton Park, make it an unusual and charming day out destination.
Here we’ve listed some of our favourite places to eat in Knutsford and in the surrounding villages, plus recommendations for things to do. From the art house cinema to the gelato creamery to the restaurant serving up dishes from a Michelin Star winning chef, this characterful town 45 minutes by train from Manchester has much to offer.
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Book Now Knutsford
The Bells of Peover
The Bells of Peover is one of our recommended country pubs in our Guide to Knutsford
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Knutsford
Cranford Cafe & Sandwich Bar
Situated next door to thatched pub The White Bear, Cranford Cafe & Sandwich Bar is a long-serving local favourite for takeaway sandwiches and cakes and eat-in cafe fare.
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Knutsford
Curzon Knutsford
If big, brash multiplexes aren’t your thing, and you don’t want to trek into the city just to see the latest release, Curzon Knutsford is a charming alternative.
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Knutsford
LI-LY by Aiden Byrne
With just 32 covers and a four-day week, Li-ly by Aiden Byrne is a smaller operation than the Michelin starred restaurants this acclaimed chef has headed up in the past, but it’s no less ambitious. It’s just that now his ambitions have changed.
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Knutsford
Lost and Found
Lost and Found, an elegant restaurant and bar in the old town hall in Knutsford has mastered the art of looking gorgeous whatever time of day you visit. In the mornings sunlight floods through the huge arched windows and sets off the burnished gold tables and bar. While in the evening the blue velvet sofas, statement lighting and and dark wood give a glamour that helps build the buzzy atmosphere it’s known for.
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Book Now Knutsford
Evuna Knutsford
Evuna Knutsford is one of our recommended places to eat in our Guide to Knutsford
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Pickmere
The Farm Club
The Farm Club started life as a triathlon training centre before it expanded into offering a wider wellness experience. Situated on an actual farm (hence the name) in Pickmere village, near Knutsford, it offers outdoor exercise sessions, lake swimming, wellness sessions, yoga, and meditation. There’s also a cafe and a self-catering lodge.
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Knutsford
The Golden Pheasant Plumley
Full of character and history, The Golden Pheasant is a cosy village inn with real fires, dog-friendly sections inside, and large gardens with a children’s play area and views of the Cheshire countryside. There’s also award-winning JW Lees cask ales and seasonal home cooked food.
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Knutsford
Groobarb’s Wild Farm & Field Kitchen
Groobarbs Wild Farm & Field Kitchen comes from the brains behind Groobox; a Cheshire-based fruit and veg delivery box service.
Farmer David and his wife Rebecca built the restaurant on their agricultural land in Knutsford to showcase the fresh produce they grow and farm daily. They live by the mantra; ‘If we can plant it, we grow it’.
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Knutsford
Hooked on the Heath
Hooked on the Heath is an upmarket chippy in a former public toilet block in Knutsford. Co-owner Craig Buckley has been in the fishy business for over a decade and along with Victoria Howard and Chris Johnson they have quickly made a name for themselves with the locals.
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Knutsford
The Lambing Shed Farm Shop and Kitchen
Moseley Hall Farm is home to 250 cattle, over 2,500 sheep, and in the barn once used for newborn lambs and their ewes, The Lambing Shed Farm and Cafe.
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Knutsford
Linden Stores
Linden Stores is a small plates restaurant in Knutsford. Dishes are seasonal and sustainable and sometimes even foraged. There’s a focus on local ingredients and British flavours and wine is a huge part of the operation.
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Knutsford
Piccolino Knutsford
Piccolino Knutsford fits in perfectly with the Italianate villas and chic shops of this quirky Cheshire town. Situated on the narrow, buzzy High Street, it offers alfresco rooftop dining, a semi-private area for groups, and a second-floor bar.
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Knutsford
The Rose & Crown Knutsford
There’s no shortage of ye olde pubs in Knutsford. The thatched roofed White Bear is the most ancient with a birth date of 1587, while the allegedly haunted Lord Eldon is another that’s seen 300-plus years of trade. The 17th century Rose & Crown is a relative newcomer in comparison but if it’s timber beams, latticed windows and cosy nooks you’re after, you’ll be more than happy here.
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Knutsford
The Real Fruit Creamery
A trip to Knutsford on a sunny day isn’t complete without stopping by at The Real Fruit Creamery for a generous scoop of their handmade gelato. The good stuff is freshly made in small batches on site using real fruits, locally sourced whenever possible. Creamy, rich and allegedly lower in calories than normal ice cream (can this be true?) it’s a dessert-lovers dream.
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Mobberley
The Roebuck Inn
In a little hamlet of cottages just outside Knutsford you’ll find The Roebuck Inn, an 18th-century pub that looks like it fell out of the pages of Country Living magazine. If you’re searching for for rustic, cosy dining with food that’s a level above, it won’t disappoint.
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Knutsford
Tatton Park
Tatton Park is one our recommended places to visit in our Neighbourhood Guide to Knutsford