Hannah Wintle

Monton locals unite to reimburse clown’s stolen Easter donations

Children’s entertainer Louby Lou held an Easter event for children at Monton Unitarian Church on Thursday 17 April
Money from the donations pot appeared to have been stolen when it was recovered at the end of the event
Members of the Monton Chat Facebook group sought to restore Louby Lou’s lost earnings via online donations

Monton locals have been left shocked after learning that a children’s clown and entertainer had her donations stolen during an Easter-themed event for children at Monton Unitarian Church on Thursday.

Lucy Wilkinson, 44, who performs for children as clown ‘Louby Lou’ at local events, said she was ‘blown away’ by the generosity of the Monton community after the news of the theft was posted in the Monton Chat group on Facebook.

The event invited children and parents from the local area into the church for some Easter-themed fun, and a donation pot positioned by the entrance had collected an estimated £20 in notes and coins for the performer.

However, when Church Secretary Pam Ward-Speers arrived to lock up the church at the end of the event and return the pot to Wilkinson, it was discovered that most of the donations had been stolen.

“I was quite shocked, but I was quite upset as well,” Pam said. “It’s not the sort of thing that we want to happen when they’re coming to our church.

“We want people to feel safe at church, and we don’t want to think that there are people around, especially when there are young children around, that might not be honest, so it was upsetting for us as well.”

Louby Lou also expressed her disbelief: “I love Monton, I love all the people here. I was more gobsmacked that it had happened in a church. I was just like, wow.”

In her upset, Pam took to Facebook to alert the local community of what had happened, writing: “The children had a lovely time with [Louby Lou] and the Easter Bunny – it was such a shame for it to end this way.”

Soon after posting, offers of donations started being made in the comments, and it became clear that Monton locals were keen to show their support in the wake of an upsetting situation.

One commenter wrote: “How can we help? Let us know if a fund is set up,” while several others agreed that they were ‘happy to contribute’.

Upon seeing the offers of help, Pam approached Rev. Anna Jarvis who suggested that donations could be made via the church’s website and subsequently passed on to Louby Lou.

“I’m blown away by it. I really am,” said Louby Lou. “The comments that I saw, I was like, wow, this is just melting my heart of people who have come together and contributed. There are good people around, there really are.

“Mine and Rev. Anna’s mantra to each other is ‘love always wins’, and it does. It really, really does, and it’s proved it here. So there’s always a positive twist that comes out of everything, every day.”

Pam added: “In times of need and in times of crisis, we come together as a community, and it’s just amazing. It is just a beauty. It’s just a beautiful thing to be part of that community.

Pam has since confirmed that the online contributions have more than reimbursed Louby Lou’s lost donations, and that the ordeal has underscored the Monton community’s resilience and generosity.

She said: “Thank you to everybody who commented and donated, and just for all the encouragement and the love and support that people gave. It meant so much.”

The 60 for 60, Inside the M60: George Frewer leads 60km challenge for Movember

Monton local George Frewer will be leading a 60km run over two days to raise money for men’s health charity Movember
George is a passionate ambassador for Movember after experiencing mental health struggles during COVID-19
Donations and participation in the Movember running events are welcomed and encouraged

In a powerful initiative to raise awareness and funds for mental health and suicide prevention, Monton local George Frewer will lead a dedicated team on “The 60 for 60, Inside the M60” challenge on 30 November and 1 December.

This effort, in support of Movember, will involve two days of running and walking to draw a giant number 60, inside the M60 in Manchester, symbolising the tragic statistic that 60 men die by suicide every hour globally.

George’s Movember challenge in 2022

Using Strava, the team will create a massive “60” on the streets of Greater Manchester, drawing attention to the urgent need for action and support in mental health.

The almost 60km route takes the team to Swinton, Eccles, Old Trafford, Chorlton, Ardwick, Clayton, Middleton, Heaton Park, Cheetham Hill and Manchester City Centre.

“We are committed to making a difference and supporting Movember’s incredible work in mental health and suicide prevention,” George said.

“This challenge is more than just a physical feat; it’s a statement that we need to change the narrative around men’s mental health and provide the support they need.”

George, 48, is a leader of Monton Runners, and has also organised a Movember themed 5km run and fundraiser this evening with the local running group this evening (25 Nov).

Earlier this month, a couple of members of Monton Runners, including George, also participated in the Mo Running Liverpool half marathon.

