Celeb chef Nutter launches gastropub with helicopter stunt

Andrew Nutter, recently took on the Bird at Birtle, near Rochdale, Greater Manchester, ploughing more than £1m into refurbishing the pub, which will serve “true gastropub food”.  Doors officially opened to the public on Tuesday (21 June).

The chef-patron flew into the opening party to greet guests including high-profile Manchester chefs Aiden Byrne, owner of Manchester House restaurant and the Church Green, and David Mooney of the New Moon Company.

TV soap stars Antony Cotton from Coronation Street​ and Kieron Richardson of Hollyoaks​ and former Rochdale councillor Karen Danczuk were also in attendance.

Ugly duckling​

Nutter told the Manchester Evening News​: “[The pub has] gone from a real ugly duckling to the way it is now. To watch it grow and evolve with the help of a team of local contractors is such a credit to everyone involved.”

Dishes on offer at the Bird at Birtle include confit duck leg with frisée salad, cured bacon, Parmentier potatoes and garlic croutons; beer-battered sole with hand-cut chips, mushy peas and lemon; and braised lamb shoulder with potato dauphinoise.

Nutter, who also owns Nutters Restaurant, near Norden, Rochdale, trained at several high-end establishments including the Savoy, London, before going on to write two books and making regular appearances on television shows including Ready Steady Cook​ and his own series Utter Nutter​.

Expletive-ridden tirade​

Earlier this year, the chef launched an expletive-ridden tirade at a TripAdvisor reviewer who labelled his restaurant “overrated” and complained the driveway was “snowy and slushy”.

He tweeted: “S***Advisor review of Nutters – car park was snowy/slushy and slippy! Get a f***ing grip, it had snowed!”