{"id":263628,"date":"2025-07-14T07:17:25","date_gmt":"2025-07-14T07:17:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/263628\/"},"modified":"2025-07-14T07:17:25","modified_gmt":"2025-07-14T07:17:25","slug":"the-posh-village-where-you-bump-into-millionaires-and-celebrities-in-the-local-bakery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/263628\/","title":{"rendered":"The ‘posh’ village where you bump into millionaires and celebrities in the local bakery"},"content":{"rendered":"

House prices have soared in this area over the last two years – and locals know why\"SignpostSignpost in Gee Cross, Hyde(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n

On the edge of Greater Manchester sits a village where millionaires and celebrities blend in amongst a tight-knit community.<\/p>\n

Gee Cross is regarded as the \u2018posh bit of Hyde<\/a>\u2019. Considering the array of cafes, bakeries, pubs and shops on the doorstep of the huge Werneth Low Country Park, it\u2019s clear why house prices are soaring locally.<\/p>\n

According to recent data, house prices have shot up by 7.3 per cent in the SK14 postcode area – the highest across all of Tameside<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The average cost of a home is now \u00a3235,409 – up by \u00a315,951 from two years ago. For locals, it\u2019s obvious why more people are wanting to live in Gee Cross.<\/p>\n

For the best ideas on days out, shopping and parenting issues, get the Manchester Family newsletter here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always lived here, it\u2019s a very good community and that\u2019s the main USP,\u201d according to Margaret Hallas. \u201cWe\u2019ve got a great community centre, the chapel does a lot for the elderly.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a lot of coffee mornings and things going on for the community. I\u2019m not sure how we\u2019ve managed to keep that community spirit so alive.<\/p>\n

\"MargaretMargaret Hallas, 84, who has lived in Gee Cross for over 50 years(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t have to leave the village, there is a bowling club behind the Grapes pub for example. There always seems to be something going on, we\u2019ve got a brass band playing on the weekend and it was the carnival the other weekend.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s lots of old people living here, and they\u2019ve been here all their lives for a reason.<\/p>\n

“I\u2019d say it was similar to Didsbury<\/a> in Manchester because we\u2019ve got the cafes, bars, pubs and the friendly feel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Margaret, who used to run the local grocers with her husband Keith before they retired 22 years ago, says there is a concern about the planned 440 homes. She worries it will \u2018spoil\u2019 the area.<\/p>\n

The 84-year-old added that a number of shops have gone from the village, including a couple of pubs and the Post Office – the Tesco<\/a> Express has become \u2018a lifeline\u2019. Despite this, she said locals often mix with celebrities and millionaires who have settled in the area.<\/p>\n

Margaret added: \u201cWe\u2019ve got Ricky Hatton the boxer; Ron Hill the marathon runner lived here until he died a few years ago; and there is Tom Cassell the Youtuber who also goes by the name Syndicate.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe see them from time to time in the village.\u201d<\/p>\n

Waving goodbye to Margaret and strolling down Stockport<\/a> Road, it was clear the pensioner knew what she was talking about, as Tom Cassell stepped out of The Village Bakery & Sandwich Shop.<\/p>\n

\"YouTuberYouTuber Tom Cassell outside the Village Bakery and Sandwich Shop in Gee Cross(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n

The 32-year-old has millions of subscribers on his YouTube channel – Life of Tom. First person to reach one million followers on Twitch, a platform where he would stream whilst playing video games under the name Syndicate.<\/p>\n

After taking a picture with a fan who spotted him leaving with lunch in-hand, he spoke to the Manchester Evening News <\/a>about his life in the village. Much like Margaret, the plan for 440 homes off Apethorn Lane – just down the road – wasn\u2019t far from his mind either.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was born and raised around here and I absolutely love it,\u201d Tom said. \u201cBut I do think it\u2019s going to be hell on earth when the new houses come.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith over 400 new homes, that\u2019s going to be about 800 more cars. Just from a traffic perspective, if the roads were the perfect size and the schools and everything weren\u2019t oversubscribed, I\u2019d be all for it as the plans look great in certain sections.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just don\u2019t think we\u2019re going to be able to handle it at all.<\/p>\n

\u201cGee Cross is the absolute best though, if you look at the history of the area you\u2019ve got all sorts. It\u2019s mint, we\u2019ve got the local fetes we put on, the community and the local pubs we\u2019ve got.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s had a new lease of life with people coming in and setting up businesses here because why would you go to the city centre when there are so many people here now.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe Village Bakery and Sandwich Shop in Gee Cross, Hyde(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got The Village bakery, it\u2019s the best bakery on earth. I come here every Tuesday and Thursday.<\/p>\n