From left to right: George Frewer, James Broadbent, and Matthew Godfrey of Monton Runners at the Mo Running Liverpool event on 16 November

Having struggled with his own mental health during the COVID-19 lockdowns, and seeing many of his friends and family going through the same thing, George applied to become a Movember Ambassador in 2020 to increase his involvement with the cause and make a difference.

He said: “I was lucky in that I managed to talk to two friends in particular and that helped me enormously. By walking with one and playing golf with the other, conversations happened and I was able to help myself through it.

“But too many people, men particularly, still feel there’s a stigma about opening up and talking about their struggles and feelings.”

How you can help

Now, George and his team are calling on the community to join them in this crucial cause by contributing to their fundraising efforts.

Every donation, no matter the size, will make a significant impact in helping Movember continue their vital work in mental health and suicide prevention.

To get involved, you can:

Donate: Visit https://mobro.co/big-george to contribute directly to the cause
Spread the Word: Share George’s story and fundraising efforts on social media to help reach a wider audience
Join the Challenge: If you’re in the Manchester area, you can join George for part of the “The 60 for 60, Inside the M60” run and walk to show your support

“Together, we can make a difference and save lives.”

For more information on how to get involved or to donate, please contact George Frewer at gfrewer@gmail.com or 07824415410.

Monton Runners ‘take over’ Worsley Woods parkrun

Monton Runners members volunteered at Worsley Woods parkrun on 19 October
The group wanted to give back to the local running community
New members of all abilities are welcome, say the group’s leadership

Local running group Monton Runners held a parkrun takeover at yesterday’s (19 October) Worsley Woods event, with 20 members volunteering in a bid to give back to the running community.

Organised by one of Monton Runners’ leaders, Chris Pickering, the volunteers helped 390 runners, joggers, and walkers cross the finish line.

Of 33 total volunteers, 16 were first timers, and took on roles such as barcode scanning, funnel management, dispensing finish tokens, and course marshalling.

Chris, 36, who has been running for around 15 years, said: “There are quite a few of us from Monton Runners who go to parkrun fairly religiously, and even though some have volunteered before, a lot of us hadn’t.

“I thought it was time to give back to a community which serves us so well. We also run regularly on the loopline – it’s our local parkrun, so it had to be Worsley Woods that we chose.”

Monton Runners was established in December 2023 by Joel Shelvin, who wanted to create a ‘fun, free, and friendly’ running club that was accessible to all, regardless of ability.

Now, there are nine leaders who help to organise runs, with over 60 active members. “Anyone is welcome any week.” Chris added.

“It’s really important to us at Monton Runners that everyone is included, so although we have some really experienced and fast runners, we also make sure that every run has a tail runner to ensure that everyone feels welcome, no matter their ability or experience.”

“Monton Runners is continuously growing, and letting everyone at parkrun know that we are here was another reason for wanting to do the takeover.”
Chris Pickering

Monton Runners member and first-time parkrun volunteer Imogen Mayo, 24, said that for her, it was important to ‘do her bit’ and give back to the running community.

After getting into long-distance running during COVID, Imogen said: “Moving to Manchester from Liverpool, I didn’t really know anyone in the area so used the club as a way to meet people.

“I’ve been made to feel really welcome and included. I love the diversity of ages and abilities and always leave a session feeling fulfilled.”

George Frewer, 48, started running at 40 and explained that for him, running long distances is about peace and headspace.

He said: “I’m an occasional parkrunner and have done Worsley Woods a good number of times, as well as occasionally volunteering. I wanted to be part of the takeover as it’s very important to me to give back my time, and doing it with the gang is the perfect opportunity.”

George added that, as a leader of Monton Runners who joined the group in February, he has found the other runners to be ‘really supportive’ on runs when he hasn’t felt at is best physically or mentally.

“On days when I don’t really fancy it, the motivation to help others and run with those who are at the start of their running journey makes it worthwhile. I didn’t know I needed a running club in my life, but I am so thankful that I do.”

Another volunteer was Jess Pounder, 33, who grew up in Monton before moving to Bolton at 25. After completing Couch to 5K last year, she joined Monton Runners in Summer.

“I always thank the parkrun volunteers and the events couldn’t go ahead without them,” Jess said. “I wanted to give back.”

She described her experience with Monton Runners as being ‘very supportive’, and enjoys being able to talk to people on runs, meet people of different fitness levels, as well as feeling encouraged to continue in her running journey.

