A Kickstarter campaign to open a restaurant and cocktail bar in a historic Macclesfield venue has launched.

The couple behind The Copper Room are asking for the community's help to turn their plans into a reality.

Husband and wife team Rick Armstrong (40) and Amy Armstrong (32) hope to turn the iconic Charles Roe House on Chestergate into a high quality restaurant and cocktail bar.

Kickstarter works by offering a range of rewards that supporters who would love to dine at The Copper Room can choose to purchase in advance.

These include lunch or dinner for tables of up to 6 people, overnight stays at the attached Airbnb, tickets to the opening party and more.

The Copper Room, which launched on Kickstarter one week ago, has already £10,000 raised of the £40,000 stretch goal.

If the campaign is successful, each backer will be contacted to book their table and can then look forward to enjoying a meal in the brand new restaurant without a bill to pay at the end.

New Macclesfield businesses Forrest Distillery and Flour Water Salt have run very successful Kickstarter campaigns in recent years.

The money will kick-off the cashflow for the business and will be used to turn the café into a cocktail bar, install till and booking systems, fully stock the kitchen and bar for the first time, employ the new team and pay for the backers first meal at the gorgeous premises.

Macc backers can pre-book tables for lunch and dinner courses, at £25, £50 and £100 tiers.

The couple, who first met working in hospitality in Wilmslow, moved to Macc five years ago. They live with their son Marcus (2).

Chef Rick spoke to Macclesfield Nub News to tell us what The Copper Room has to offer.

He said: "Everything will be cooked fresh. We will use local produce everywhere possible.

"Obviously Macclesfield doesn't have a coast but we will be using Macclesfield seafood suppliers who source their fresh fish from the English coastline and have it ready to supply restaurants by the very next morning.

"We will of course have options for vegans and vegetarians, but primarily this will be a steak and seafood restaurant.

"It is not going to be microportions. It will be excellent quality food cooked beautifully, serviced in an intimate setting with great music and attentive staff.

"Tip-top service from start to finish is absolutely key for us. We've put it as a tagline [for the Kickstarter and the business] that every single guest is a VIP and will feel like a VIP."

The pair previously served a pop-up menu at the Grade II Star-listed building in March 2020, in the weeks before the first lockdown.

It was during the pandemic that Rick, a chef who has catered many private events across Cheshire and Amy, a training Sommelier and Restaurant Manager, decided to turn The Copper Room into a permanent top-of-the-range bar and eatery.

"The owners of the building have treated us excellently," added Rick.

"They have been so supportive and love every idea we've had,"

"They used to have Pinches Medical service on the top floor, and a café on the ground floor. The middle floor is already perfectly set up as a stunning dining room with a fully fitted professional kitchen."

The 18th century home was built by Charles Roe, a major industrialist and a big player in Macclesfield.

He built Macc's big Anglican Christ Church, and was the Mayor of Macclesfield from 1747 to 1748.

The silk mill owner would also own copper mines, and would line the hulls of his ships with copper to improve their speed.

"It was important for us to preserve the heritage of the building for the owners, our history, and the people of Macclesfield," added Rick.

"All of the fixtures and fittings in The Copper Room are copper.

"The wood on the walls are also some of the panels from his historic ships.

"It has been very carefully and painstakingly restored to honour the memory of Charles Roe."

The restaurant will seat 20 people upstairs, and there will be a separate cocktail bar downstairs, the two are linked by a beautiful red carpeted sweeping staircase.

If the Kickstarter goal is exceeded, any extra funds will be used to convert the outdoor space at the side of Charles Roe House into a large heated terrace, perfect for enjoying a meal or drinks.

"If we don't make the Kickstarter goal, the restaurant won't happen - it is as simple as that," said the chef with over two decades experience.

"Every time we get a message of support it moves Amy and I almost to tears. These people may not know us, they've just seen our product and believed in it.

"We are going to turn financial backers into loyal customers who are going to tell everyone about it.

"We just want people to feel very comfortable in our place. It is by the people of Macclesfield and for the people of Macclesfield."

Kickstarter works on an all or nothing basis and there are three weeks left to reach the target. No one is charged for any pledge they make unless the restaurant reaches its goal on the final day of the campaign.

You can back the young foodie family on the crowdfunding website.

The Copper Room is also on Facebook.

Rick and Amy will be at the Treacle Market this Sunday, ready to meet local supporters who they hope will help them to spread the word.

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