Aughton, Lancashire, thrives with Michelin stars boosting local businesses and drawing visitors to its acclaimed restaurants.
Aughton sits near Maghull and Ormskirk. Tim Allen’s sō-lō has one star, and Mark Birchall’s The Barn got one too. Moor Hall, Birchall’s main place, earned three stars, making it the tenth in the UK to achieve this.
Michelin stars help all local businesses and restaurants and pubs benefit from the increased attention. The village has only 8,000 residents, so why is Aughton a food hotspot?
Kerry A Lloyd, a local councillor, shared her thoughts. She explained that Moor Hall is a beautiful building and its semi-rural location is very appealing.
sō-lō was formerly the Town Green Inn, a popular local pub. The area is affluent, and people are traveling from afar.
The increased interest boosts the local economy. Visitors may drink in other pubs or use other local businesses too. Aughton is a lovely place to live, and the stars raise Aughton’s profile.
Francine and Mark Smith run The Dog and Gun Inn, a traditional pub with open fires offering cask ales and food. Francine says the stars create positivity.
While the pub provides a different experience, it puts Aughton on the map. They have seen increased foot traffic.
The pub started focusing on food a year ago, before that it focused on drinks. She thinks it is from both their work and local excitement.
Michelin stars draw people from further afield. At first, only locals came, but now people visit from Maghull, Liverpool, and Wigan. People are coming from farther distances.
She loves being part of this success, is proud of Aughton, and appreciates the attention and awards.
Daily Dose is a cafe on Town Green Lane selling coffee, cakes, and brunch. Blair Smith, a director, said the stars inspire them, and they want to maintain a good standard.
She is happy for Moor Hall and sō-lō because they work hard and offer a unique experience. The stars boost the local economy, bring in more tourists, and benefits all businesses.
Blair lives in Liverpool, not Aughton. She feels the area is beautiful, the people are lovely, and Daily Dose has a great community. She would live there if she could.