“Our future’s looking bright” – Sale cocktail bar Dutch Courage to celebrate second birthday with ‘house favourite’ cocktails and music

It’s safe to say that for new hospitality businesses, the last two years of trading have been somewhat of a baptism of fire. Just ask the team behind Dutch Courage, the stylish cocktail bar on Sale’s School Road that opened its doors for the first time in September 2020. 

When Dan and Rachel Cookson took over the unit earlier that year, they couldn’t have predicted the impact of the pandemic – nor the seemingly ever-changing lockdowns and restrictions put in place by the government. But they never considered giving up – and this weekend, they will be rewarded for their commitment to the project as the bar celebrates its second birthday with an extravagant party.

We caught up with Dutch Courage’s general manager, Aidan Royle, to discuss the bar’s journey so far – and its future in Sale. 

It’s a huge achievement to reach your second birthday after the past two years – what do you think sets Dutch Courage apart from its competitors in Sale?

“Business-wise, we’re pretty different to other places in Sale, and that’s entirely on purpose. From day one, we’ve offered table service; we want customers to be able to walk in, sit down and start enjoying their night straightway, without having to queue at the bar for drinks. I think that really sets us apart from others.” 

“Since opening, we’ve been lucky enough to get to know a good group of regulars, some of whom come in two-three times a week. They are looking for the high level of service we provide and we now know them on a personal level and understand what it is they are looking for.”   

Is the Sale you see now different to the one you saw when you joined the team in 2020? 

“For sure; my perspective of the area has changed. I don’t live in Sale and didn’t really visit before I joined Dutch Courage. However, we knew that the redevelopment of Stanley Square was happening and we now see a lot more traffic coming from Altrincham way – something that didn’t happen much even a year or so ago.” 

“But we’re not complacent, who knows what’s going to happen in the area over the next year and beyond? For us, 2022 is the first year we’ve actually had our doors fully open without government restrictions in place, so over the next 12 months we are looking at settling in and constantly thinking about what we can do to keep things fresh. We know we don’t have a guarantee that people will come through the door, especially as competition has increased in the area since we first opened, so we will be working really hard to make sure we’re delivering what people are looking for.” 

Where’s the party at? 

Dutch Courage, the cocktail lovers’ favourite Sale haunt, is marking its second birthday on Saturday 24th September with a night of huge celebration. 

“We’re going to bring back some house favourites for one night only”, said Aidan. 

“Those will be cocktails that we’re proud of and that regulars ask us for even after we’ve updated our menu. Usually we operate on a ‘once it’s gone, it’s gone’ policy, but for one night only we’re going to bring back the favourites.”  

“Music’s obviously a huge part of the atmosphere here, so we’ll be partnering with a local DJ to ensure customers can dance the night away and help us celebrate this special occasion.” 

“Our second birthday party will be a fantastic opportunity to show that we’ve made it through all the lockdowns, the tier system and the battle with outside seating in winter in Greater Manchester. Our doors are still very much open and the next 12 months are looking bright for us.”

“After a tough couple of years and despite the rising cost of living that everybody is experiencing right now, I really think now’s a time for us to start feeling more optimistic about the future.” 

Join Aidan and the team at Dutch Courage for their second birthday celebrations on Saturday 24th September. The bar is open until 12.30am. Head down for some stellar drinks and guaranteed good times to celebrate Dutch Courage’s second birthday in style.

Dutch Courage, 19C School Road, Sale M33 7XX

All images in this article by Ailsa Bee Photography.