North West business briefs: The Cottage in the Wood; Everton FC; Co-op Live; Junction Bar; Fork & Field Catering

Jack and Beth Bond have acquired The Cottage in the Wood, in Cumbria, from, former owners, Liam and Kath Berney, who are retiring after 22 years at the business based in Whinlatter Forest, near Keswick, having only joined the team in January this year.

The Cottage in the Wood, originally a 17th-century coaching inn, was transformed by Kath and Liam into a restaurant with rooms in 2002. The restaurant was recognised with a Michelin star in 2019, which has been successfully retained ever since, with Jack Bond being the most recent chef to retain the highly regarded culinary accolade earlier this year.

The Cottage in the Wood has undergone a transformation under the stewardship of outgoing owners Kath and Liam Berney, who diligently set about transforming it into a cozy, contemporary restaurant with rooms. Today, however, this idyllic mountain retreat has begun a new chapter in its long history, as husband-and-wife team Jack and Beth Bond seek to carry on from where Kath and Liam will leave off. They will take the property forward in their respective roles, with Jack as head chef, and Beth as general manager and head sommelier.

Jack and Beth bring a wealth of experience with them. Originally from Southport, Jack has worked in some of the best restaurants and hotels in the world, including Eleven Madison Park, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, Claridge’s, and The Berkeley. Jack’s style of seasonally-led cooking is precise, flavour-driven, and sustainably focused. His menus champion exceptional ingredients and the artisan suppliers who create the produce he uses.

Beth graduated from Imperial College with a physics degree before joining Tredwell’s Restaurant in London in 2015. She was promoted to Guest Relations Manager in 2018 under the tutelage of chef-owner Chantelle Nicholson. Beth became General Manager in 2020 and in response to the pandemic, opened All’s Well, a ‘pandemic pop-up’, and launched the group’s at-home delivery service. In 2022, Beth oversaw the opening of Chantelle’s most recent ‘flagship’ venture, Apricity, Mayfair. Beth and Jack made the move to the Lakes in 2023 before joining the team at The Cottage in the Wood in January 2024.

Jack and Beth said: “We are hugely excited to be taking over ownership of The Cottage in the Wood. It’s been a pleasure to work alongside Liam and Kath over the last few months as they’ve helped us settle in and gain invaluable insight into the business that they established in 2002.”

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Disability football session

The Spirit Foundation has significantly increased its long standing commitment to Everton in the Community and Everton Free School and Football College with a multi-year £2m funding partnership. The two new programmes of support will begin this month with the aim of creating a lasting impact for disadvantaged communities in Merseyside.

The groundbreaking multi-year deal was confirmed recently when Spirit founder, philanthropist and Evertonian, Prof Ian Kilbride, attended one of Everton in the Community’s disability football sessions as well as visiting the Spirit Library at Everton Free School. The Spirit Foundation will now financially support the charity’s 14 disability teams and, in addition, will provide funding to Everton Free School to improve literacy levels, as well as supporting marginalised students in its Football College. A long standing friend and supporter of both organisations, The Spirit Foundation was founded in 1994 and is a non-profit foundation established to give back and support education, communities and wildlife projects.

Currently celebrating its 30th anniversary, the Spirit Foundation has supported a wide array of Everton in the Community and Everton Free School projects and initiatives over many years, including the launch of a choir to combat social isolation across the Liverpool 4 district and, importantly, the establishment and building of a library within the Spellow Lane-based Everton Free School. The library has the simple, but important, objective of making literacy more accessible and engaging.

Chairman and CEO of the Spirit Organisation, Ian Kilbride, said: “We have worked with both EitC and Everton Free School over many years, but it was the enthusiasm and vision of Sue Gregory, CEO of EitC, and Steven Baker, CEO of The People’s Learning Trust – of which Everton Free School and Football College is the founder – that inspired us to join forces on two long term and quite unique projects. We know that the combined £2m funding will have a meaningful impact.”

Sue Gregory said: “This funding will enable us to further develop our teams to ensure we are offering these opportunities to as many people as possible,” while Steven Baker said: “I am incredibly proud of the partnership that we have forged with The Spirit Foundation. Prof Kilbride has been a key supporter of Everton Free School and Football College for a number of years, helping us to tackle disadvantage and raise literacy outcomes for our students.”