“Monton Runners has improved my running and my social life!”
Jess Pounder

Now, the leaders of Monton Runners are keen to welcome more members to the club for their runs, hikes, and social outings.

The group meets every Monday at 19:15 for a 5k run, starting and ending at Malt Dog on Monton Road, where many of the runners stay for a social drink afterwards.

Longer runs are held on Thursday evenings at 19:00, with the option to run a faster-paced 10k, or a shorter route often between 6-8k at a more relaxed pace.

Many of the runners have also signed up to complete the Great Manchester Run in May 2025, which for many of the members will be their first half marathon. On the run up to the event, the group will be supporting with training and getting up to distance.

Chris concluded: “Organisations like Parkrun and Monton Runners are so important in local communities. There are obvious benefits for your health, but the thing that has stood out for me since I joined the group in March is the social aspect.

“Although I’ve ran for years, I’ve never enjoyed it more and that is because of the supportive network we have curated. I knew no one when I started, and now I have a huge number of people motivating and supporting me – not just with running but in every aspect of my life!”

To get in touch with Monton Runners, they are contactable on Facebook or Instagram.

“Own Your Oddity”: TV and film acting school to nurture local young talent

Oddity Acting opened in Salford on 7 September, offering TV and film acrting classes for children and teens
Founders Sherelle and Annalise focus on acting techniques and audition skills
Classes are held at All Hallows RC High School, priced at £12 per session or £48 for a four-week block

A new drama school, Oddity Acting, opened its doors in Salford on Tuesday 3 September, offering young people in the area a chance to develop their TV and film acting skills.

Founded by actors Sherelle, 31, and Annalise, 26, the school aims to provide an accessible platform for aspiring actors in Salford, a community the pair believes is underserved in terms of opportunities for drama training.

Sherelle, an experienced actor and casting assistant, alongside Annalise, who has worked in theatre, film, and casting, formed Oddity Acting to offer more focused opportunities for children and teens.

While both founders have extensive experience working in casting, their shared passion for youth development drove them to create a space where young people could explore their talents.

“There are a lot of musical theatre schools where they focus on singing, dancing, that sort of thing, but when I was growing up, I really wanted to do just acting, but I felt like there wasn’t that much opportunity to do that,” Annalise said, explaining her motivation behind starting the school.

“We felt we could use our skills from being actors and casting assistants to really help nurture local talent.”

Both Sherelle and Annalise have worked with children extensively, casting young actors for commercials, video games, and films, and running workshops in schools.

Sherelle said: “We see great actors from their reels or what their agents give us, but when it comes to self tape auditions or in person castings, I guess sometimes you can tell if they’ve not really had a lot of experience with that, or it can be quite nerve wracking for them, which is completely understandable. So we really just want to give them the opportunity to build confidence in that area.”

There is a strong community focus at the heart of Oddity Acting

Oddity Acting will be based at All Hallows RC High School, chosen for its accessibility to young people from Salford and surrounding areas.

The founders emphasised the importance of offering something community-based, particularly in the wake of cuts to arts funding and drama programmes in schools.

While Sherelle noted opportunities in the area through hubs such as MediaCity, she also acknowledged that this could be intimidating for young people: “Sometimes you do just want something that’s more in your community that’s accessible and feels like something that actually you could go to.”

The school will offer classes tailored for different age groups, and each class will focus on acting techniques such as improvisation, character building, and script analysis, with practical experience in front of the camera.

Students will also have the chance to participate in mock castings and work on self-tapes, drawing on Sherelle and Annalise’s experience in casting.

Additionally, Oddity Acting will produce a short films with students, simulating the process of a professional film production. Students will audition for roles, go through rehearsals, and shoot the film, which will then be screened for their families and friends.

The school abides by its motto: ‘Own Your Oddity’

The school’s motto, “Own Your Oddity,” reflects the founders’ mission to embrace individuality and foster confidence in young performers.

Sherelle explained: “The reason why we chose that is because to call someone an oddity can seem negative, but we’re all about embracing who you are.

“That’s what makes you unique, and that is also your greatest asset, and especially in performing arts and in acting, TV and film.

“We’re all about just really embracing who you are, whoever you are, and just welcome everyone in a safe, supportive environment to build confidence, make friends, and ultimately work on the acting.”

The first classes began on Saturday 7 September following successful workshops throughout the summer.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ODDITY ACTING (@oddityacting)

The pair are offering classes on Tuesdays at 18:00-19:30 for 10-14 year-olds, and Saturdays at 10:00-11:30 for 8-11 year-olds, and 11:45-13:15pm for 12-15 year-olds. Classes for 15-18 year-olds will be introduced in the future.

