Knutsford
Knutsford is a picturesque market town in north Cheshire. It is thought to have been named after the Danish King Canute who camped here while marching to Scotland in 1016. Indeed the name Cunutesford appears in the Domesday Book, a survey of England completed in 1086.
The famous Victorian author Elizabeth Gaskell spent most of her life in Knutsford and the town was the inspiration for her novel Cranford.
Knutsford has a compact centre with narrow streets and cobbled alleys. Many of its buildings were built by Richard Harding Watt, a glove manufacturer from Manchester. Influenced by his travels through Spain and Italy, he settled here and imposed his Mediterranean vision on the town. His works include the Gaskell Memorial Tower (1907) and the Ruskin Reading Rooms (1902), and villas on Legh Road.
Hotels
| Name | Hotel Star | Prices From |
|---|---|---|
| Dog Inn | 4 | £40.00 |
| Mere Court Hotel | 4 | £70.00 |
Attractions & Activities
The Courtyard Coffee House on King Street houses one of England’s most unusual attractions; the Penny Farthing Museum. Here visitors can peruse a large collection of oversized bicycles while enjoying traditional afternoon tea.
Knutsford’s main draw though is Tatton Park, a magnificent country estate just north of the town.
Restaurants, Pubs, Bars & Cafes
Knutsford is widely regarded as Cheshire’s gastronomic capital. Despite its relatively small size it offers a good choice of restaurants and bars, including the renowned Belle Epoque Brasserie.
| Name | Location | Map | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belle Epoque Brasserie | 60 King Street | [View Map] | Dramatic Art Nouveau interior and Mediterranean roof garden. Owned by the same family for more than 30 years. Modern European. |
| Canvas Lounge | 76 King Street | [View Map] | Entrée bar above the Firbob & Peacock Art Gallery. Strong emphasis on fresh local produce. Wonderful outdoor heated sculpture garden. |
| Church Inn | Church Lane, Mobberley | [View Map] | 18th century pub in the centre of Mobberley village, opposite St Wilfred’s Church. Home cooked food and real ales. |
| Cross Keys, The | King Street | [View Map] | Town centre pub dating back to the 17th century. Restaurant and games room with pool table. Also offers accommodation. |
| Frozen Mop | Faulkners Lane, Knolls Green | [View Map] | Dining pub offering a modern European menu. Beautiful interior and large beer garden and terrace. |
| Roebuck, The | Mill Lane, Mobberley | [View Map] | Excellent country pub with a well-earned reputation for great, locally-sourced food. Separate restaurant area and large beer garden. Regular events. |
| Smoker, The | Plumley | [View Map] | Popular Robinsons pub. Friendly service and decent food. Named after a famous horse. |
Shops
Until recently Knutsford had successfully fended off the advances of the big high street names. In 2007 the Regent Street development opened with tenants such as Waterstone’s, Dolland & Aitchison, and Jaeger. Despite this, most shops in the town are still independent traders.
| Name | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box2 | 107 King Street | [View Map] | Women’s plus size clothing – sizes 14 to 30 available. |
| Broadbents | 63 – 65 King Street | [View Map] | Ladies fashion store. Top designer labels, plus Venetian masks. |
| Naked Mannequin | 4 Minshull Street | [View Map] | Stylish women’s boutique offering clothes from both top and independent designers. |
| Regent Street | Centre | [View Map] | Development on the site of the former George Hotel. Stores here include Carphone Warehouse, Via Via (Italian delicatessen), Dolland & Aitchinson, Zapatos (designer shoes), JoJo Maman Bébé (maternity wear, clothes for babies and children, nursery furniture, toys, gifts, and more), Fat Face, and Jaeger. |
| Synter | 1 Canute Place | [View Map] | Rolls Royce dealers. |
| Verity Plum | 9 Minshull Street | [View Map] | Large size women’s fashion boutique. Sizes 16 to 28 available. |
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