‘People are coming all the way from Melbourne — that’s incredible’
Toby Codd and Steffan Rhys Deputy Content Hub Director
12:45, 23 Aug 2025
(Image: Andy Stenning/Daily Express)
An unassuming little village a stone’s throw from Liverpool has people flying from across the world to experience it. It has become known by some as the culinary capital of Britain, with food enthusiasts jetting in from as far away as Australia to discover what all the excitement is about.
Aughton, near Ormskirk, boasts five Michelin stars spread across three eateries situated within half a mile of each other. That means the village, home to roughly 8,000 residents, has surpassed the Japanese city of Kyoto for possessing the highest number of Michelin stars per inhabitant. Kyoto features 100 Michelin-starred establishments but houses a population of 1.46 million people.
“We recently had a guy come to eat here all the way from Melbourne. That’s incredible right,” sō-lō Chef Tim Allen tells the Express. “These people travel so far because they love it. They’re so passionate about food and restaurants.”
sō-lō, which serves contemporary British cuisine, launched in 2021 and secured a Michelin star just two years afterwards. Allen attributes the triumph to the exceptional local ingredients and devoted gastronomy enthusiasts.
“We’re so lucky to be located here. In Lancashire, everything that comes out of the ground is great,” the 53 year old chef explains. “The fruit and vegetables grown here are so good. It’s the sort of quality that you don’t get at the supermarket.”
Every piece of fruit, vegetable and herb utilised at sō-lō comes from regional suppliers whilst they purchase their fish from a firm located in nearby Fleetwood. The seasonal ingredients influence the menu choices, rather than the opposite approach.
The exceptional food being served at sō-lō(Image: S-l )
Allen shares: “We have great relationships with our providers as they’re as passionate about what they do as we are about using it. The quality produce really shines through in our food. If it’s local and it’s great then we’re going to use it.”
He further adds: “The menu is often written by the seasonal products that are available. They don’t write themselves. The calendar picks what goes on.”
sō-lō currently offers a six-course tasting menu, with a 10-course option set to be introduced soon. They also have a Sunday menu which consists of a traditional roast dinner and tasting menu dishes.
Tim Allen believes the presence of Moor Hall, another acclaimed restaurant nearby, helps his restaurant(Image: Andy Stenning/Daily Express)
Allen discovered the sō-lō site, located on Town Green Lane, on Rightmove before relocating to Aughton from Essex. However, it wasn’t love at first sight.
“My wife said ‘oh what about this place’ and I said ‘not a chance!’,” he discloses. “It had been shut for months and was heavily water-damaged. It was a mess and we only had a limited budget.”
At this juncture, Allen sought advice from Mark Birchall regarding trading in Aughton. Birchall is chef patron at Moor Hall, situated just half a mile from sō-lō and recently awarded a third Michelin star.
“I asked Mark about the premises and I remember his exact words,” Allen recalls. “He said ‘it’s small and you could find yourself restricted. But it’ll do the business which is what it’s all about’.”
Moor Hall opened in 2014 and its sister restaurant next door, The Barn, also boasts a Michelin star. According to Allen, the presence of Moor Hall has helped sō-lō flourish since opening.
“Moor Hall is a one off restaurant, it’s one of a kind,” he explains. “These places don’t come around very often and we don’t try and keep up with them.
“We’re so different to each other which is what makes it work so well. Mark is Mark and he does what he does. He does it so well, it’s exceptional.”
Allen adds: “Since Mark was awarded his third star, our guests have changed. We have different people coming now as people travel from further away.”
The presence of sō-lō and Moor Hall have helped put Aughton on the map. According to Allen, their success has boosted the overall ambition of the village.
“The great restaurants bring more people into the area which makes the businesses busier. It helps them a lot,” he says. “If you go down the road here, you’ll see so many little businesses doing well. Aughton is thriving, with lovely people.
“New places are opening up all the time. They help to create a good community feel and house prices are also going up around here because of it.”
But there’s more to this corner of Lancashire than Michelin-starred cuisine. At the nearby Ormskirk Market, held every Thursday and Saturday, traders have been providing local residents with fresh produce for centuries.
The Cheese Man, Danny Williams, is one of the most iconic faces at the market(Image: Andy Stenning/Daily Express)
King Edward I bestowed upon it a Royal Charter in 1286, establishing it as one of Britain’s most ancient markets. Situated on the pedestrianised thoroughfares surrounding the iconic Clock Tower in Ormskirk, it comprises between 80 and 100 stalls.
