A walk around Nantwich town centre leaves a long-lasting, impression. The magnificent Tudor architecture and imposing church give a sense of history, yet the town is modern and bright, with large pedestrian areas full of people enjoying al fresco morning coffee or lunch.
There’s a sense of confidence and familiarity in Nantwich. It feels like a place at ease with itself, and speaking to residents and business owners, it’s a place people take pride in.
Solicitor Dan Brookes has lived in Nantwich with his family for around a decade. He described the town as 'a genuine community with a big heart'.
'Nantwich is a great place for families. It has good schools and a family vibe. It’s an ideal size, big enough to have everything you need with a strong economy, and more than its fair share of small, friendly independent shops.
'The architecture in the town is a feature, with significant Tudor buildings, so there’s a real sense of history,' adds Dan, a director of national law firm Poole Alcock, which has offices across Cheshire towns and headquarters at nearby Gadbrook Park, Northwich.
'It is the only bookshop and coffee lounge in Nantwich and we believe it adds to the pleasant atmosphere that epitomises the town,' he says.
'Some people come in for a coffee and a cake and then notice a book they like, or it can be the other way around. I have been told by an estate agent an independent book store is attractive to home buyers when they are looking to move to a town.
'We’re part of a strong independent business scene in Nantwich. The council recognises this and is supportive, as are residents.
The history of Nantwich is intriguing, and like nearby Congleton, it has a link to the medieval fascination with performing bears. Nantwich used to have far more of the wood, wattle and daub – Tudor buildings that still characterise the market town, but the Great Fire of Nantwich, in December 1583, changed the townscape for ever.
According to the Nantwich Museum, a man called Nicholas Brown was brewing beer in his home when he sparked the fire. It spread rapidly to nearby buildings including the Bear Hotel where the landlord kept four dancing bears for the entertainment of the townsfolk.
The bears were valuable assets and the landlord let them loose, adding to the panic on the streets, with townsfolk fleeing to avoid the beasts. People were too afraid to go onto the streets or to fetch water to fight the fire.
The Great Fire of Nantwich is said to have burned for 20 days, destroying 200 buildings.
In the 16th Century, Nantwich was regarded as a town of great significance and Queen Elizabeth 1 came to its aid, pledging the major sum of £1,000 to rebuild the town and granting permission for other towns to raise money to support Nantwich.
Not far from the bookshop and coffee lounge, on the opposite side of the High Street, it is possible to read a plaque that reads: ‘God grante our Ryal Queen in England longe to raign for she hath put her helping hand to bild this town again’.
What happened to the unfortunate Nicholas Brown? He was put in the stocks that can still be seen close to the Nantwich Museum.
There has been a market in Nantwich since 1500. The present building, at the junction of Market Street and Churchyard side, dates from 1867, with space for around 20 traders in the building and a similar amount outside.
The traditional market, with a diverse range of stalls, operates on three days of the week and is complemented by events such as a farmers’ market, an artisan market, and an antiques and collectors’ market.
Steve at Nantwich Book Store and Coffee Lounge, is just one of many independent business owners in the town. He believes this helps give Nantwich a special character, with residents and people from across the area showing loyalty to the town’s independents.
Fashion shops include Daniella of Nantwich, White Ribbon Boutique, Grace Ladies Boutique and menswear retailers Jepsons, Jefferson and Pockets. Webb House Furnishers is celebrating 50 years in business with its showroom in Mill Street and now also in the former Bratts department store building in Pepper Street, while Ginger and Pickles has spread its tearoom and bakery empire, founded and thriving in Nantwich, to Tarporley and Byley.
Dan Brookes praises the many places to eat out and atmospheric bars and pubs, including a personal favourite restaurant – St Martha Greek Taverna. 'We also very much enjoy Romazzino, Bench, the Crown Hotel with its sense of history, and the Paragon Group's two very good places on a drive out of the town –The Boars Head, and The Broughton at Balterley. There are also many good pubs, such as the Wickstead and the Black Lion.'
The Black Lion is said to be the oldest pub in Nantwich, dating back to 1664.
Three Wrens, founded by master distiller Nick Wadeson, in 2019, is based five miles out of the town at Combermere and is another local business success story.
'We now employ 16 people at Combermere and at The Nest and I would estimate around 80 per cent of our gin is sold to people in the local area,' says Nick.
'We have taken a derelict building ij Nantwich, invested in it and, I believe we’ve come up with an attractive addition to the town. Our original still, called Valerie, has relocated to The Nest. It’s the centrepiece of the bar and means people can see the gin they enjoy being made on the premises.
'We now distil on both sites. Our gin school and distillery tours at Combermere always sell out and, along with a bar, The Nest offers another chance to see and be involved in the distilling process.
Chatwins is a famous name in Cheshire and beyond and has been synonymous with Nantwich for more than a century. The bakery was founded in 1913 by John Chatwin who delivered his bread by horse and cart to homes in Nantwich and the surrounding area. Baking skills have been passed through four generations of the Chatwin family and the company, with head offices and a bakery in Market Street, now has 20 shops and more than 200 employees.
