A treat in store

Jenna Campbell meets the team behind a haven for food lovers

LYING along the Peak Forest Canal and with its flight of locks, aqueduct and access to parks and lakes, the town of Marple is one of Greater Manchester's most most picturesque spots.

Not far from the town's centre and part of the wider suburb lies Hawk Green, which sits along the Macclesfield Canal and is based around a traditional village green. Just down the road from the green you'll find Goyt Mill, the last cotton mill to be built in the Marple area, and the only building of its kind left standing in the area.

While it counts a corner shop, hair salon and chippy as neighbours, just across the road - and also overlooking the canal a new addition to Hawk Green has been bedding in over the last few weeks, giving locals and day-trippers another reason to wander beyond the winding towpaths.

Tawny Stores, a canalside cafe and grocery store recently opened its doors and is fast becoming a onestop shop for breads, cakes, coffees and some extra special treats for your weekly shop.

It's brought to life by chef Beth Hammond, previously of Stockport bakery Yellowhammer, who has been busy impressing food lovers with her supper clubs and pop-ups over the last few years. After making a name for herself at Little Window at Altrincham Market and the acclaimed Flawd at Islington Marina, the opportunity arose to fulfil her dream of opening her own place.

"Originally, I was just viewing a house on Goyt Road to live in, but as myself and my dad were leaving we drove past the unit and saw it was available," says Beth as she recalls how she first came across the idyllic waterside spot. "We just looked at each other and thought what an amazing place, let's at least enquire."