A top-of-the-range tea store was opened by the Deputy Mayor in Macclesfield today.

The Cheshire Tea Company store, situated on 121 Chestergate opposite the Picturedrome, houses over 50 flavours of tea to choose from.

Cllr David Edwardes said "The Town Centre Regeneration Team on Macclesfield Town Council has hugely encouraged businesses such as The Cheshire Tea Company."

"But you can't make bricks without straw. The 'straw' here is the entrepeneurs, the business folk of vision, such as Phil Paton here.

"They saw the possibilities in Macclesfield - a sleeping giant of the town - and have invested heavily in it. We thank them."

Cheshire Tea Company owner Phil Paton (34), who started the business as an online store from his Buxton Road home in 2014, is delighted to open his first ever physical store.

"I'm really excited and pleased that the Deputy Mayor has opened my store," Phil said.

"We've had a great 12 months during COVID, the online sales have gone up by four times in the pandemic. I felt it was the right time to open a store.

"We've been at the Treacle market for years as well, but that was the only chance you could try our tea before you buy.

"But now all the teas that we are selling in the shop are available to drink, in a biodegradable plastic-free takeaway cup as well. "

Phil's store will also sell a smaller range of coffees, sandwiches, and cakes to accompany their large selection of cuppas.

These ingredients will be sourced with Cheshire produce where possible, such as Macclesfield businesses Fruits of the Forage and The Cheshire Cheese Company.

The new store will bring two new jobs to Macclesfield, expanding Phil's business to five employees.

"For the online shop, I have only ever done about 20 flavours of loose leaf tea. But having the physical store means we can have 46 permanent types of tea, and a few extra seasonal varieties that we will rotate as well.

"We sell the products in teabags and pyramid teabags, which are plastic-free compostable bags. We also sell loose-leaf tea in biodegradable packets as well."

"It is not like any tea you've tasted before. We are offering a variety of different flavours which is unseen in Macclesfield."

Their Cheshire Breakfast Blend is their best-selling tea, but their debut physical store will see the company expand into flavours like Liquorice Berry Bon Bon, Russian Caravan, and Moroccan Mint.

The new Cheshire Tea Company building located at Macc's SK11 6DP.

The building used to be Hair By Lindsay hairdressers from 2004 to 2020.

Their website is here.

They also have over 3,000 followers on Facebook @CheshireTeaCo.

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