Our Neighbourhood
THE VICARAGE
Holmes Chapel Village
A pillar of the Community…
The Vicarage in Holmes Chapel Village, the first of the Flat Cap properties, is a Grade II listed 17th-century Vicarage. It had seen three centuries of residents before it was acquired by Flat Cap in 2015. Situated in the heart of the Cheshire countryside, The Vicarage is nestled on the banks of the River Dane making it a picture perfect spot for walkers, staycationers, families and friends alike. Spend a relaxing day surrounded by countryside in our iconic Cheshire venue, featuring contemporary interiors, exposed wooden beams, twin fireplace and some noticeably charming features. Just a stones throw from the church, where the Vicar himself would host sermons and ceremonies, The Vicarage housed the clergymen of Holmes Chapel who would wander up and down the road to their daily services… a truly historic spot for a bite to eat or staycation.



Neighbouring The Vicarage is the iconic Jodrell Bank observatory. Experience the pioneering heritage of the worlds largest radio telescopes, which have gathered radio frequency data from some of the furthest reaches of space. This world-leading, deep space observatory backed by the University of Manchester and centre for astrophysics is not one to miss on the Cheshire bucket list.
If dreamy days out, dawdling in the Cheshire countryside is more your thing, the incredible family over at Bidlea Dairy are well worth a visit for some icecream or even a milkshake. Bidlea, which has been providing dairy products to the local community for many generations is well worth a trip on a hot summers day, or nip up the road to Knutsford to explore Tatton Park, an iconic national trust property with expansive parklands to wander through.

The Prestbury community
Suppliers & Community
As all of our properties are located in the heart of Cheshire, we are lucky to be supplied from some of the very best local suppliers from James, the lovely man at the Tea from the Manor, to the incredible team at Cheshire Gin Distillery to the amazing butchers at Altham’s providing the best quality meats for our ‘grill’ selection. We like to champion all things local which gives farmers the fairest prices for their produce, suppliers source the very best ingredients and we can see the journey very literally from farm to plate.
Integrating our hotel operations into the life of our local communities and society of our Cheshire is highly rewarding for Flat Cap and its employees. We believe that the local economic and social impact of our hotels can be managed positively and responsibly. At Flat Cap we believe our responsibility extends beyond our employees and guests but into the communities in which we operate within.
All our poultry produce is "Red Tractor Assured"
All our fish is supplied via "MSC" approved suppliers
We buy British where possible, taking into account food seasonality and quality of produce.
We check suppliers are acting ethically in sourcing and production
There are no endangered fish species used on our menus

Our Local Suppliers
Here at Flat Cap Hotels, we are proud to champion local suppliers and fantastic, locally sourced ingredients, from eggs to veg, meat to fish all of our ingredients are sourced within 20 miles of our properties. From countryside to coast we are certain our seasonal menus serve your tastebuds the very best of British ingredients. Flat Cap focus on supporting local suppliers as they are the pillars of the community.



Tea From The Manor - James
Tea from the Manor was one of our first suppliers and his story is very special indeed. After serving in the British Army alongside the Gurkhas on the Indo-Nepalese border, James discovered a passion for the tea leaf harvest. He then started a small supply chain between himself and the tea farmers that he had served alongside and started up Tea from the Manor. Tea from the Manor is a tried and true family owned business, a small supply chain and no middle man ensuring the farmers receive the fairest price for their product. James not only supplies Flat Cap but over a hundred venues across the UK and has over 96 varieties of tea and with 20 years of experience, he really knows his stuff! We our proud to have James as one of our suppliers and to watch his business grow.


Althams Butchers
Established in 1856 in the heart of Morecambe, family-owned Althams Butchers have worked hard over the centuries to deliver the finest quality cuts of meat. They supply Flat Cap Hotels with our incredible melt-in-the-mouth steaks, organic, free-range chicken breast and much more. Althams are now in their fifth generation of butchery and have been serving the local community ever since they opened their doors in 1856. Flat Cap Hotels is proud to partner with such an established supplier and support local farmers in the process. James and Rick now manage the family business and have been working there for over 20 years, meaning their knowledge of meat is second to none!


MyFish
MyFish is a family-owned business, established by Gary Apps over 10 years ago, with a passion for providing the finest seafood from coastal suppliers up and down the British coastline, sourcing many of the items from local fisheries and sustainable sea fishers. Gary wanted to provide seafood that could be provided wholesale without compromising on quality. Gary and his excellent team only source seasonal fish, which supports Flat Caps commitment to providing the highest quality seasonal ingredients.


Amato
Amato, the family-owned food supplier was established thirty years ago by Bob and Delores Amato, providing incredible Mediterranean ingredients from the heart of Manchester, just a stones throw from the Flat Cap properties. Since then, they have expanded to source an incredible selection of international ingredients and of course, returning to their Italian roots whenever they can. Their knowledge of fine ingredients is why Flat Cap keenly supports this supplier and helps to create their innovative, carefully curated seasonal menus.

Our People…
Our People are at the centre of all that we do. We want to celebrate our incredible team for all their hard work, from talented chefs, some of the best baristas in the business and mega mixologists, smiley servers and of course, our dedicated reception and housekeeping teams. The wonderful team at The Vicarage are here to make your experience one to remember… below are some of the friendly faces that work so hard to make your visit unforgettable.
Jemma Marshall
General Manager
Jemma began her working life in project management within the construction industry in Australia. She moved to the UK to seek new opportunities and took up a temporary job with Flat Cap Hotels as an on-the-floor supervisor at The Vicarage. Her passion and dedication to hospitality quickly became apparent and her welcoming customer facing skillset further enhanced her experience. She quickly progressed due to her efficiency and tenacity from supervisor to restaurant manager prior to the restructure of Flat Cap Hotels. It then became apparent that her skillset was better suited to the operational side of the business where she transcended into her role as AGM at The Vicarage, Jemma has since progressed to the role of General Manager of The Vicarage and has a dedicated team of hardworking individuals supporting her to make the site the success it is today. Jemma has been a loyal employee of Flat Cap for six years and is keen to see the business expand in coming years.
Martyn Fallon
Head Chef / Exec Chef
Martyn is a tried and tested foodie with over 20 years experience in kitchens; we also think he’s coolest chef in the kitchen with an impressive collection of tattoos to boot. Martyn is passionate about crafting innovative menus using only the very best of British seasonal ingredients. Martyn is responsible for creating all of the menus across the group with his incredible, dedicated kitchen teams.
Our Journal...
See the very best The Vicarage, Cranage has to offer with our journal… keep track of key events, offers and experiences. Get to know our friendly Flat Cap team (and even some furry friends).

Meet the Head Chef – David Skerry at The Vicarage

Explore the Charming Vicinity of The Vicarage in Cranage