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Co-op Live and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) have announced the extension of their ground-breaking sustainability initiative. The successful integrated travel offering, which has already seen thousands of ticket holders enjoy integrated travel across the Metrolink tram network, will continue until the end of this month.

As part of Co-op Live’s ongoing commitment to sustainable travel and funded by the venue, fans with a valid arena event ticket can use the Metrolink from four hours before, and up to four hours after – depending on the timing of each show. The initiative remains active across all four Metrolink zones, allowing people to travel at a time most convenient to them.

The extension of the initiative comes as post-event data indicates that more fans are opting to use the Metrolink network rather than travelling by car, and as Co-op Live anticipates that more than one million fans will use sustainable travel options over the next 12 months. It follows the recent announcement that The Climate Pledge has joined Co-op Live as its official sustainability partner and as presenting partner for the newly developed CityLink walking route.

The ‘CityLink Presented by The Climate Pledge’ walking route reimagines fans’ journeys from the city centre to the Etihad Campus, home of Co-op Live and the Etihad Stadium. It marks more than £4m of regenerative investment in East Manchester, delivered in partnership with Manchester City FC and Manchester City Council, and promotes the use of sustainable travel to and from the all-electric arena.

Integrated tram travel with all event tickets offers a sustainable alternative to driving, and ensures that fans can make a quick and easy getaway at the end of the night, whether they’re heading back home or into the city centre. To claim travel across the network, all fans must be in possession of a valid event ticket, which they will need to show on request.

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Junction, the new cafe, bar, restaurant and social workspace concept developed by Manchester Central, will open later this month (July).

Situated at the front of Manchester Central, Junction will be a first for the Petersfield area of the city, combining a modern, small-plate menu and evening cocktail offering, with a unique, daytime social workspace and cafe. Junction has been a hotly-anticipated opening for Manchester, and will be open to the public as well as delegates attending events at the iconic city centre venue.

With industrial curved architecture reflecting the history of the former railway station, it will provide a relaxing, modern space for professionals, tourists and business leaders to meet, greet, wine and dine. Last month the venue announced a number of key hires to its kitchen team, with Liam Raynor, formerly of The Lowry Theatre joining as Head Chef.

Its sustainable menus will include the Rare Bred Pork Schnitzel with Cacklebean Egg as an indulgent evening meal, while visitors can also enjoy cocktails including a refreshing Rhubarb and Pomegranate Spritz and Truffle Martini.

Lori Hoinkes, Chief Executive at Manchester Central, said: “We are very excited about the opening of Junction. This will be an amazing offering, not only for the city’s hospitality sector, but for the people who live and work here. We want to launch a space where guests feel comfortable grabbing a coffee on the go, meeting colleagues over brunch or simply winding down in the afternoon over a fresh glass of wine while looking out onto Petersfield and watching the city go by.”

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Richard Walker, Fork & Field, Anthony O’Connor, Manchester Cathedral

Fork & Field Catering has announced a new partnership with Manchester Cathedral as an exclusive catering supplier. This collaboration positions Fork & Field Catering at the forefront of high-profile events in one of Manchester’s most iconic venues.

Manchester Cathedral is a thriving, diverse and welcoming church in the heart of the city, a venue admired by many for its grandeur and historical significance. The initial approach to the Cathedral by the caterer was driven by a long standing admiration for the venue and the calibre of events it hosts.

Fork & Field Catering will provide bespoke catering services for a wide range of events at Manchester Cathedral, accommodating gatherings of nearly 1,000 attendees. Events at the Cathedral tend to be at the premium end of the corporate market and Fork & Field Catering said it is committed to delivering exceptional culinary experiences that match the sophistication and prestige of the venue. This significant contract will lead to the creation of 10 jobs, both full-time and part-time, reinforcing Fork & Field’s commitment to growth and excellence.

Richard Walkder, co-owner of Fork & Field, said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Manchester Cathedral, a venue we have long admired. This opportunity allows us to showcase our culinary expertise in a prestigious setting, and we look forward to delivering unforgettable experiences for our clients.”

Anthony O’Connor, from Manchester Cathedral, said: “Fork & Field’s innovative approach and dedication to excellence make them a perfect fit for Manchester Cathedral’s high end events. We are excited to have them on board.”