Mid Cheshire's 20 best restaurants, pubs and shops in 2022

Where is the best place to have your hair or nails done?

Which is the area’s best independent shop?

In April, we launched the Northwich and Winsford Guardian, and Knutsford Guardian Best of 2022 competition to find the best that mid Cheshire has to offer in 20 categories.

Each week, readers nominated their favourite cafes, gyms and pubs as well as fish chip shops, beer gardens and fitness instructors and we put together a shortlist of the most popular places with an overall winner for each category voted by you, the readers.

Here are the 20 winners, who topped the tables in this year’s Best of 2022 awards.

Lissie Wright at Lissie Wright Hair in Northwich

Best for Hair: Lissie Wright Hair, Warwick House, 1 Langley Road, Northwich

The 23-year-old who started a new business and set up a salon in her parents’ house just before Covid hit.

Read their story here: Lissie Wright Hair

The award-winning pies at JD's Cafe, Winnington

Best Pies: JD’s Café, Winnington Avenue, Northwich

With endorsements like “you won’t get a better pie anywhere” it’s no surprise JD’s Café took top spot.

Read their story here: JD’s Café

The Lion at Moulton

Best Pub: The Lion, Main Road, Moulton

Andy and Doll Jones added another award to their growing collection with customers saying pizzas and pints are a perfect match.

Read their story here: The Lion at Moulton

Sharon Power

Best for Fitness: Sharon Power Fitness, Northwich

Customers said they always feel welcome at Sharon’s classes as she builds a little community of like-minded people wanting to work out.

Read their story here: Sharon Power

Winsford Fryer's award-winning fish and chips

Best Fish and Chips: Winsford Fryer, High Street, Winsford

Winsford Fryer had only been open for six months when it took the crown for the area’s best fish and chips with orders cooked fresh and customers unable to get enough of the tasty treats.

Read their story here: Winsford Fryer

Rebecca Collins owner of The Beauty Spot

Best for Nails and Best for Beauty: The Beauty Spot, Chapel Street, Wincham

Winning not one but two awards, Rebecca Collins had the winning touch when it came to the Best of 2022 competition.

Read their story here: The Beauty Spot - Best for Nails The Beauty Spot - Best for Beauty

Oakwood Marina

Best for Breakfast: Oakwood Marina, Northwich

Customers say the breakfasts are “to die for” and “taste amazing” and now it’s official – Oakwood Marina serves the best breakfast in Northwich.

Read their story here: Oakwood Marina

Poppy August at Poppy Rose Tearooms

Best for Afternoon Tea: Poppy Rose Tearooms, Witton Street, Northwich

Whether you like a Devonian cream tea or a Cornish one, Poppy Rose Tearooms has all the bases covered with their award-winning afternoon tea.

Read their story here: Poppy Rose Tearooms

The Style Hut

Best Independent Shop: The Style Hut, Northwich Indoor Market

Claire Forster opened The Style Hut in Northwich Indoor Market four years ago and after a challenging few years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the former hairdresser was celebrating after bagging this coveted award.

Read their story here: The Style Hut

Hartford Hall on School Lane

Best Roast Dinner: Hartford Hall, School Lane, Hartford

Everything is first class at Hartford Hall with expertly cooked meat, a huge selection of delicious vegetables, crispy roast potatoes and an extra jug of gravy providing the perfect ingredients for an award-winning roast dinner.

Read their story here: Hartford Hall

Oakwood Smoke and Dough

Best for Pizza: Oakwood Smoke and Dough, Oakwood Marina

Oakwood Marina is definitely the place to be if you want a pizza the action and to taste some award-winning food.

Read their story here: Oakwood Smoke and Dough

A drink with a view at The Carriers Inn

Best Beer Garden: The Carriers Inn, Hatchmere Lake

They may only have taken over at the start of the summer, but the new owners of The Carriers Inn at Hatchmere Lake Leigh Capon and Joanne Dewar clearly made a great first impression with their customers.

Read their story here: The Carriers Inn

The Lion Salt Works on Ollershaw Lane

Best for Kids: Weaver Hall Museum and Lion Salt Works

When you visit Northwich’s award-winning museums you can guarantee a journey through history that’s fun for all the family.

Read their story here: Weaver Hall Museum and Lion Salt Works

The popular spicy chicken burger at Newton's Nosh Catering

Best Burger: Newton’s Nosh Catering, Winsford Cross Shopping Centre, Winsford

After starting a business during a global pandemic, Sharon and Gary Newton had a hard task on their hands to make Newton’s Nosh Catering a success but the small family-run venture took home the best burger title.

Read their story here: Newton’s Nosh Catering

Breakfast treats at Cafe Neki

Best Café: Neki Café, King Street, Knutsford

SERVING its own blend of coffee and fresh, homemade food seven days a week, it’s easy to see why Neki Café in Knutsford is popular with customers.

Read their story here: Café Neki

Charlotte and Chris Wood - owners of Namix Performance Centre

Best Gym: Namix Performance Centre, Denton Drive, Northwich

Husband and wife team Charlotte and Chris Wood celebrated winning Best Gym just three years after opening the doors of their sports performance and injury rehab centre.

Read their story here: Namix Performance Centre

Co-owners of Vinnie's - Emma (left) and Penny (right)

Best for Dessert: Vinnie’s, Market Street, Northwich

Emma Hitch and mum Penny have come a long way since making milkshakes and cupcakes at Northwich Indoor Market five-and-a-half years ago and they’re now selling delicious desserts and tasty treats on Market Street.

Read their story here: Vinnie’s

Bombay Lounge owner Afzal Hassan with the restaurant's two Best of 2022 awards

Best Curry and Best Restaurant: Bombay Lounge, Wharton Road, Winsford

Awards are like buses – you wait for one and then two turn up one after the other.

Afzal Hassan and his team celebrated two consecutive wins in the Best of competition taking title number 19 and 20.

Read their story here: Bombay Lounge - Best Curry Bombay Lounge - Best Restaurant

Congratulations to everyone who won a Best of 2022 award!

We will be launching the Best of 2023 awards in the new year.

We will be looking for nominations each week and then asking readers to vote from a shortlist to find the best that Mid Cheshire has to offer in 2023.