A much-loved Stockport restaurant has confirmed that it has closed its doors - but will open in a new guise at a later date. Blackshaws, which is situated opposite the town’s historic market, originally opened as a family bakery and confectioners on 42 Hillgate on the corner of Edward Street in 1860.
Earlier this week, there were suggestions on social media that the urban kitchen and bar in the heart of Stockport’s Old Town had closed for good due to rising energy costs and roadworks around Stockport Market. However, Steve Pilling, the owner of Blackshaws, confirmed that while it would be closing for now, it would be reopening as a concept that would take Stockport’s food scene “to another level”.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Mr Pilling said: “It is closed for a makeover and will reopen as an evening restaurant, which will build on Stockport’s booming food scene with many of the fine-dining chefs from the Damson days of Heaton Moor and further afield. We believe that there needs to be more food-based businesses in the town centre and we would like to be at the forefront of this - it’s all very positive for Stockport in these difficult times.
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“Really, we’re going to bring Blackshaws into the 21st century with some refined, small plates, and opening to later in the evening to be part of Stockport’s growing food scene.”
The restaurateur has over 30 years culinary experience running award-winning restaurants, including Sam’s Chop House in Manchester and fine-dining spot Damson in Heaton Moor, which was reopened as a rotisserie chicken restaurant, pizzeria and craft beer bar called Roost in 2017. While a name for the new concept has not yet been confirmed, Mr Pilling told the M.E.N. that the old name may be incorporated.
He also confirmed that staff working at Blackshaws has been reassigned to other ventures within his restaurant portfolio, including venues in Stockport and Manchester. The design of the evening spot will also be overseen by an in-house design team.
Mr Pilling added: “We had a number of places we were going to open in March 2020 including La Capilla in Heaton Moor but Boris then said don’t go to pubs and restaurants so they were mothballed for two and a half years. I think in this case it’s going to take the food scene to another level in Stockport.
“When we had Damson we were the winners of the most awards in the history of the Manchester Food and Drink Festival and that’s where Blackshaws is going to go.”
Stockport’s culinary credentials have been bolstered in recent years thanks to a flurry of new and exciting openings. Amongst them is the Green Michelin Star winning Where The Light Gets launched by local chef Samuel Buckley, the Old Town’s Bistro Marc and the vendors within Stockport Produce Hall.
The town is also home to the hugely successful Foodie Friday, a monthly food festival, which takes place across Stockport’s market area.
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