The market has evolved into one of the nation’s most beloved trading venues. Though not quite as distant as Melbourne, Ormskirk Market draws visitors from throughout the UK each week.
Ian Hill says Ormskirk Market is a ‘staple’ of the town(Image: Andy Stenning/Daily Express)
Ormskirk Market is one of the oldest in the UK(Image: Andy Stenning/Daily Express)
Ian Hill, who manages Ormskirk Market, explains: “The market has changed over the years but the footfall reflects how popular it still is among the local Ormskirk people. The people really value the market and it’s a staple of the town.
“We get coach trips in every week. We have a group from Stoke today and had one from Edinburgh last week. People come from all over to visit the market.
“I think they really appreciate the friendly atmosphere and the amount of quality produce that’s sold here. As we’ve got prime growing land in Lancashire, the fruit and vegetables are great. If you look at the soil here, it looks different to other places in the country.”
Several market traders provide sō-lō and Moor Hall with fresh produce year-round. Their reputation as acclaimed dining establishments has also contributed to drawing notable personalities to Ormskirk Market.
“We do get the odd celebrity come here as we’ve got sō-lō and Moor Hall on our doorstep,” Hill explains. “These restaurants have put the area on the map which helps the market.”
Ryan Parry operates the Wake N’ Bake stall at Ormskirk Market, offering an array of freshly baked goods. The stall has gained a loyal following amongst residents since launching approximately four years ago.
Ryan Parry has been operating at the market for four years(Image: Andy Stenning/Daily Express)
“Everything is made freshly every day which people love,” the 30 year old explains. “If there’s anything left over we give it away to homeless people or passers-by.
“I’ve been away for a couple of weeks on holiday and I’ve had people messaging me asking when I’m going to come back – it’s great. We may look like a normal bakery, but everything is made with fresh ingredients.
“The ingredients take our food to another level and, when people know that, they keep coming back. They know they won’t get items like this anywhere else.”
Mr Parry attributes his achievements and those of fellow independent vendors to the enthusiasm of local residents.
He explains: “They support us businesses and keep us going. They also spread the word really quickly.
“They’ll tell people to come and visit us which helps. I just think the people really appreciate good food. I don’t think I’ll ever leave the market.”
Among Ormskirk Market’s most recognisable characters is Danny Williams, dubbed ‘The Cheese Man’ by locals.
He has been trading a selection of regional Lancashire cheeses at the market for 10 years.
“I’m infamous around here,” he jokes. “It’s so much fun and I love having interactions with the people every day. I’m a bit of an agony uncle!” Mr Williams, 80, takes pride in his stall’s commitment to offering top-quality and locally-sourced products.
He reckons this is what makes Ormskirk Market stand out from others nationwide. He says: “It’s a really friendly little market. The people here don’t sell a lot of tat that you get at some markets in the country. Most of the stuff here is good quality.
“All the traders and punters are really friendly and get on well which helps. The traders help each other too by guaranteeing good produce. It means people stay at the market for longer and footfall is good.”
Carolyn Evans is a former member of Lancashire County Council(Image: Andy Stenning/Daily Express)
Carolyn Evans, a former Lancashire County Council member, regularly visits Ormskirk Market and delights in witnessing the substantial crowds that arrive twice weekly. The 80 year old remarks: “The market has really improved in recent times. Big crowds come in every week and there’s a really big variation in what people sell.
“We’ve got everything from fruit and vegetables to cheese and shoes and clothes. People come from all over the world. Ormskirk is really on the map. It’s all quality stuff here which means people come back.”
David Whitehead, 78, resides just beyond Ormskirk’s boundaries and makes weekly trips to the market. Beyond purchasing fresh regional produce, Mr Whitehead relishes the opportunity to drop by and chat with others at the market.
“It’s great being able to come in and get good quality local produce,” he says. “I would rather come here than go to the supermarket to get some things. The fruit and vegetables are really good.
“It’s all fresh unlike the shops and I know who I’m buying from. All the traders are familiar faces and they look after you. The market helps the community too. You can come in and have a chat to people. It’s the same faces.”
Spend a bit of time here and it becomes obvious that alongside delicious food that makes your mouth water, Aughton and Ormskirk are also brewing something else entirely.
The kind of neighbourhood where everyone would want to call home.