Midcheshire Independent Issue 196

SEPTEMBER 2026 4 THE town’s annual beer festival, Brews, Tipples & Tunes, is returning to Northwich Memorial Court with 32 beers on offer. These including 29 new- comers, alongside craft ciders, cocktails, food, and live music. Organised by Rotary in Northwich, the festival will take place on September 18 and 19, with organisers promising a refreshed drinks line-up and the return of pop- ular attractions introduced last year. The event underwent sig- nificant changes in 2025, including an expanded beer range and the launch of the Tipples Garden. Organisers say the revamped format ‘helped attract a new generation of festival-goers’. This year, visitors will be able to choose from 32 beers, with only three staples returning from last year’s festival line-up. The festival will also fea- ture six craft ciders, which for the first time will be served chilled from hand pulls. The outdoor area will offer cocktails, gin, wine, fizz, and alcohol-free alternatives. Food vendors will be serv- ing a range of dishes through- out the weekend, including hotpot, burgers, bratwurst sausages, dirty chips, mac- aroni cheese, sandwiches, and cakes. Live entertainment will again form part of the evening sessions, with local band Salt Rox performing on Friday night and Ant Hill Mob tak- ing to the stage on Saturday. A UNIQUE conservation centre for birds of prey is hoping to improve facili- ties to support an exciting expansion programme. Gauntlet Birds of Prey Eagle and Vulture Park in Knutsford has submitted plans for a newmulti-purpose building, which will cost an estimated £500,000. The two-storey development would replace four build- ings which are no longer fit for purpose. The site on Manchester Road has the largest collection of birds of prey in the North West and attracts around 35,000 visitors each year. Founded by Graham Bes- sant 30 years ago, this fami- ly-run business now has more than 180 birds from 50 differ- ent species, including eagles, owls, vultures, falcons, kites, hawks and buzzards. They also protect Marabou storks, pink-backed pelicans, white storks, red-legged serie- mas, caracaras and ravens. The licensed zoo aims to raise awareness of birds of prey, how they live, hunt and feed. The centre strives to dis- pel myths that vultures are scavengers preying on dead animals Daughter, Daisy, and son, Jake, stage stunning flying displays to demonstrate the vital role these birds carry out in the wild. The family works alongside HOME Instead Northwich & Knutsford is celebrating after being named one of the Top 20Home Care Providers in the NorthWest. The award recognises the team’s commitment to delivering high-quality, per- son-centred care to older people across Northwich, Knutsford and the surround- ing communities. The Top 20 Home Care Provider Awards are based on reviews submitted by clients and their loved ones, making the recognition particularly meaningful to the local team. Reviews consider areas including the quality of care, staff, management, dignity, value for money and over- all experience. Nick Hodgson, Head of Operations at Home Instead Northwich & Knutsford, said: “It is an honour to be recog- nised as one of the Top 20 Home Care Providers in the NorthWest. It is a tremendous achievement anda true reflec- tion of our team’s dedication toprovidinghigh-quality care. “At Home Instead Northwich & Knutsford, our Care Professionals go above and beyond to deliver excep- tional, person-centred care that enables our clients to remain safe, happy and inde- pendent in their own homes. “We are incredibly proud to receive this award and grate- ful to our clients and their families for placing their trust in us.” Home Instead Northwich & Knutsford provides tai- lored care within clients’ own homes, including compan- ionship, home help, personal care and specialist dementia support. Its Care Professionals focus on building trusted rela- tionships and helping clients continue living independently in familiar surroundings. The team hopes the award will provide further reassur- ance to local families who are considering care and looking for compassionate, dependa- ble support for themselves or a loved one. FIREFIGHTERS were called to rescue a cow which had become stuck in a pond at Marsh Lane, Northwich. Two fire engines and the Animal Rescue Unit from Knutsford attended. The pond water level was lowand allowed firefighters to secure the ani- mal and pull it out safely using animal rescue equipment. ROUSING anthems like Land of Hope and Glory are set to stir emotions as a special concert in Knutsford. Last Night of the Proms returns to St John’s Church on Saturday, October 10 at 7.30pm. And a gifted couple praised for their ‘faultless’ perfor- mance in Britain’s Got Talent, will be back on stage. Classical opera soprano Denise Leigh and her husband Stefan Andrusyschyn, who are both blind, brought judges to tears on the ITV talent show. Experienced tenor Phillip Cartwright will sing with Denise as they are accompa- nied on the piano by Stefan, with support from the Last Night Singers. Stefan was also trained in classical accordion by Professors Oleg Sharov St. Petersburg Conservatory and OwenMurray, Royal Academy of Music, London. Stirring songs will include Vilja from the Merry Widow, And this is my beloved, Kis- met, Anthem, Chess and You Raise Me Up. Pipe organist Aya Pitcher will play Bach’s Toccata and accompany cellist Min Song in The Swan and flautist Una Ryan in Ave Maria. Warrington Pipes and Drums, who took part in the World Pipe Band Champi- onships this year, will once again be back on stage. A traditional singalong and flag waving finish will provide a rousing end to the concert. Last year’s performance was a sell-out and raised £5,500 for East Cheshire Hos- pice, Macmillan the church organ restoration. Proceeds will be donated to the same causes this year. Tickets priced £22 are available at ticketsource.com/ knutsfordproms Home Instead is a top care provider in NW Cow rescued from pond The Britain’s Got talent duo on stage (Image: Supplied) BGT stars in Last Night of the Proms Brews, Tipples, Tunes NEWS IN BRIEF DRIVERS are being warning of an 11-day road closure in Cuddington. Cuddington Lane, from opposite Mill House to near its junction with the A49, Warrington Road, will be closed on Monday, September 14. The closure is to allow BT to install around 200 metres of underground ducts to carry new cabling. A NEW family-run swimming pool near Northwich has opened its door. Swim Barn is a purpose-built pool which has been developed on Raddel Lane, in Higher Whitley. The team behind the family-run business have been hard at work constructing the new swimming facility since early 2025. FIREFIGHTERS were called to rescue a cow which had become stuck in a pond at Marsh Lane, Northwich. Two fire engines and the Animal Rescue Unit from Knutsford attended the scene. The pond water level was low and allowed firefighters to secure the animal and pull it out safely using animal rescue equipment. Birds of Prey centre plans multi-purpose expansion scientists and specialists and supports a conservation pro- ject in Africa. The new building will improve facilities for the rearing of the birds as well as visiting students and keepers, staff and the public. Plans include a veterinary room where birds can be checked and an incubation room for endangered birds and rearing chicks. A conference and educa- tion area would create more space for talks, learning sessions, workshops and visiting groups. A two-bedroom flat is pro- posed to accommodate staff to live on-site to attend to the birds. Four additional rooms are also included to provide overnight accommodation for overseas clients, research students and keepers from other collections. Daisy, who leads a care community programme for adults with disabilities, said the course has transformed the lives of many people. Extra space will give adults with learning needs the chance to stay for short holidays or residential expe- riences, with areas where they can relax and spend time together. The centre is exploring sponsorship and grants to help fund the new development. For more details on the plans, search reference 26/2083/FUL on Cheshire East Councils online plan- ning portal. Daisy and Jake Bessant are dedicated to saving the lives of vultures (Image: Supplied)