The sleepy market town of Nantwich is known for a few things. In the past, Nantwich was a key manufacturer of cheese, clocks, and leather goods after the manufacturing of salt died down. Tanneries put shoes on the local people from Nantwich’s feet, and it was from these tanneries that the town nickname “Dabber” came about. The local semi-professional football team are known as “The Dabbers” and have reached the first round of the FA Cup on three occasions: losing 0-6 to the MK Dons in 2011, 0-5 away at Stevenage in 2017 before a narrow 0-1 defeat to AFC Fylde in 2019. This season they are currently battling it out at the wrong end of the table in the Northern Premier League. While the football action goes on for most the year, the history of cheese is still celebrated with the annual International Cheese Show in July.

But despite all the dairy, football, and tanning action, there are a few bigger cities in the region with brighter lights and slightly diverse offerings to visit for a day trip or a longer weekend stay. The Dabbers are proud of their town’s history and the near 19,000 build a wonderful community in Cheshire, but there are some things Dabbers miss out on that can be found in cities like Manchester, Liverpool, and Sheffield. Cities that are just a stone’s throw away.

Cash in at a Casino in Manchester

While the local William Hill might offer some virtual horse racing alongside the real racing action and enough accumulators to last you the whole year, Nantwich is lacking in real casino action. The classic games, like roulette, blackjack and poker played on finally carpeted felt tables and rows of slot machines found in the likes of Manchester235, Grosvenor Casino and Genting Casino await any casino enthusiasts as soon as they step off the train at Manchester Piccadilly. You can even warm up for the casino action with an hour of online play on the train at a whole range of online casinos that can be found here. Online casinos even offer more benefits like buy bonus slots and other bonuses that will whet the casino appetite.

Shop until you drop in Sheffield

Despite being overtaken by a few other monsters of shopping malls in the UK over the years, Meadowhall remains one of the biggest shopping centres in the country. While Manchester and Liverpool actually feature higher in the table than Sheffield, Meadowhall is fun for all the family with the mall complex boasting a trampoline park, a bowling clubhouse, a cinema and an arcade to go alongside the shopping. And located just under two hours away by train with tickets starting at £31.40, adults can even enjoy a few drinks with dinner after the kids have tired themselves out.

Kick it in the Kop at Anfield

While Dabbers will be Nantwich and proud, there is no doubting the calibre of football just 50-odd miles up the M6 and M62 in Liverpool. Although Jürgen Klopp’s reign has come to an end, Arne Slot is leading a new red revolution that will welcome Champions League football back to Anfield this season. With the powers of arch-rivals Manchester United seemingly waning, Liverpool are the footballing powerhouse in the North-West. It remains to be seen how far Slot can take Liverpool this season, but with the likes of RB Leipzig, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, and Champions League holders Real Madrid, along with the usual Premier League protagonists coming to Liverpool, a seat in The Kop might be a once in a lifetime opportunity