Celebrated table

Tawny Stores

Chef Beth Hammond’s canal-side European kitchen in Marple serves vibrant seasonal plates, house-baked focaccia, and natural wines in a relaxed setting.

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The story

Tawny Stores Marple: Seasonal European Kitchen by Beth Hammond

Seasonal rhythms and provenance

Tawny Stores in Marple operates as a canal-side European kitchen led by Chef Beth Hammond. Her approach prioritizes local suppliers and weekly ingredient deliveries, which means the daily menu shifts with what arrives at the door. That commitment to careful sourcing recently earned the venue a Good Food Guide award. The open kitchen sits just behind the service counter, so visitors watch the rhythm of the prep before their plates arrive.

Plates built around the harvest

A visit here usually starts with the house-made focaccia served alongside extra virgin olive oil. The European cooking here leans heavily into robust combinations, such as the roast flourish farm aubergine layered with spiced lamb ragù and fresh herbs. Meat eaters often order the beef shin and pork ragu resting on buttery polenta with salsa verde greens. Smaller plates like crispy courgette fritters paired with creamy tzatziki and a touch of fermented chili oil provide a bright alternative.

A quiet spot beside the water

The building sits between the Macclesfield Canal and the weathered brickwork of the old Goyt Mill. Inside, the design stays deliberately simple, featuring two compact dining rooms and shelves packed with curated deli goods. Visitors can claim a table indoors or step out into the waterside garden when the weather turns mild. The staff move through the space with an easygoing pace that matches the suburban Peak District edge.

Natural sips and delicate finishes

The beverage list focuses on carefully selected natural wines and organic soft drinks rather than traditional cocktail menus. Specialty coffee sourced from ethical roasters pairs well with the counter display of freshly baked pastries. While the kitchen does not prepare elaborate sweets, small custard tarts appear regularly to close out a meal. Craft sodas and local beers fill the remaining glassware for those seeking lighter options.

Recognition

Awards & accolades

2026
The Good Food Guide
Good

Details

At a glance

The Good Food Guide 2026 — Good
Cuisines European
Services Breakfast, Dinner, Events, Lunch, Outdoor Seating, Takeaway, Vegan, Vegetarian

History

On the record

2026
The Good Food Guide — Good

More than a café, less than a restaurant, this growing genre is hard to capture in a single word, hence the proliferation of terms such as ‘kitchen’, ‘eatery’ or, in this case, ‘stores’. It's a good fit for Beth Hammond's latest venture, after her much-praised stints at Altrincham Market, Yellowhammer and Flawd wine bar. The location on the suburban edge of the Peak District is unexpectedly delightful: on one side of the leaf-green shopfront is the Macclesfield Canal and charming waterside garden; on the other, the looming hulk of the old Cottonopolis Goyt Mill. Inside, the style is simple and quirky, with two small dining spaces, an open kitchen, a counter of enticing home-bakes and a bevy of friendly, easy-going staff. An expertly curated selection of deli items fills every nook and cranny. You can drop by for coffee and cake or a (highly recommended) focaccia sandwich, although lunchtimes can be a squeeze. The regular ‘food’ menu immediately appeals with vibrant dishes that show off their seasonality and provenance without sounding prissy or self-conscious. Most are ‘green’ but not exclusively so. Standouts on our visit were the crispy courgette, sweetcorn and ricotta salata fritters with creamy tzatziki and a subtle dash of fermented chili oil, as well as the roast Flourish Farm aubergine topped with elegantly spiced lamb ragù and herbs. The overall impression was one of careful, self-confident and enthusiastic simplicity. The kitchen clearly knows what it's doing. There are no desserts, but delicate little custard tarts should fill any gaps. A short selection of natural wines, organic soft drinks and excellent, ethically sourced coffee completes the picture. Prices are higher than your average ‘caff’ but still remarkably good value for the quality on offer, plus that hard-to-define X-factor: returnability.

Established

Location

Find us

1 Upper Hibbert Lane, Hawk Green, Marple, Greater Manchester, SK6 7JQ
Marple, United Kingdom
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Map showing Tawny Stores