Sessions will run in four-week blocks, with each class costing £12 per session, or £48 for the full block. Although spaces are still available, the founders report growing interest from local families.

Sherelle and Annalise believe Oddity Acting can fill a vital gap in Salford’s creative scene, with Annalise adding: “Acting is just a great way to build confidence and make new friends and just general life skills.

“But also, for those that want to pursue acting further, we believe we’ve got the experience in front of camera and behind to give them the insights into the process and help with their confidence.”

The school ultimately aims to create a supportive environment where children and teenagers can not only improve their acting abilities, but also build friendships and discover new passions.

As Salford’s media landscape continues to evolve, Oddity Acting strives to provide the first steps for many local young people as they work towards an acting career in the film and television industry.

[VIDEO] “Monton, keep supporting events like this!”: The Monton Summer Mingle proves hit amongst locals

The Monton Summer Mingle was hosted by the MVCA and Monton Unitarian Church on Saturday 6 July
Monton locals enjoyed market stalls, fairground rides, and entertainment throughout the day
The community is urged to keep supporting future events

The Monton Summer Mingle welcomed locals for a day of festivities on Saturday 6 July.

The event, which was hosted jointly by the Monton Village Community Association (MVCA) and Monton Unitarian Church, opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony with Reverend Anna Jarvis, before locals were welcomed onto the church grounds.

A fairground on the site of the former Boddan Lodge proved a hit amongst the community, as did numerous market stalls selling handmade crafts, local produce, and refreshments.

Following the success of the event, Marie Hargreaves’s, Monton Mingle Lead at the MVCA, urged locals to keep supporting these events and the local businesses in Monton.

Debbie Reeves, owner of the Garden Bar, headline sponsor of the event, also praised Monton for its community spirit, and alluded to the possibility of market-style events in the restaurant in future.

See more about how the day unfolded below:

[VIDEO] ‘Monton in Bloom’: Emma Evans Art Gallery exhibits Monton-inspired art

Monton locals were invited to Emma Evans Art Gallery for the ‘Monton in Bloom’ art preview
The collection takes inspiration from the cherry blossom trees on Monton Green
Violinist Elijah Chan played for guests in his UK performance debut

Emma Evans invited Monton locals along to preview her newest art collection, ‘Monton in Bloom’, in her Art Gallery above Wandering Palate last Monday evening.

The pieces, many of which are inspired by Monton’s cherry blossom trees, featured lots of bright colours and uplifting messages.

The Leeds-born artist expressed a love for Monton, where she and husband Will now call home and run their wine and charcuterie shop, Wandering Palate.

“A lot of my work is bright and colourful and that really represents the community in Monton.”

In her quest to bring more creativity to Monton, Emma also hosts life drawing sessions in the gallery space on the first Tuesday of every month.

The artist also invited Hong-Kong-born Elijah Chan to play violin as guests perused the collection.

His first performance in the UK, Elijah described the event as ‘relaxing’, and the ‘perfect’ opportunity for musicians.

Looking to the future, Emma plans to open up the gallery space to more local artists to showcase their work.

She said: “I want the walls to be a collective space so there’s going to be a call-out for artists very soon.”

Learn more about the ‘Monton in Bloom’ below:

New crossings to make Monton’s roads safer for school children

A new crossing on Monton Green was announced last month
Locals are offering their opinions on where two more crossings should go
Improving road safety in Monton through traffic calming measures is an ongoing mission for Eccles Labour

A new pedestrian crossing strategically positioned on Monton Green near Park Road will make getting to school easier for thousands of school children, Eccles Labour have said.

In a post published on 11 May to Facebook, it was revealed that the crossing would be in place by Autumn, along with confirmation that funding is in place for a further two crossings elsewhere in Monton.

In conversation with Labour Councillor Sharmina August, who was re-elected in May’s local elections, Monton Matters heard how the challenge to find a crossing guard for the area resulted in funding being made available for a permanent solution.

“We’ve had proposals for crossings all the way down Rocky Lane, Monton Green, and by the roundabouts for a number of years, but there’s never been any funding for it.

“We were initially hoping to get one big lot of funding to do it all at once to minimise the number of times we’re doing road works on that busy stretch of road, but it all came into focus last year when we were having real difficulty with [employing a new] crossing guard.

