A former chef from Oldham who kickstarted his own Caribbean takeout service has officially opened a kitchen in a pub in Audenshaw - right on time for the Easter bank holiday.

Starting in the pandemic, ex-Havey Nichols chef, Patrick Smith, started selling "mouth-watering" Caribbean food from his own home.

Within a matter of months, Caribbean Kitchen Oldham proved a hit with Oldhamers and TikTok reviewers alike.

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Though after three years of business success, the popular takeaway closed towards the end of 2022 and moved its operations to Yaardies in Manchester in the summer.

However, residents were delighted when it came back to Oldam in February this year, calling it "fantastic news" and "happy days".

Also celebrating its return was Liam Peet, a TikTok food reviewer otherwise known as Peetyscranz, who described the food as "fantastic", "sensational" and "cooked to perfection".

The Caribbean Kitchen Oldham Facebook page now has more than 3,400 followers as Patrick's dishes are delivered all across the borough - and beyond.

However, since recent changes to the company's delivery service provider, the company has been searching for a new home which can help it meet its surge in demand.

Kate Mudriczki, business owner at The Snipe pub in Audenshaw, saw this as an opportunity that was "too good to miss".

The Snipe had been looking for a great food partner to begin to offer food to the pub’s clientele.

Since taking over the pub as a business partner with Robinsons Brewery, Kate has been working hard to establish The Snipe as a welcoming and friendly community pub, offering activities for all the family throughout the year.

She found offering food was the last part of this puzzle.

Kate said: "The Snipe is now a community family-friendly pub and over the last two years we’ve been working hard to achieve this.

"We’ve been working really hard to make it a community hub for everyone and food has been missing.

"We’re really excited that we’re going to be in partnership with the Caribbean Kitchen.

"I feel we’re both in the same stage of our businesses and working together with Patrick, I believe we’ll be able to help each other grow to the next level.

"We’ve tried and tested the food ourselves and it’s delicious, it's ethical and it's homemade.

"Most of all, we believe our customers are going to love it, with something for everyone."

Now, the authentic Jamaican dishes will be available to order and eat from the pub as of Thursday, March 28, this week - right on time for the Easter bank holiday weekend.

A sneak peek preview of the menu shows diners can tuck into a traditional meal of jerk chicken, peppered steak, curry chicken, curry goat, fried chicken or oxtail, with rice and peas for £15.

The kitchen will also serve up some 'flava favourites', including a jerk chicken burger, loaded fries and jerk lamb chops, costing between £13 to £16.50.

Jamaican sides, including dumplings and plantain, plus light bites such as wings and chops, can also be grabbed from the kitchen for as little as £2.50 up to £7.

Alternatively, customers can build a DIY 'munch box', with any two meats from the main menu, any two sides and rice, peas and fries for £26.

The new location for the company allows people to sit down and dine out for the first time, as Caribbean Kitchen Oldham was just a delivery service before, though customers can still place orders online and over the phone for home deliveries.

Kate added: “We hope that by extending our pub’s opening hours people will visit the pub to enjoy some really great fresh home-cooked food.

"For the existing regulars of Patrick’s, the opportunity to travel to the pub to enjoy his food means they can still get their Caribbean fix.

"But, of course, for those who do enjoy dining in their own homes, the delivery service should reach them too."

The new menu will be available from The Snipeevery Tuesday to Sunday, from 12pm until 8pm.

If you have a story, I cover all things Oldham from food reviews and local business news to music and events, pubs, education, crime, property, health, community concerns and much more. Please email me at Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk or send me a message on Twitter @Livbridge with your news.