Yellowhammer

If Manchester has everything but a beach, Stockport isn’t far behind these days. One of the city-region’s southernmost boroughs, historically Cheshire, the town centre has been through ups and downs over the past century but in the mid-21st emerges laden with cool bars that don’t try hard, globally renowned restaurants, on-point record stores and charmingly intimate music venues. But until Yellowhammer, it didn’t have a bakery, deli, pottery studio, restaurant and wine bar, all-in-one. 

As the saying should go, why try and do a thing when you can do a lot of things together, and very well indeed. No jack, but rather a master of its various trades, everything about Yellowhammer feels authentic and properly made. Whether that’s the beautifully ornate design pieces and prints being sold in the Studio Shop — ornaments, vases, bowls, photography — or the food coming from its kitchens. Divided into two, the bakery specialises in sourdough made with flour using produce from small UK farms, with the staple bread known as a Table Loaf. As the name sounds, these are pretty sizeable. 

Operating Wednesday to Sunday, on various days rye breads, baguettes, and seasonal specials are also in the oven, all of which are equally delicious. And over in the restaurant, a big selling point is a natural wine list curated by Anna Frost, sommelier over at Michelin Green-starred eatery Where The Light Gets In. Meanwhile, chef Elektra Owen focuses on organic, seasonal ingredients cultivated by local suppliers for a weekly menu that defines contemporary, clean and irresistible. Definitely one of the culinary delights in a metropolis now second-only to London for UK food cities, our only word of warning is to say booking here is your best bet. Although walk-ins are taken, particularly on Thursdays when reservations are limited, with this kind of lineup you can imagine how busy things get.