“The crossing guard that had been there for a number of years retired, and hiring someone to that post has proved to be really, really difficult.”

With around 4,000 children crossing that road each day to access various schools in the area, Cllr August highlighted the necessity of finding a solution quickly to avoid future accidents.

“You don’t see the cars because you’re waiting and waiting, you never know when that gap really is a real gap, so it is an accident waiting to happen and we know people go too fast.”

Instead of waiting for a larger pot of money to be made available to execute the original plan, the decision was taken to lobby the council for the funding needed to build this particular crossing as soon as possible.

The funding for the crossing, which was taken from the highways budget, was officially announced to the general public last month, and the crossing is targeted to be in use by the beginning of the Autumn term.

Locals have since expressed their relief and delight at the news, emphasizing the need for safer crossing routes throughout the village.

One comment on Eccles Labour’s Facebook post reads: “So happy about this – I’ve been asking now for this crossing for 10 years!”

Another commenter wrote: “This is amazing. So needed, well done!”

Now, with funding available for two more crossings in the village, locals have been invited to share their thoughts as to where these should be situated.

“The fact is that we need more crossings across the whole stretch, and we’ve got funding for two more. People are really happy about that as well.”

Some of the suggested areas include:

Somewhere between Monton’s two roundabouts
Across Canal Bank to enable easier access to Monton Medical Centre
Across Monton Green by the Blue Bell
Across Monton Road by the nursery
Across the bottom of Parrin Lane near the roundabout

Despite only having the funding for these three crossings initially, Cllr August emphasised that the long-term plan will involve more crossings, and that the location of any future crossings will be guided by local opinion.

Locals have asked for a crossing on Canal Bank

In a bid to improve road safety in Monton, a 2021 Bee Network proposal outlined traffic calming measures including 20mph speed limits in strategic areas, road narrowing, and cycle lanes.

Cllr August said: “We’ve got plans to try and make Monton safer. It’s not all set in stone. [The Bee Network Plan] was a consultation that we did a number of years ago about making Monton a safer place.

“It included traffic calming measures, and there were some cycle protected lanes, and again, that’s not set in stone as to whether those cycle lanes would or wouldn’t go in.”

Ultimately, Cllr August specified the need for cars to go slower around Monton, and potentially for fewer cars on the road, something which improved public transport could address.

“I think improving our bus network is going to help, but also the trams and the train network that we have. Patricroft station is pretty close to to Monton, but I don’t think we have the level of service that we need.

“A lot of people who might consider taking the train into the centre of Manchester, which is really quick, can’t rely upon it. It doesn’t get the carriages that it needs and they’re often cancelled, and it’s not got step free access as well.

“So it’s a wider strategy of thinking, can people get into Monton easier? Can they get out of Monton easier? And when they are here, how do we make it safer?”

It is hoped that in introducing crossings to Monton Road, Monton Green, and Canal Bank, road users will be unable to reach the speeds they currently do, making the area safer for pedestrians.

The council are also looking to make all the roads south of Monton Road 20mph to match the roads to the north.

Speaking more broadly about her re-election and future plans for Monton and Eccles, Cllr August said: “I’m really humbled to have been reelected, with so many people supporting me and all of the team in labour in Eccles.

c. Nick Harrison Photographer via Cllr Sharmina August

“We work really hard all year round, and I think we do our best to listen to what our residents want and I think this crossing is a perfect example of that.

“That’s more of what we want to do going forward. Making the whole of our ward more cohesive is one of my priorities.”

“We’ve purchased the shopping centre in Eccles, we’re going to be doing some great work to redevelop Eccles town centre whilst keeping in touch with our heritage and our roots, but I also think we need to work on connecting Monton and Eccles town centre, the two could work so well together.

“So we’re looking at ways that we can connect them in terms of walking paths, cycle paths, those sorts of things. I think that’ll be a big piece of work over the next four years for us.”

Boddan Lodge demolished making way for new community space

Monton Unitarian Church plan to use the site to build a community centre
The land will be used for community events prior to building works commencing
Locals will have opportunities to engage in future fundraising activities

Monton Unitarian Church has confirmed that the site of the now-demolished Boddan Lodge is to be set aside for a multi-use, eco-friendly building.

The site now sits empty after locals witnessed demolition works taking place over the weekend of 24 February.

Now, the Church have revealed their ambitions to build a two-storey community building on the land, which they had previously leased to Salford City Council.

