Pair that brought Macclesfield The Picturedrome have been awarded MBEs
By Alex Greensmith
13th Jan 2024 | Local News
The people that brought The Picturedrome to Macclesfield have been awarded MBEs.
Jen and Nick Thompson have been recognised by King Charles III in his New Year's Honours List.
Four-and-a-half years ago they opened The Picturedrome on Chestergate, revitalising the building of a former Macclesfield cinema.
The Picturedrome contains independent bars, food vendors and a gift shop.
Before The Picturedrome, Nick and Jen had breathed new life into an old meat market in Manchester, now known as Mackie Mayor with a similar concept. And in 2011, they came up with their idea to reinvent Altrincham Market, which was the first project under their company name Market Operations.
It is this indie trader ethos that has remained a constant with Nick and Jen throughout their lives, and has led to this Royal recognition.
When the news first broke, Nick and Jen said: "It's been one of the most exciting and rewarding periods in our lives and a delight to spend so much time amongst so many talented people. For that to be recognised by an honour each, is a privilege."
This week, Macclesfield Nub News (MNN) spoke with Nick and Jen Thompson of Market Operations (M0) for a more in-depth chat on what this means for their future, and indeed The Picturedrome in Macclesfield.
MNN: Hi Jen, Hi Nick, many congratulations on your MBE's in the King's New Year's honours list for services to Business and to the Food Sector. How did you find out about the news?
MO: We both received an official looking letter in the post. Nick thought it was a speeding fine and saw that I had the same letter. It was marked 'Cabinet Office' on the outside so we figured it must've been more important than that.
MNN: In effect, this MBE is a Royal Seal of Approval for your regeneration model. What does this recognition this mean for the future of hospitality and our town centres?
MO: We've always said that food carries with it massive cultural and economic power with the capacity for transformational change. It's desperately underestimated by governments and even those in the industry. Nick moved from the world of property into food in the belief that change could be effected by curating people in the food arena at fraction of the costs and much more quickly than in the property world.
MNN: The Picturedrome turns five this year. Will you be planning anything big to celebrate it?
MO: Unbelievable isn't it? Although we have technically only really traded for three of those at full capacity thanks to Covid. We're not big on birthdays but it's five years at Picturedrome and ten at Mackie, so who knows!
MNN: What would you like to say to the people of Macclesfield who have supported not just The Picturedrome, but Altrincham Market, Mackie Mayor, and The Nags Head in Haughton, Tarporley?
MO: We're in awe of the support we've received from a very loyal customer base. We'd be nothing without their support and patronage.
We've always tried to stay out of the limelight with all our places because we've always seen them as everyone's and not ours, especially with the independent stars that run the bars and the kitchens in each venue who have been loyal to us on this adventure.
I think in Macc the audience is very special - it's Nick's favourite (although we shouldn't have favourites) and Macc is a very special town with so many creative people and liberal minds. People of Macc we love you!
MNN: How many people do you hire across the four sites?
MO: We employ over 200 people now… which is a lot! They are universally a great bunch which makes us very lucky. A lot have worked with us for 10 years and we find that we tend to attract like-minded people who get on.
MNN: What is in Market Operations' plans for 2024?
MO: The last four years have been unquestionably the most difficult conditions we've experienced in business in over 40 years. It's been a constant uphill battle. We need to try and stabilise and consolidate tbh. The economic challenges mean that we have had to adjust our horizons.
This government seems to have abandoned enterprise, entrepreneurs and made it very difficult to exist. In the post-Brexit economy, independent enterprise should have been a key plank of an economic strategy celebrates regional identity, fosters independents and stimulates growth.
We have nothing that recognises that or nothing that looks like an economic development strategy. Stabilisation is the main priority now, in the hope that this economic storm will eventually begin to pass.
MNN: Thank you for speaking with Macc Nub today. Is there anything else you'd like to add?
MO: Only thanks for all the support from Nub News. As Tony Wilson used to say 'Venceremos'.
2024 will be a big year for Market Operations. Macclesfield's The Picturedrome will turn five years old in October. Elsewhere Nick, Jen and their team will continue to grow their latest project The Nags Head, which they aim to be the best pub in Britain.
In a statement posted on their social media, The Picturedrome Macclesfield said: "We're delighted to announce news that Jenny and Nick - two of the folk behind @altymarket's renaissance, @mackiemayor in Manchester, @picturedromemacc in Macc and @nagsheadhaughton in Haughton both received MBE's in the King's New Year's honours list for services to Business and to the Food Sector.
"A big shout out from them to all the people that have been an integral part of the adventure that has nurtured so many new businesses that have flourished, employed so many young, talented and creative people and all those customers and believers who have followed and supported the journey and been part of the story over the last ten years."
The Picturedrome is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 10pm, and Sunday from 9am to 6pm.
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