Andrew Nutter has sold his Rochdale restaurant Nutters

Kelly Bishop 8 October 2021

What will the Manchester star chef do next?

Andrew Nutter and the Nutter family have announced that they are selling their eponymous Nutters Restaurant in Rochdale.

Confidentials understands that talks are currently in progress about selling the popular dining establishment to Albert’s Group which already has Albert’s Shed in Castlefield and restaurants in Didsbury, Worsley and Standish.

We wanted to go out whilst we are still at the top of our game and it had been increasingly difficult to do that in these times

Andrew Nutter made a name for himself early as an exciting culinary talent. He trained as a teenager at London’s Savoy before working his way through Michelin starred kitchens. He went on to win a number of awards early in his career including Lancashire Chef of the Year, Young Mancunian Business Man Of The Year awards (to which he turned up with “Nutter” shaved into the back of his head) and in 2008, he won outstanding achievement at the MFDF Awards. He’s also appeared on Ready Steady Cook, Afternoon Live, Granada TV’s The Flying Chef and had his own Channel Five series, Utter Nutter.

Wolstenholme Hall, the gothic manor house set in 6.5 acres of parkland that houses Nutters Restaurant, was built by George Goodwin of Staffordshire in 1850. It was a military hospital during WW1 and continued as a hospital before becoming a nightclub in 1978. It then lay derelict for several years until Whitbread resurrected it as an extremely successful steakhouse called The Manor in 1988. Rodney Nutter, Andrew’s father, bought it in 2003 and it has been Nutters Restaurant ever since. The Nutter family bought gastropub The Bird at Birtle (formerly The Bird I'th Hand) in 2016.

It will be interesting to see what Albert's Group does with the grand property if and when the sale is agreed.

A post on Facebook on 8 October announced the sale:

"To all our loyal customers, friends, past and present colleagues. We are saddened to have to tell you that the time has come after 28 magnificent years that Nutters will be closing its doors. It had to happen one day and who would have thought when Rodney had the idea all that time ago, what a journey it would be.

"It has been a difficult decision to make but these last two years have been extremely challenging when the hospitality industry as a whole has suffered immensely. We wanted to go out whilst we are still at the top of our game and it had been increasingly difficult to do that in these times. Not to mention the fact that Jean isn’t getting any younger and has done such an amazing job throughout this time.

"We will stop trading on the 17th October which I know will be a disappointment to many. In order to give those of you who want one last dining experience with us we will be doing some 'Last Supper' evenings from the 19th October, Tuesday-Saturday. The Bird at Birtle will continue to operate as normal and vouchers can be used at this venue.

"This has happened very quickly, so please be patient with us as we will be contacting you all individually about your bookings.

"Finally, we want to say a massive THANK YOU to all our customers and staff who have shared this journey with us. It’s been an immense pleasure making memories for you all.

"Love From Nutters"

Nutters Restaurant — **Nutters restaurant in Rochdale - soon to be 'formerly known as'**

It’s the end of an era for the effervescent chef who recently celebrated his 50th birthday in his signature flamboyant style. The restaurant was well loved and will be sorely missed. But what will Nutter do next?

Confidentials understands that the plan is to go solo as a high-end personal chef. We'd better get in the queue behind all the footballers and celebs then, eh?

Seriously though, we wish the Nutters all the best for the future.

Gordo: “Andrew is one the few chefs in the NW of England that can still cook to Escoffier standards. Much respect and love.”

Nutters Restaurant Edenfield Rd, Rochdale OL12 7TT