With high-end shops and restaurants and well-stocked champagne bars, glorious countryside, history, and close communities, Cheshire’s Golden Triangle has come to symbolise the contrasting faces of the county.
At the northern point of the triangle, there’s Wilmslow – a shopper’s paradise, with designer boutiques and upmarket interior design stores, alongside a bustling food and drink scene.
To the southwest, there’s the exclusive village of Alderley Edge, known as the champagne capital of Britain owing to its well-heeled residents, and as the home of many of fantasy novelist Alan Garner's works.
Then, head east, over the dramatic rocky outcrops of Alderley Edge itself and across some of the county’s finest countryside, to Prestbury. With its beautiful conservation area, it's a picture-postcard village with modern mansions sitting alongside black and white, and dark-red Cheshire brick properties dating back to the 15th,16th and 17th centuries, when they housed silk weavers.
Loved by locals and prized by estate agents, the Golden Triangle is lined with places to shop, eat, drink and have fun. But with so much on offer, it’s hard to know where to start.
That’s where our insiders come in, with their knowledge of the best places to spend a relaxed day or a fun-filled night at the heart of the Triangle.
Joanna Davies
Joanna knows the area inside out, having opened Wilmslow's Black White Denim in 2010.
'The thing I love most about what I do is making a positive impact on our customers day by making them look and feel good about themselves,' she says. 'Alderley Road will always be special to me as that's where we first opened. It was the quieter, more premium end of Wilmslow. We moved to more vibrant Water Lane in 2020.'
Joanna is a big supporter of the town's fashion and broader retail community.
'Black White Denim is the best destination store in our opinion,' she says. 'But I also love browsing Hoopers, Space NK, Sweaty Betty, Rumpus Resort and Norton Barrie for all my shopping needs.
'The introduction of Wilmslow's Business Improvement District has meant lots of positive changes to the town in the past two years. We have some of the best community events in the county that are free of charge to visitors, the Wilmslow's Way Better website and social media presence, and with £1m being invested in the town over five years, there are lots more to come, including our very own Christmas Markets this year.
'There's an excellent range of bars, pubs, restaurants and cafés: try Cibo Gran Café for coffee, Smoke for drinks after work or Unagi for a healthy lunch,' she says. 'Then there's Suburban Green for a girls' night out, Wood Fire Smoke for the best pizza and The Stolen Lamb for a magnificent Greek banquet.'
'Just Between Friends on Grove Street serves sensational coffee and the most insane ham and cheese bagels.'
Away from the hustle and bustle, Joanna recommends visitors take in the natural beauty all around.
'I'd walk them around Lindow Moss first, then take a walk through town grabbing a coffee on the way,' she says. 'Then we'd end up at The Carrs, to watch the world go by in the most beautiful green setting.'
blackwhitedenim.com
Lily Brown
Lily is also a big supporter of other local independent traders. She has been at the Bridge in Prestbury for five years, starting as a server, and is now the marketing manager. It's a Grade ll listed hotel and restaurant on the banks of the River Bollin.
'I love that no day is the same within the hospitality world and marketing – my role gives me the opportunity not only to showcase the historic Bridge, which is more than 400 years old, but also to show off incredible local suppliers and seasonal menus,' she says.
'I love the wander along the River Bollin heading into Prestbury; there’s nothing quite like approaching the village through the churchyard, taking in the historic architecture and seeing the chocolate box shops appear in front of you. Prestbury High Street remains as picturesque as ever, it’s great for a spot of people watching.'
The Bridge is a key part of the local business community.
'We recently collaborated with Dress Cheshire, Rococo and Prestbury Flowers on a ‘Shop the Street’ initiative, designed to drive tourism to our lovely little high street with a bunch of bounce-back offers for locals,' says Lily.
'Christine Colbert at Dress is well known and loved on Prestbury High Street and her sustainability-focused pre-loved luxury shop is reason alone to shop in Prestbury.'
Lily also likes to explore further in the Golden Triangle.
'I adore The Modern Farmhouse Café in Alderley Edge, run by a florist turned barista,' she says. 'They have created the most calming and aesthetically pleasing place to grab a coffee and a bite to eat and I am a sucker for a local independent.
'Unico Lounge in Wilmslow is great for a catch-up with friends. It’s super relaxed and I love the quirky interiors. Homebird Interiors in Wilmslow is super cute too, perfect for picking up gifts or some treats.
'In Prestbury, I’ve been known, post-shift, to pop over to the Foxhole, which is unmatched for a glass of wine when I don’t want to stay based at the ‘office’. But, I will always come back to The Bridge for a Sunday roast. It’s one of those things we’re known for and the incredible meat we get from Althams Butchers – family-owned for 100 years – makes it that bit more special.
'The architecture and history in Prestbury mark the village out. The Normal Chapel in the churchyard at St Peter's in Prestbury is a hidden gem,' says Lily. 'It's Grade I listed, which beats The Bridge’s Grade II listing. The churchyard has a huge historical significance, featuring in the Magna Carta.
'And there’s something truly magic about the Edge. Its history and the views over Cheshire simply shouldn’t be missed by any visitor. It’s no surprise an entire novel was inspired by its lore. As you reach the edge itself and see Cheshire unfold before you across the landscape, it really makes you pause and appreciate your surroundings. We're lucky to be right in the heart of it.'
bridgecheshire.co.uk
Hanna Sillitoe
The Golden Triangle is a great place to do business, as Hanna Sillitoe has found. The author and skincare expert runs a company making natural, vegan and cruelty-free skincare and supplements after her work was snapped up on Dragons' Den.
'I set up my skincare business in 2019 and moved to Glasshouse at Alderley Park at the beginning of 2022, as I started growing the team,' says Hanna. 'We all absolutely love it here, it’s such a vibrant and bustling place to work, yet is surrounded by countryside and nature. We love to take meetings outside, so when we can, we’ll always head for a quick walk through the forest – you’ll always find people from other companies doing the same too.
'I love how Alderley Park is a hub for growing businesses and it’s great to be a part of such an innovative workspace. I really feel at home here; it’s a fab place where small businesses like mine can thrive in a like-minded community.
'The forest trials around Alderley Park are lovely and are such a great place for peaceful woodland walks – you'd have no idea you were near a working campus.
'My little boy, Freddie, and I love taking his bike out and heading down through the forest to the lake. Freddie loves building dens and spotting all the wildlife, it’s a toddler’s dream.
'If we have a work meeting, we usually either head into Alderley Edge for a bite to eat but a lot of the time we end up staying at Glasshouse because it’s a great place to host.
'When we’re celebrating as a team, Victor's is always a hit. They make a great selection of plant-based food, which I always really appreciate as a vegan.
'The Modern Farmhouse is also a lovely new addition with great cold-pressed juices.'
Hanna likes to shop locally, and she's spoilt for choice.
'I’ve been renovating my house and Homebird always has gorgeous things,' she says. ' And then I’ll pop into JoJo Maman Bébé in Wilmslow to find something for my little boy.'
