Fine food and a man creche!

HEAD chef Rick Dunkley is intent on creating dishes that heavily feature the best of local and regional produce in a new Oldham restaurant.

The restaurant seats 144 diners and is open every day during store hours and features an innovative “man creche” for male partners of enthusiastic shoppers at the Wickentree Lane, Hollinwood, site of Housing Units.

Nick Fox, director of Housing Units, said: “There are two surprises in store for customers and diners — the first is the design and theme of the restaurant, which is very different from our much more informal café.

“The theme is opulence and incorporates a modern approach to a classic style. A grand piano brings a final special touch.”

Fruit, vegetables, meat and fish will all be sourced from as close as possible to the restaurant, promises chef Dunkley, who has planned menu choices for breakfast, brunch, lunch plus main courses — “a mixture of traditional dishes, and some with a little twist”.

He said: “Our meat supplier is in the heart of Cheshire; supplying us with turkey is Flowery Field Farm in Lancashire; our beef is from Butley Town Farm, Cheshire, and our bacon is from Mottram Farm, Cheshire.

“Fish will be sourced from suppliers near the Lancashire coast, but we have to go a little further afield for the finest Scottish salmon.

“Our eggs come from The Devon Egg Company —unusually named considering it is in Cheshire — and all the cheeses we use are from a local, family-run business in Preston.

The chef is a big supporter of the man creche, saying: “It’s well known men’s shopping patience threshold is perhaps a tenth of that of women, so we are helping to avoid domestic disputes by giving them an area for a break.

“There will be snacks, beer, television and staff to look after their every reasonable wish.”