Inside the new pop-up food market in an old Macclesfield cinema

They’ve done it again, folks…

Walking down the cosy cobbled pathway of Chestergate, it’s hard to imagine such a stunning building standing proudly on a such a hidden street, tucked away amongst the quaint barbers shops and costume stores.

And yet, there it is. Its magnificent white foundations settled into the bricked road; its tiered roof stretching high into the blue sky of this October afternoon. The sun reflects warm beams of light off of the black victorian windows, with the golden sign casting an array of colours across the street.

The Macclesfield Picturedrome is a magnificent building, but it’s even more interesting inside…

Located in the centre of Macclesfield, the Picturedrome was originally built in 1911 to be used as a cinema. This year, it was taken over by the organisers of Mackie Mayor and Altrincham Market, who have transformed the space into a haven for the food lovers of Macclesfield.

Stretching your legs through the emerald green barn doors of the entrance, visitors are immediately hit with the feeling of community, as tables packed full of families and friends chat away to the background blues music. 

On the rear wall, an old black and white movie plays, paying homage to the Picturedrome’s original purpose. The hum of chatter and the shout of orders are enough to make you forget all about the cold outside, and the scents from the vast range of treats on offer sets your mouth to dribble mode almost instantaneously. 

The Picturedrome currently has nine traders of food and drink, with more expected to join the family. Here’s what’s on the menu…

Honest Crust

A staple seller of the Mackie Mayor and Altrincham markets has now set up shop in the Picturedrome, baking sourdough pizza right in front of your very own eyes. Choose from a selection of toppings including Margherita, Neapolitan or Salami – and a Marinara pizza for vegans, too.

This week’s special is wild broccoli, finished off with smoked mozzarella, black olives and chilli, for just £12.  And because the pizzas are cooked fresh for each customer, Honest Crust can satisfy all of your food preferences and allergy requirements. 

Sam Joseph

The most beautiful scents come flooding out of this little kitchen, for Sam Joseph uses real Madagascan cocoa beans to make all of their chocolate flavours, some we’ve never even heard before. Satisfy your sweet tooth with some ruby chocolate, dark raspberry, salted caramel  pretzels and so many many more. 

But it’s not just chocolate on offer here. Oh no. Sam Joseph has a whole range of hot and cold desserts, ranging from sticky toffee pudding and ice cream sundaes to chocolate fondue.

We’ve got the S’mores on our wishlist – a warm chocolate chip cookie smothered in toasted marshmallows. And to wash it down with, a milkshake perhaps? We recommend the Sam Joseph hot chocolates, which you can make entirely your own. Choose from house blend, 67.7% dark cocoa, or a sweet vanilla drink, and add salted caramel, toasted hazelnut, or – of course – marshmallows. 

Flour Water Salt

For the snackers, smaller appetites and small talk chats, Flour Water Salt offers a lovely hangout to grab a coffee and some cake. Boasting loose leaf tea, supplied by local seller Born Wild, and fresh coffee from the beans of Dark Woods (Huddersfield), this little coffee shop prides itself on using the freshest ingredients.

And what’s more, every cake, brownie, tart and pastry is baked fresh daily by the servers themselves. We’ll take three of each, thanks! 

Terroni 

It’s always breakfast time at Terroni, that’s why they serve their brunch menu ALL DAY LONG. You can nibble on granola bowls and frittatas, sausage sarnies and slow-roasted porchetta, but the star of the show is the Nduja sausage, served with scrambled eggs, smoked streaky bacon and Pecorino Romano cheese.

It’s enough to make your mouth water just thinking about it. 

If you’re not a brunch fan, Terroni have antipasti options too, included king prawns and some delightful Raddichio Treviso, a traditional italian dish of smoked cod, bruschetta and Parmiganio cheese. 

Ruben’s 

Rubens is the perfect pitstop for something a bit more Mediterranean, serving up mezzo dishes all under £6, ideal for that lunchtime appetite. Tuck into hummus and pitta, cauliflower shawarma, and – the one we’ve got our eye on – slow cooked aubergine with Turkish tomatoes, Zaatar yoghurt and toasted flatbread. 

For the dinner rush, Ruben’s is prepared for customers with big appetites, dishing up hefty portions of halloumi, green pea and chickpea falafel, and their unique Yorkshire lamb köfte. And all for no more than a tenner. 

Tender Cow + Fin

And for the meat lovers out there, Tender Cow is the place to order from. With a short but satisfying steak-filled menu, customers can munch on an extra large steak and eggs dinner for £18.

Also on the menu are steak sandwiches, sausage sarnies and short rib for all your meaty needs.

Sister company ‘Fin’ will surely catch your attention with their line-caught fish, sourced purely from British shores. Grab your Friday Fish and chip dinner at Fin from £14, tied together with crushed garden peas and tartare sauce. 

Drinks

All that food needs to be washed down with something, and pop-up bar ‘Jack in the Box’ has arrived to serve you up some bubbles and beers.

Located by the entrance of the food hall, Jack in the Box have some of the finest ales and crispest lagers in Macclesfield, with a selection of drinks from all around the UK.

Just next-door is Reserve Wines, which offers takeaway wine, wine on tap and a selection of spirits for those looking for something a little stronger.

Bottoms up!

The Picturedrome is open Tuesday – Saturday (9am-10pm) and Sundays (9am-6pm) at The Picturedrome, 102-104 Chestergate, Macclesfield, SK11 6DU.