Couple toast £300,000 bar venture

A HUSBAND and wife team will be seeing in the New Year at their new £300,000 wine bar and restaurant in the centre of Wilmslow.

Tim and Vanessa Hatton already own a wine bar and restaurant in Knutsford and their latest venture is The Wilmslow Wine Bar on Water Lane.  The building used to house the French Brasserie which closed earlier this year.

Tim and Vanessa decided to open in Wilmslow following the success of The Knutsford Wine Bar, which they launched three years ago.  The Wilmslow venue offers dining on two floors with a menu created by head chef Anthony Shirley who has previously worked at Panacea, Harvey Nichols and The Restaurant Bar & Grill. 

The Wilmslow Wine Bar, which employs 15 people, will also provide customers with live music.   Funding for the project was provided by Royal Bank of Scotland Commercial Bank in Cheadle.  

Vanessa says: “We have owned The Knutsford Wine Bar for four years and to be honest opening a new venue was the last thing on our minds as running a restaurant is extremely hard work. 

“However, when we learned about this vacant site in the centre of Wilmslow we decided our formula could be replicated.  Our goal is to provide customers with good food in pleasurable surroundings and this will be our main focus in Wilmslow.   

Joanne Jones, relationship manager Royal bank of Scotland, said: “Vanessa and Tim impressed us with their knowledge of the local restaurant market and their vision for The Wilmslow Wine Bar.  I am sure they will use their business expertise to good effect and wish them well with this venture.”