All Posts

If you’ve spent even a few minutes on social media recently, you’ve probably come across someone talking about creatine. Once reserved for bodybuilders and gym enthusiasts, this humble supplement is suddenly everywhere. From podcasts and wellness influencers to healthcare professionals, creatine has become one of the hottest topics in health, and not just because it helps build muscle. So, what’s changed? The answer lies in the growing body of research showing that creatine m

by Middlewich Muay Thai When people think of Muay Thai, they often picture powerful kicks, lightning-fast punches and intense training sessions. While it’s certainly an incredible way to improve fitness and learn self-defence, there’s another side to the sport that’s changing lives - its positive impact on mental health. At Middlewich Muay Thai (MMT), members are discovering that stepping onto the mats is about far more than physical strength. Every session encourages focus,

by Sam Dale & Son, Holmes Chapel The introduction of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill has prompted many schools to review their uniform policies, with affordability firmly at the heart of the conversation. For families, any changes that help reduce the cost of sending children to school are welcome. However, perhaps the biggest opportunity is to think differently about the lifespan of school uniform itself. School uniform has long divided opinion. Some see it as a

By Jenny - Days Out and Meals Out Reviews Each summer, The Lambing Shed Farm Shop & Café in Knutsford transforms part of its barn into The Beach, providing families all the fun of the seaside without leaving Cheshire. With a huge indoor sandpit, plenty of seating for parents and a brand-new café, it’s the perfect place for little ones to play, whatever the weather. Whether you’re escaping a rainy day or looking for somewhere cool and shaded on a hot afternoon, this easy and r

by Katy O’Regan As thousands of young people consider their next steps after school, college or university, one career path continues to be overlooked despite offering long-term opportunities, job security and the chance to make a genuine difference - social care. The adult social care sector employs around 1.6 million people across England, yet demand for carers continues to grow as the population ages. While recruitment remains a challenge, particularly among younger age gr

By Evolve Family Law Planning for the future isn’t always easy, but it is one of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones. A Health and Welfare Lasting Power of Attorney is a legal document that ensures that, if you lose the ability to make decisions for yourself, someone you trust can step in and act in your best interests. What is a Health and Welfare LPA? A Health and Welfare LPA allows you to appoint one or more trusted individ

By JWC Health & Fitness Before you read any further, try to picture yourself in 20 or 30 years’ time. Not what you’ll look like, but what you’ll be able to do. Will you still be carrying the shopping without thinking twice? Climbing the stairs without stopping halfway? Playing with grandchildren, getting up off the floor, lifting a suitcase into the car, or heading out for a long walk because you want to, not because you have to? We often think ageing is something tha

by Katy O’Regan There’s something refreshing about speaking to the people who actually run a business. At Premier Windows Cheshire, there’s no call centre or layers of management - when customers get in touch, they’re likely to speak to Lisa in the office or one of the directors, Rick or Mick. The business has been serving homeowners for more than 40 years, having originally been founded by Rick’s father after many years working in the industry. While the company has evolved

By Katy O’Regan Some interviews take you in unexpected directions. What began as a conversation with Holmes Chapel Comprehensive’s newly appointed Head Students soon became a discussion about moving countries, overcoming the disruption of Covid, discovering confidence and what really makes a school community special. As someone who has lived in Holmes Chapel for many years - and whose own son attended the school - I was interested to hear about life through the eyes of its st

Published in Go Local Sandbach - January 2025 By Greg Hall Happy New Year, fellow Sandbachians. Now that Christmas is done and dusted for another year, many people turn their attention to making resolutions for the coming twelve months, even though the vast majority fail to see them through. The most common resolutions naturally focus on improving your life, whether that be in terms of health, wealth, or making some other changes for the better. Exercise more, lose some weigh