\u201cSarah, who owns the bakery, is lovely and she is smashing it now. Everything seems to be a success here at the moment.\u201cWe\u2019re 20 minutes from the airport, we\u2019re 20 minutes from the train station, 20 minutes from the Trafford<\/a> Centre and then you have an amazing view on the doorstep.\u201d<\/p>\n

Join the Manchester Evening News <\/strong>WhatsApp<\/strong> group <\/strong>HERE<\/a><\/p>\n

Tom now owns a 110 acre farm and has been advised by Caleb Cooper, who gained fame on the hit Prime Video series Clarkson\u2019s Farm, on how best to grow pumpkins. He even spoke about bumping into Ricky Hatton in the gym earlier that morning.<\/p>\n

\"DarrellDarrell Clarke, 70, who has lived in Gee Cross for 30 years(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n

Before getting back to his new farming life, he waved to Darrell Clarke across the street. The joyful interaction between the pair truly showcases the community friendly feeling going on in Gee Cross.<\/p>\n

Stood outside The Dining Room Bistro and Deli with his Manchester Terriers Frankie and Eric, 70-year-old Darrell told the M.E.N<\/a>: \u201cI\u2019ve been here for 30 years. We\u2019ve got Werneth Low country park, so if you\u2019ve got dogs it\u2019s ideal.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a lovely area. But we used to have more than this – we used to have the post office and that\u2019s gone like a few pubs.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt used to have a bit of crime a few years back as well, all to do with drugs in Marple<\/a> and Romiley and it filtered into here.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe bars, cafes and shops along Gee Cross high street in Hyde(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n

\u201cThat seems to have gotten better in recent years, which could be the thing bringing people in.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got a lot of money around here. Ricky Hatton lives down the road, he\u2019s always out and about.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the posh bit of Hyde definitely, million pound houses etc. We have a lot of bars and cafes popping up here and there, which is a positive sign.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a few boy racers around but that\u2019s all you have to deal with really.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"HydeHyde Chapel in Gee Cross(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n

Going back down Stockport Road, along the main strip of bars and shops opposite Hyde Chapel, Matthew McHugh takes time out from his lunchtime dog walk with Rollo to explain why he has just moved to the area. He isn’t shocked about the rise in house prices locally.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbout three or four years ago I bought on King George Road. I did some research at the time and I think mine was the most expensive house on that street for just over \u00a3200k. Some were going for \u00a3190k not too long before when I bought and my valuation has gone up by \u00a37,000 already.<\/p>\n

\"RolloRollo the dog with owner Matthew McHugh(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s close to the Peak district, which is why I love it. I used to live in Romiley but that was too pricey for me.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a lovely area though. Got lots of places along the high street and pubs.\u201d<\/p>\n

He jokes that the atmosphere in the area is much different from Widnes, where he grew up. But he hopes to move to Romiley or Marple Bridge in the future to be closer to where his family now live.<\/p>\n

Stopping across from The Grapes pub on the corner where Wych Fold and Joel Lane meet Stockport Road, Rachel explained why she is making Gee Cross her forever home.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe Grapes pub in Gee Cross, Hyde(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are a lot of amenities with shops, a pharmacy, cafes, takeaways and pubs. The nearest station would be Woodley, which is a bit of a walk away.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the only issue for transport but you can get a bus very easily.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a friendly atmosphere around here and if you’re in a real emergency you can call on your neighbour for help.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been here for 10 years and I like the fact you can get to the countryside quickly. I\u2019m just five minutes from Werneth Low.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got a bit of everything. It has that old school sense of belonging and lots of people have lived here most of their lives.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t shock me that more people are wanting to live here, it\u2019s a vote of confidence for the area. My son went to Manchester Grammar and there was a bus right there from around here so there is quick access to good schools as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I\u2019ll be here forever now, I\u2019ll stay as long as I can unless there is some form of emergency to get me to move.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is nothing else like Gee Cross, it\u2019s not similar to anywhere else.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"House prices have soared in this area over the last two years – and locals know whySignpost in…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":263629,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8813],"tags":[748,393,100710,4884,10585,8829,2465,285,1026,16499,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-263628","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-manchester","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-england","10":"tag-gee-cross","11":"tag-great-britain","12":"tag-hyde-and-longdendale","13":"tag-m-e-n-explore","14":"tag-manchester","15":"tag-politics","16":"tag-tameside","17":"tag-tameside-council","18":"tag-uk","19":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114850370528226219","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/263628","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=263628"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/263628\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/263629"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=263628"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=263628"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=263628"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}