Reverend Anna Jarvis, who has been Minister of the Church since 2015, told Monton Matters that the land may be used by the community for various events and activities before building works eventually commence.

Boddan Lodge had been home to the Over 60s Club on Church land leased to Salford City Council for over 60 years, but after the council withdrew from the lease, the Church received the keys back in June last year.

Despite joint efforts between the Church and council to maintain the building over the past six years, the Church has ‘reached the point of acknowledging that Boddan Lodge as a physical structure is no longer viable or repairable, and must be permanently closed for health and safety reasons,’ a press release on the church website reads.

At the announcement, some locals took to social media to express concern that the council might erect housing on the site, but the Church is keen to dispel any rumours of this nature.

“You are not going to see [residential buildings] at all. There is absolutely no plan, and we wouldn’t get a past planning permission even if there was, to put any sort of residential accommodation there,” Rev. Anna confirmed.

“It is going to be community purpose building. It’s not the council’s land. It’s the church’s land.

“We did a big consultation last summer, and we got a lot of really positive feedback about wanting to do a community building. That was great, because it was just reinforcing what we wanted to do.”

Prior to its demolition, all plaques and important items, including inscriptions from the benches outside, were saved and will be put on display in the new building as an homage to Boddan Lodge.

Due to the site’s strategic location in the centre of Monton, and the current volume of requests for hiring out the Church hall, Rev. Anna acknowledged the potential to deliver a multi-use community building which she hopes will meet the local demand.

Depending on planning, the minister expressed her wishes to create a large, open, downstairs space with a stage and lighting to facilitate pantomimes, concerts, and large functions such as wedding receptions.

Multiple upstairs rooms will be available for smaller groups to make use of, or for locals to use as a communal office space for an alternative to working from home.

Outside, the lawn may be used for picnics and yoga classes, and Rev. Anna hopes to establish a community vegetable patch with raised beds to ensure accessibility to all.

“There’s certain criteria that I really want to make sure the building meets,” Rev. Anna commented.

“It’s got to be multipurpose, and it’s got to be eco friendly, as green as we can possibly make it, so environmentally-wise, it leaves as small an impact as possible.”

The church is currently considering various means of fundraising, including a buy-a-brick scheme, where locals can donate a minimum of one pound which will represent one brick in the final building, encouraging a sense of community ownership over the new building.

Rev. Anna alluded to the possibility of other fundraising events such as concerts, but explained that the church will also be submitting numerous grant funding applications.

Due to the lengthy designing, planning, and funding processes yet to commence, it is currently estimated that it will be a minimum of two years before building works begin.

In the interim, there are plans to make use of the land for various community events, including private-hire functions such as birthday parties.

Rev Anna said: “We don’t want it just to sit there and do nothing because that would be a big shame.

It is a big lawn, and we’re hoping, for the Great Get Together in memory of Jo Cox, to have a picnic on the law for as much of Monton as wants to turn up.

“People can hire it, put marquees up, have a 60th birthday party, in fact there’s already one of those booked!

“We’re looking at ways where it can start immediately being of use to the community.”

Initial ideas also include welcoming pop-up street food vendors to use the space on a regular basis, and also establishing vegetable and gardening spaces which form part of her long-term plans for the community building.

While owned by Monton Unitarian Church, which was the first church in Salford to hold a same-sex wedding, which, Rev. Anna was eager to emphasise that the venue will be welcoming of all: “As Unitarians, our very ethos is that everybody is welcome.

“We welcome people regardless of their background, their sexuality, their gender, who they are, what they’ve done, their past. You are a human being, you are worthy of being here. We want to welcome you.

“We want it to be a space of respect so that everybody knows that they’re here and they will be respected for who and what they are.

“A space of care and compassion, so that whoever turns up here, whatever event they’re turning up for, they’re going to be looked after. They’re going to be okay, it’s a safe space.”

The Church are now looking for and accepting help from the community to bring the planned space to fruition.

“We’ll be looking for any companies that do want to get involved either with a corporate grant or just a slightly bigger donation than an individual can make.

“Any sort of any sort of involvement that people feel that they can offer, whether it’s in writing bids, any skills that people have got in in planning things or knowing how to get the word out there, or anything like that, we’d love for you to come and get involved.

“We’re putting together a team of people from within the church. We’re more than happy for people from the community to come and join in as well and help us make this the success that we want it to be.”

