Linden Stores: the Knutsford bistro with a big community heart

Knutsford is a town that takes pride in its independents, and this year one in particular has been singled out for going the extra mile. Linden Stores, the relaxed bistro run by Chris Boustead and Laura Christie, has won the Business Award at the Knutsford Town Awards 2026.

The awards are organised by Knutsford Town Council and sponsored by the Forum of Private Business, and they celebrate the people and organisations that make the town a thriving community. Linden Stores was recognised not only as a successful business, but for actively supporting and taking part in community events and backing local wellbeing initiatives alongside organisations such as The Men's Shed and Stable Minds.

That commitment has been visible throughout the year. When the Mayor of Knutsford launched a series of fundraising events in support of local charities, including Men's Shed Knutsford, Linden Stores hosted a special Dine with the Mayor evening in June.

Behind the bistro is a couple with serious culinary credentials. Laura, who runs front of house, and Chris, the head chef, met in London in 2011, where both worked for some of the capital's most exciting restaurants. In 2017 they opened the original Linden Stores in Islington, before bringing the name to Cheshire.

In Knutsford, Linden Stores has become known as an intimate, relaxed bistro in the centre of town, with the couple's son Ollie occasionally lending a hand. Its chef's menu has caught the attention of local food writers, and the atmosphere is very much that of a family-run neighbourhood restaurant rather than a formal dining room.

Independent restaurants of this kind are a big part of what gives Knutsford its character. Alongside its boutiques, cafés and historic streets, the town's food scene draws visitors from across the North West, and businesses that also invest time in local causes help keep that community spirit alive.

It is a business that shows how a restaurant can be about more than what is on the plate. By opening its doors to good causes and getting stuck in with local groups, Linden Stores has earned its place at the heart of the town, and a well-deserved award to prove it.

Linden Stores is in the centre of Knutsford. Find menus and booking details at lindenstores.co.uk.