Here's a first look at Hive Stores, a new cafe bar, deli and shop that has brought a once-thriving neighbourhood shop back to life.
Hive Stores is the realisation of a dream for co-owners Steven Sherratt and Gareth Wilkins, who originally started with a stall on Altrincham Market in 2015.
They then moved to Grosvenor Road in Altrincham in 2020 and have been operating a gifts and homewares shop as well as serving hot drinks and snacks from a coffee trailer in their yard.
Now, thanks in part to a crowdfunding campaign launched a year ago, the pair have single-handedly completed the renovation of two neighbouring buildings that traded as a succession of popular community shops before closing around 15 years ago, since when they have been used only for storage.
Gareth told us it was "absolutely amazing" to finally have the cafe bar and deli open after the year-long renovation.
"It's been a monumental task," he said. "It was a shell of a building when we got our hands on it, so we're thankful to our amazing followers who gave us a really big boost at the beginning."
With seating space for around 25 customers, the cafe bar and deli sells a variety of hot and cold drinks, fresh bakes and treats, as well as daily provisions including pasta, eggs, biscuits, condiments, dried meats and milk. It also sells wine and beers, and offers cheese and charcuterie boards as accompanying snacks.
"The local community have said that they needed something in this part of town to enjoy each other's company and hopefully we've restored that to the neighbourhood," added Gareth.
Hive Stores is open from 10am to 6pm on Sunday and Monday, and 9am to 8pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It's closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Here's a first look at the new opening:
