A community-led project to revive the heart of a Wigan Borough town centre – coupled with the work of some enterprising entrepreneurs – means Tyldesley has moved quickly up the list of places to visit.
There’s a thriving scene of independent businesses bringing a fresh flavour to the high street in more ways than one.
Plus, its historic buildings with their charming architecture, including eye-catching sash windows and intricate mouldings and brickwork, have been lovingly restored.
The Borough Life team couldn’t wait to find out more, so we paid a visit on a sunny Saturday in April.
Hearty portions, pancakes and more
For speciality coffee and a hearty brunch, Mayhap is a must. Let’s just say you’ll never find minimalism and Mayhap in the same sentence.
From its vibrant, rustic décor to their modern menu packed full of generous portions served with a slice of good-old fashioned friendly customer service.
We were feeling savoury during our brunch stop-off and went for the chorizo hash; a Mediterranean medley of rich flavours featuring sourdough toast topped with eggs, pesto, spinach, chorizo and potato seasoned with chilli. But it would’ve been a crying shame to visit and not try one of their popular pancake stacks.
So, the breakfast pancake was promptly ordered and arrived in all its buttermilk fluffiness with a fry-up trio of eggs, bacon and sausage topped with syrup.
Brunch is always better with a side of people watching and it was great to see families, friends and couples with their dogs (yes, it’s dog friendly) enjoy this new addition to Tyldesley’s high street.
Holistic health for furry friends
The next stop on our Tyldesley tour is The Dogs Deli, a natural pet food shop stocking a wide variety of high quality food mainly for dogs but also rabbits, wild birds, hedgehogs and rodents.
Owners Emma and Jon Fernandez established the business in 2016 and are passionate about animals and canine diets.
Only stocking natural products, Emma explained that they’re “picky about what we feed dogs” and returning customers mainly shop for the variety of raw food stocked in the freezers.
The Dogs Deli also specialise in holistic health, offering consultations for pet owners that cover canine care from weight management, allergies and even behavioural management all linking to diet.
You’ll also find the couple’s own brand of high-quality kibble; ‘Amigo’, the name inspired by Jon’s Spanish roots. What sets this kibble apart from most? The higher percentage of meat, which is nutritionally better for your furry friends. We did spot some products that you may not see in your typical pet-food shop, the most peculiar being a deer leg!
There are items you can pick up for yourself too like local chicken eggs, duck eggs and even quail eggs.
Time for a tipple
Thirsty from our Tyldesley-trekking, our next visit was The Markland (pictured above right). This bar is hard to miss with its name adorned in bright lights behind the bar - radiating through the windows and inviting you in.
The vibe feels modern industrial like the bars you might find in Manchester or Liverpool, with dark walls that contrast with exposed brick and stylish lighting.
The Markland is another dog friendly place on this high street, serving a range of beers, ciders and cocktails with a focus on whiskey.
The Markland offers the best of both worlds, perfect for a quiet Saturday afternoon drink but ideal if you’re wanting a night out of toe-tapping to live music and a couple of espresso martinis that might get you up dancing.
Heritage project’s impact
If you take a wander down Elliot Street and within Tyldesley’s town centre conservation area, the impact of the Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) is clear to see.
Led by community organisation For Tyldesley CIC, the project is approaching the final year of its four-year action plan.
To see a progress report on what the project has delivered visit For Tyldesley (external link).