Locals are welcomed to get in touch, whether to hire the land or to offer any help they can, by contacting Rev. Anna at: minister@montonunitarianchurch.com

The Eccles Vision: Works set to commence on £10m town centre regeneration next month

Demolition works will commence in March, beginning with Eccles Market
The regeneration of Eccles Town Centre is backed by £10 million in funding
Some locals have raised concerns, including regarding Eccles Market

More than a year after Salford City Council revealed plans to regenerate Eccles town centre, the first phase of demolition works are set to commence next month.

The project, which has £10 million in funding behind it, was announced last January after the council bought Eccles Shopping Centre.

Eccles Market will be the first site to be demolished in March 2024, a worrying prospect to some given Eccles’s history as a market town.

A November Facebook post made by Eccles Labour sought to quash concerns, with the post asserting that there is “no intention for anyone to lose their livelihoods as part of this process.”

Still keen to reassure locals a month before the market closes, Councillor Sharmina August, Lead Member for Inclusive Economy, Anti-Poverty and Equalities in Salford City Council, explained that there will ‘definitely’ be a market in the new vision for Eccles town centre.

Speaking to Monton Matters, Cllr August said: “When we did the Eccles visioning project, we said to people, ‘what what do you actually want in Eccles?’ and a market was firmly on that list.

“We don’t have a firm plan yet. As soon as we do have that plan, with a development partner, that’s what we’ll go out with to the public and ask ‘what do you think?’ and if people don’t like it, then that’s when we start changing things.

“But we can say that part of that plan most definitely will be a market, green space, a better variety of things to do in Eccles, housing, and cherishing our heritage. Those are the things that we know people want and that’s what we plan to deliver.”

c. Nick Harrison Photographer via Cllr Sharmina August

While the Market Hall is knocked down, the council have confirmed that support for market traders will be on offer, such as relocation to other market stall units, or compensation.

Despite reports of concerns amongst market traders, Cllr August said: “So far, everyone’s happy with how things are going so I’m really pleased that we’ve managed to assure people that they are important to Eccles, and as we say, nobody will be losing their livelihood because of this, because they are an integral part of our of our town.”

Continuing Eccles’s legacy as a market town is just one aspect of safeguarding its heritage, with the council keen to preserve the facades of the many historic buildings within the town.

“There’s more to heritage than just the building; we do think about the culture in Eccles as well,” Cllr August added.

“We think about all the things that make Eccles a town other than the buildings, and we do have a culture team looking at that as well, to see what we can do to maintain the feeling in Eccles, because when you change a place dramatically in terms of what it looks like, some things will be the same, but we want to make sure that it still feels like Eccles as well.”

This is a once in a generation opportunity. We don’t get the chance to totally redevelop town centres very often.
Councillor Sharmina August

Housing is also included within the plans for the regeneration, with the goal being to bring more people into the town to support its businesses and help the centre flourish.

Eccles sits in Zone 2 of Greater Manchester and benefits from excellent transport links to the city centre and surrounding areas, including a bus station, tram stop, and train station.

It’s connectivity not only makes it an ideal location for commuters to reside, but also makes Eccles a sustainable town going into an increasingly climate-conscious future.

As well as transporting residents and commuters out of Eccles, it’s existing travel infrastructure can bring people in, which the council hope to encourage through Eccles’s redevelopment.

“I think we if we want to have a successful Town Centre, we need to be able to attract people to it, and that’s working out what would make Eccles a little bit different,” Cllr August explained.

“We will, when we go out to consultation, be asking people more of those sorts of questions, like ‘what is it that you think will work?’

“We’ll also be looking at other places that have been really successful as to why they’re successful, and that is going to be things like eateries, leisure facilities, but also the market, and we’re hoping also the culture that we can bring in as well.”

With the project is on the cusp of its commencement, Cllr August, who was initially elected in 2019, pointed out that updating the declining town centre has been a primary concern for a number of years.

Speaking for her fellow councillors Mike McCusker and Nathaniel Tetteh, elected in 2018 and 2021 respectively, she said: “We’ve always stood up for Eccles Town Centre needing regeneration, it’s our number one priority.

“It’s something that everybody on every doorstep that has ever told us, that they need regeneration for Eccles Town Centre, so it’s our priority.”

Now, focus is turning to securing a development partner, with Cllr August hoping that this will be confirmed within the next few months.

From there, the council will continue to work with locals through ongoing consultations, in the hopes that they can bring the public’s visions and desires for Eccles Town Centre to fruition.

