Out of the Ashes, Cheshire Spirits business fights to rebuild after devastating fire. #News

Saturday was a terrible day for one of our Taste Cheshire members. We metaphorically stood together with our friends Dipple Tipple as they wept watching their business literally go up in smoke.

Here’s What happened…

Saturday morning, Laura, creator, founder, owner of Dipple Tipple & Co woke up happy and excited. Many of you will have met Laura at one of our events, she is regular at Chester Farmer’s Market, Chester Christmas market and the Chester Food and Drink Festival. Her Spirit filled stalls are always popular.

Laura Tippling Moonshine at Christmas

It was looking like it would be a cracking weekend for Dipple Tipple: Fine weather forecast, payday banked for most, and her Tippling team eager to return and earn again in the hustle and bustle of our local artisan markets.

Plus, one of her most popular partner brands had been featured on ‘Dragons’ Den’ that week, so she had enthusiastically booked nine stalls to celebrate their good fortune.

Thermals and market boots back on, Laura set off to the warehouse to load up with stock for Uttoxeter that day and her hometown Treacle Market the next.

Laura has not one but two units and an office in the Armadillo Self Storage unit on Earl Road in Cheadle.

She approached at 5.30am along the back roads of Stanley Green to see a set of flashing lights in the road around the corner. She followed others and made a U-turn – approaching from the dual carriageway instead.

And there was the sight of an inferno… Fire engines surrounding the large storage unit – the home of  Dipple Tipple. All the stock and equipment – including almost 100 wooden crates – gazebos and packaging… All up in flames.

The fire broke out at the Armadillo Self Storage Unit  at around 1 am in the early hours of Saturday morning (26th February 2022).

Crews were greeted by a ‘significant’ and ‘well established’ fire and its height around 20 fire engines and 130 firefighters were involved in the operation to tackle the flames, which sent plumes of thick black smoke billowing over Cheadle and Handforth. Two major roads, the A555 Manchester Airport Eastern Link Road and A34 Handforth Bypass were both closed as a result.

Dipple Tipple is a small local business  which works with local artisan producers of premium spirits and handcrafter liqueurs, bringing their products to a wider marker had only just survived two years of lockdown. Thankfully, they had got back into their happy hour groove with a festive flourish at the wonderful Christmas markets, but all that success was burning before Laura’s eyes.

Why would a complete stranger wilfully destroy another person’s belongings and businesses – and how did it spread so quickly? The personal keepsakes, the treasured items, the house contents, the hard work and the ambitions of enterprise… Was it a vendetta, high jinx, greed, anger?

Who knows? Time will tell. Laura is safe and, thank heavens, no-one was injured.

Everyone’s first natural question is: ‘Will the insurance cover you?’

We honestly don’t know at this moment. Laura is just starting on that journey, but we’ve already learned it’s not going to be straightforward.

Laura and her family are now determined to rebuild. They still have “a van, a laptop, cups of tea and some table cloths” and have been totally overwhelmed with goodwill.

They have greeted with support and flexibility for stock from the small Cheshire businesses they showcase; local event organisers have been supportive rolling forward impossible bookings; sympathetic suppliers are working to near- impossible timeframes; our amazing fellow Cheshire traders are listening – lending and lightening the load – and there has been an abundance of well-wishes from family, friends, customers and followers.

Laura at her kitchen table making plans to rebuild.

Dipple Tipple & Co is a business made up of more than things. Things can – and will eventually – be replaced. The business has not gone up in flames but the value is in their relationships, the teamwork, resilience, creativity, integrity, customer service and character – and Dipple Tipple’s got spirit.

Lots of people are asking how they can support. Here’s how…

You can cheer them on with likes and shares of the Dipple Tipple & Co page – especially when they get the website functioning for sales again  – or pop by and say hello at any one of our markets.

You could help to ‘Build Back One Crate At A Time’ by purchasing gift cards to fund the rebuilding of their stock of wooden crates they use in all their stalls. With a variety of colours and sized crates, they build bars and shelving structures – transforming them into branded stalls that showcase exceptionally delicious drinks.

The show must go on.

Dipple Tipple have two stands booked next week at the Eat, Drink Festival at Olympia, London!

Should you choose to click the link below to buy a crate, as a sincere thank-you, you will receive a ticket from them for this festival – all part of the Ideal Home Show that is running from 11-27 March.

Click here, https://www.crates4you.com/…/laura-dipple-johnstone…