Published in Beartown Voice - January 2025 By Mark Edwardson Last month we featured Nala the sophisti-cat who’s won the hearts of the people of Congleton. Now, it seems, our little town has upcycled “the things that everyday folk leave behind” into a global phenomenon. Meet Andy Bailey. By day he’s a mild mannered digital creator. But his growing world wide reputation has come from litter-aly nothing. Andy is the famous “Bins of Congleton” social media star. “My obsession sta

Published in Go Local Sandbach 2025 By Greg Hall Well, that’s January out of the way for another year, although I’m not convinced February is much better. Sorry, I know that’s not the cheeriest of openings, but I’ve always found the second month of the year to be a struggle, not least because I turn one year older (I’d argue this is the worst month for a birthday, as everyone is still skint from Christmas and no one fancies going out to celebrate) and it’s usually still freez

Published in Go Local Sandback - March 2025 By Greg Hall As you might know, Sandbach has an illustrious sporting history for a town of its size, with various opportunities for participants of any age. Our football club, Sandbach United, was formed in 2004 when Sandbach Albion and Sandbach Ramblers merged. The club now boasts more than six hundred footballers across forty teams, starting as young as five all the way up to veteran (which, I’ve discovered, is reserved for peop

Published in Beartown Voice - March 2025 By Mark Edwardson Let me start by apologising for my absence from last month’s edition of Beartown Voice. Somewhat reassuringly, quite a few regular and keen-eyed readers have been in contact to enquire about my no-show. I humbly appreciate their concern. One asked if I’d been on an exotic trip to a remote rainforest with no internet connection. A few others, who know me well, simply assumed I’d forgotten to submit my article in good t

Published in Go Local Sandbach - April 2025 By Greg Hall. Due to our printing deadlines being approximately one month prior to each edition of Go Local Sandbach landing on doorsteps, I distinctly recall writing my previous article in late January/early February, at a time when it was cold, dark and wet. How lovely, therefore, to be sitting here penning these words in bright sunshine and (comparatively speaking) warmth. Spring, by the time you read this, will be well and truly

Beartown Voice - May 2025 By Mark Edwardson Regular readers might recall I've been more than a little bit mobility impaired for the last few months. "Get fit and go for a walk" they said. I did and ended up breaking my shoulder slipping on ice at Glencoe. Four days later and getting used to my new varifocals I took a tumble downstairs after misjudging the location of the top step. But you're not here to listen to me moan. The point is I'm getting out again. Slowly. As I've be

Beartown Voice - April 2025. By Mark Edwardson Cast your mind back a few issues of Beartown Voice and you might recall a very handsome young fellow who goes by the name of Milo. If you can picture him with long hair and an even longer back propped up by some of the shortest legs in the canine world you've won my appreciation for being a regular reader. Yes, Milo is a Skye terrier and as such is amongst the rarest of dog breeds in Britain. Now he's also a star of Crufts havin

Go Local Sandbach - May 2025 By Greg Hall While Sandbach is famous for many things, such as our Saxon Crosses, weekly market, and that pothole on Bradwall Road which is now so vast it was recently twinned with Luxembourg, our civil parish actually contains four settlements: the town itself, plus the neighbouring villages of Elworth, Ettiley Heath and Wheelock. The latter, Wheelock, is first mentioned in the Doomsday Book [published in 1086 by William the Conqueror and availab

Published in Beartown Voice - July 2025 By Mark Edwardson There's been a changing of the guard in Congleton recently. We have a new Town Mayor in the form of a dear friend of mine, Councillor Robert Brittain. Bob has got big shoes to fill. He succeeds local businesswoman, activist and mum of four, Councillor Kay Wesley. And he can expect to be very busy over the next twelve months. I caught up with Kay shortly after she handed over the mayoral chain. Kay was the first Women's

Go Local Sandbach - August 2025 By Greg Hall By the time you find yourself reading this article, August will be upon us and thoughts will be turning - if they haven't already - to the summer holidays. Of course, if you are planning on jetting abroad this summer, you will almost certainly have selected your destination months ago and been looking forward to getting away from it all ever since. We are lucky in Sandbach that we are a sensibly priced taxi ride from three of the U