Jack Lyons

Shaun Woodage and Kayleigh Stapleton left careers in finance-sector IT and law to run Bolete, an independent restaurant in Neston that opened under its current name in November 2023. The mainly self-taught chef and former solicitor have built a reputation around seasonal menus, locally sourced fish and meat, sustainable practices and an informal alternative to haute cuisine. Bolete has earned a 4.9 Google rating and recognition from the Good Food Guide, including a place among Britain's 100 best local restaurants. The owners are managing rising demand with controlled bookings and a focus on preserving food and service quality, while planning to expand the small kitchen team.

Essar Energy Transition has secured almost £300 million in financing from NatWest, ABN AMRO and Natixis CIB to improve liquidity and access to funds from fuel receivables. The funding is intended to strengthen Stanlow oil refinery's financial resilience while Essar pursues a £4.3 billion pipeline of UK low-carbon energy projects through 2035, including hydrogen and carbon-capture developments. The company aims to turn the Ellesmere Port site into a major North West energy-transition hub and has described it as potentially the world's first decarbonised oil refinery.