Local cheddar, wine to go, and Boddington's gravy
Marple is one of those lovely Pennine towns with a canal running through the middle and the guarantee of a good pub lunch (I’m looking at you, The Norfolk Arms). In terms of its foodie offerings, besides Yorkshire puddings and pints of ale, Marple has Kambuja the Cambodian restaurant, All Things Nice bakery and café, and The Fisherman’s Table. The mussels are great at the latter spot.
A new opening in a town like this is always worth keeping our greedy eye on, and when we heard about Fold Bistro and Bottle Shop, we were intrigued by a Trove-esque online aesthetic and squid bolognese.
local suppliers and communities being championed through the likes of a Boddington’s gravy emulsion, curry mile sauce, and Grandma Singletons cheddar
The website invites us to “come into [the] fold”, and describes the menu as a selection of “British seasonal sharing plates, with multicultural influences and a touch of North West nostalgia throughout”. We had our fingers crossed for chips and gravy, but the selection of snacks, hot and cold plates and sweets is a bit more refined than that.
Like a lot of new openings nowadays, this bistro responsibly sources all of their ingredients, with local suppliers and communities being championed through the likes of a Boddington’s gravy emulsion, curry mile sauce, and Grandma Singletons cheddar.
After a quick scroll through Fold’s social media profiles, it’s clear that the food looks the part. It looks delicate, it’s served atop artsy ceramics, and there’s plenty of micro herb-age. The shelves are stocked with “curated natural, organic and classic wines” too, contributing to the spot’s bottle shop status as you’re able to nip in and grab a bottle of deAlto Rioja on your way past. Alternatively, drink it inside the bistro for a few extra pennies or order some online.
Taking a deep dive into their sharing plates selection, there’s snacks such as the oyster-less oysters with Chardonnay vinegar, chip shop croquettes with smashed peas and champagne curry sauce, and a “1952” coronation arancini with coconut curd.
The rest of the savoury stuff is split into hot plates and cold plates, with tastes of both land and sea coming from dishes like Hampshire trout with fire roasted lemon and crème fraiche, longhorn beef rib with char sui sauce, watermelon radish pancakes and spring onion, and that ever-intriguing squid bolognese with garlic bread.
Twists and turns are littered throughout the menu, so a Manchester tart soufflé, Aero mousse, and cheese on toast with truffle, hazelnuts and celery are only fitting for the "sweet" ending to the menu. If it lives up to the promise of providing "honest and unforgettable" food, Fold will be a Stockport one-to-watch. If wine isn't your tipple of choice, the bistro also do beers and hand-crafted cocktails to enjoy at the bar.
The menu at Fold has been developed by Executive Chef Ryan Stafford and Head Chef Craig Sherrington.
Stafford trained at the Cordon Bleu and has previously worked for Gordon Ramsay, Jamie Oliver, and as the private head chef for the Ritchie Family. Other accolades include the "Young Chef of the Year" award from Gastronomy by the Seine back in 2008 and MasterChef UK series 2 semi-finalist. It's pretty exciting that Ryan is heading up this new Marple Bridge venture, and the sample menu just got that bit more intriguing.
Head Chef Craig appeared on series 13 of Great British Menu, and previously owned Virginia House in Ulverston after his own Michelin-starred training led him to work as the sous chef to David Everitt-Matthias and Éric Chavot respectively.
Fold is now open for bookings after a very busy opening weekend, and the bottle shop is fully stocked with bottles of vino and beer to grab the next time you're passing through Marple Bridge. Gift vouchers are also available if you feel like giving the gift of Earl of Stonham Wagyu Tartare to your loved ones any time soon. It's my birthday on Sunday, just sayin'.
Marple Bridge's brand new bistro and bottle shop is open from 8am - 11pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and from 9am - 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays. For any large bookings email info@foldbistro.co.uk, and we can't wait to hear what you think of the oyster-less oysters.
Fold Bistro and Bottle Shop, 14-16 Town St, Marple Bridge, Stockport SK6 5AA
Header Image: Studio Marvelry
Read next: New Manchester Lexicon: Food
Read again: If you think Tahi is just about brunch, think again
Get the latest news to your inbox
Get the latest food & drink news and exclusive offers by email by signing up to our mailing list. This is one of the ways that Confidentials remains free to our readers and by signing up you help support our high quality, impartial and knowledgable writers. Thank you!
