A new pizzeria is slated to open in Stockport – but it has a somewhat unexpected attitude.
Waltzing Matilda was founded by father and son Paul and Chris Edwards and takes shape on a canal boat moored on the Macclesfield Canal.
The floating restaurant travels up and down the waterway between Stockport and Cheshire and positions itself in a different location every weekend.
The menu features authentic Neapolitan-style pizzas cooked in a wood-burning oven on board the boat.
The Waltzing Matilda will operate between Stockport and Cheshire
(Image: Supplied)
As soon as the roadmap allows, there will be room for customers to eat inside – but not much room.
Due to the nature of the narrow boat, Waltzing Matilda can only serve eight guests at a time, making it one of the most intimate restaurants in the region.
Instead, the main business area will be a takeout, where pizzas will be served to people on the towpath through a hatch on the side of the boat.
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On the subject of matching items
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On the subject of matching items
Chris said, “It’s very small, it’s not a huge venue, but you can sit and watch the kitchen in action.
“We had people who called us and wanted to book for 30 and it’s like ‘no chance!’
“We’d love to sit outside on the towpath if it works well in warmer weather.”
Coffee and cake are also served
(Image: Supplied)
The Waltzing Matilda, which Chris named after his niece, also offers a selection of coffee and cake in a cafe style.
He is working with his father to get the boat ready and plans to open the store in May.
As a trained chef who has worked in New Zealand and at the Hilton and Albert’s Castle in Manchester for years, Chris develops a menu with authentic Italian pizzas.
The dough is made with just four ingredients and tested for 48 hours before topping it with San Marzano tomatoes and Fior de Latte mozzarella.
Prices range from £ 6 to £ 10.
The father and son duo are working on converting the boat into a restaurant
(Image: James Nicholas www.jamesnicholasphotography.com)
The boat sails between Whaley Bridge and Mossley Locks and visits towns such as Bollington, Marple and Poynton along the canal.
Chris said, “We’re going to post where we are on Facebook and hopefully people plan to see us and take a little trip out of it.”
The couple got the idea over a cup of tea during the lockdown.
“My father lived on a canal boat for about four years,” said Chris.
“We were having a cup of tea and he mentioned that he wanted to open a café on the canal.
“I’m a cook. When we saw a barge for sale, we built on that idea and went for it.
“It’s really exciting to be able to do something different and build relationships with communities. It’s very exciting.”
The Waltzing Matilda will post details of their route on their Facebook page every week and plans to open somewhere along the Macclesfield Canal in May.
