Our Story
Ginger & Pickles is a family-run business situated in the floral market town of Nantwich. It was started with the aim of providing a tearoom in which people could relax and enjoy delicious cakes, fine teas and food made from local produce served in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.
From that very first day Ginger and Pickles has gone from strength to strength. In its first year we were awarded ‘Best Start Up Business of the Year’ by the South Cheshire Chamber of Commerce and later became a proud member of the United Kingdom Tea Guild followed by being presented with Tea Guild’s annual Award of Excellence ever since. Ginger and Pickles has also been featured on TV including Channel 4's Heston's Great British Food and been commended by numerous publications as one of the best afternoon teas in the UK.
a family run business
Growing our business
In 2017 we saw the opening of the second Ginger & Pickles location on Tarporley High Street. The beautiful space used to be a bakery so we decided to fill the high street with the smell of freshly baked goods once again. Visitors can expect the same deliciously prepared local food and the freshest of ingredients they've come to know and love in Nantwich.
In 2020 Ginger and Pickles decided to take the leap and open a third store. Located inside Lowe’s Farm shop in Byley, the shop is bursting full of local produce, hearty lunches, scrumptious brunches and our famous afternoon teas.
As well as opening our Byley store, we decided to refurbish our original Nantwich store amidst the pandemic we’ve been facing. We adapted the store to make it more spacious, adding accessibility for takeaways and therefore helping Nantwich enjoy more gorgeous coffees, mouthwatering brunches and afternoon teas to go.
In 2021, lockdown changed our perception on things. Since the success of providing a takeaway service during lockdown we decided to transform our old Tarporley Tearooms into our very first G&P Bakehouse. Customers are able to purchase fresh sourdough loaves, bakes, lunches, coffees and pastries made right in the premises.
In May 2021 we moved our 4th location in Cheshire, Tarporley, to opposite the G&P Bakehouse. Our brand new fully refurbished tearooms invites you to enjoy the famous G&P delights inside or outside.
History
The original Ginger & Pickles is located on ‘Mill Street’, previously known as ‘Le Mylne Street’. This street led to the old Nantwich Water Mill beside the River Weaver, a local source of flour used for bulk baking bread. The mill was ruined by the great fire of Nantwich in 1583 and later demolished in 1970. Our Nantwich tearoom use to house the local office for the Nantwich Chronicle Newspaper before it became Ginger & Pickles in 2005.
January 25th 1644 held the legendary battle of ‘Namptwiche’ between the Royalists and Parliamentarians. The Parliamentarians relieved the besieged town with ‘3550 horse and 5000 foot’ which had marched from Lancashire under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax. After the battle, the people of Nantwich wore sprigs of holly in their hats in celebration. Holly Holy day has commemorated the Parliamentarian victory ever since.
Ginger and Pickles throughout the ages
Awards and Accolades
Since opening Ginger and Pickles has had various mentions in the media and received awards.
Here is a selection of our achievements.
Best Cafe / Coffee Shop - Nantwich Food Festival
Number 1 Tea Shop in Cheshire - Cheshire Life
Highly Commended, North West Afternoon Tea of the Year. - Cheshire Life and Lancashire Life Food and Drink Awards.
Heston's Great British Food - Afternoon Tea
Best Food Place in Nantwich - Olive Magazine
Top 3 Afternoon Teas - Country Homes and Interiors magazine
Top 10 Tearooms in the UK - Top10ten
Best Start up Business of the year - South Cheshire Chamber of Commerce
Highly Commended - Nantwich Town Council's Diamond Jubilee Best Dressed Window Competition (2012)
BBC Radio Stoke - live interview
Cheshire Life - Numerous entries
Nantwich Chronicle - Numerous entries
The Sentinel - Numerous entries
Features on local radio stations - Red Shift Radio and The Cat
Review - Margaret Thornby's Tea magazine
Good Food Nomination - UKTV
THE UNITED KINGDOM TEA GUILD
Prestigious member of the United Kingdom Tea Guild every year since 2007. Unfortunately the Tea Guild has now closed down due to funding restrictions. However, we are confident that our winning streak would have continued.
'Award of Excellence' in 2013
'Award of Excellence' in 2012
'Award of Excellence' in 2011
'Award of Excellence' in 2009