‘Worth the wait’: The Garden Bar confirms January 2024 opening

During a week of exclusive soft launches, the owners of the highly anticipated Garden Bar & Restaurant have revealed that the venue will officially open in the new year.

Stanley and Debbie Reeves, who have a background in mobile bars, events, and music festivals, expressed that the venue is sure to be ‘worth the wait’ despite multiple delays.

“We wanted to retire peacefully, so we decided to take this on,” Stanley, 69, told Monton Matters.

Having initially acquired the old Monton Motorcycles six years ago, an opportunity arose to also purchase the florist unit next door on the very day the couple were celebrating their alcohol license being granted.

“Then we went to tender to get a builder to demolish the building,” Stanley continued.

“There was that much needed doing to the building, it was silly to try and alter it, it was easier to pull it down and start afresh.

“A great local builder called Scott – I’d had him earmarked for years to do this job – came in, pulled the building down, and rebuilt the shell.

“Then we put the fit-out out to tender, and I found the two biggest cowboys in the world.”

Stanley described how the pair ‘dragged their heels’ on the contract, before eventually walking off the job in May this year.

While he conceded that the fault ultimately lay with himself as he kept busy with other ventures, Stanley admitted: “We thought we had two good builders on board, we thought we could trust them.”

Since May, Stanley and Debbie have worked tirelessly to put together a new crew, who have ‘put right’ the previous wrongs, and brought the couple’s vision for the venue to fruition at last.

Now, just weeks away from its official opening, The Garden Bar & Restaurant is mostly complete.

Debbie, 63, proudly exhibited the hard work and attention to detail that has gone into making it the ‘destination venue’ she and Stanley wanted it to be.

Real plants decorate both floors of the venue, and Debbie also revealed that QR codes next to planters will inform guests of the species and care instructions.

“Eventually, the plants [in the restaurant] will grow up and onto the roof, so the whole thing will become like a jungle,” Debbie explained.

In the summer months, guests in the restaurant area at the rear of the building will benefit from an open air dining experience, thanks to a sliding glass roof imported from Turkey.

Having spared no expense, Debbie also showed off the 100-year-old ornate Indian doorway, separating the dining room from the kitchen, the history and significance of which will be detailed on an accompanying plaque for guests to read.

The attention to detail extends to the toilets, too, where Debbie herself perfected the resin detailing seen by the sinks; a koi pond in the ladies, and a steampunk design in the gents.

Debbie said: “We’ve tried to put a lot of detail into it because we want it to be somewhere people come to enjoy the whole atmosphere of the place.

“It’s a pride thing, as well. We’ve always wanted to have this kind of set up. We wanted to create somewhere really special.”

“We’ve invested a lot of money and spent a lot of time doing it, but it’s not just about money. It’s about giving something back to the general public and creating something we can be proud of.”
Debbie Reeves

Debbie also acknowledged the team of staff she has put together, as she explained the importance of working as a ‘family’ to provide excellent customer service.

Additionally, restaurant manager Gracie commented on the venue’s potential to thrive in the food scene on Monton Road: “I’m a big foodie, and I have a big passion for food, so I think we could really create something magical here.

“At the front, we’re pushing brunch service, whether thats pancakes or full English breakfasts, our chef has some great ideas.

“In the bar area, it’s going to be more bar style, so a few sharing style plates, cocktails, and drinks. Our dining area is for more of a ‘fine dining’ experience,” she explained.

This attitude to cater to everyone applies to the drink selection, too. Debbie revealed that behind the bar, a selection of cocktails, spirits, and house wines will be on offer, while a wine display under the stairs will stock fine wines.

“Everyone that comes, no matter what they want, they’re going to be happy.”
Stanley Reeves

Stanley added: “We want to do good wholesome food. I want you to be very, very happy with what you’re presented with, enjoy it, and come back.

“And if you become a regular for us and there’s a drink that you particularly like that we haven’t got behind the bar, we’ll get it for you.

“If there’s something that’s not to your taste on the menu, I’m sure our chef will cook something up special for you. That’s that’s the type of business we want to be.”

Ultimately, Stanley and Debbie hope that The Garden Bar & Restaurant becomes a social hub for the people of Monton.

The couple alluded to the possibility of hosting events in the future, such as offering father and baby socials, as well as events tailored for the older residents that live opposite the venue.

“We want to be the go-to place for people in Monton, not just a bar,” Debbie stated.

Prior to their official opening, The Garden Bar & Restaurant have hosted a number of soft launches for those that have contributed to its opening, the other businesses along Monton Road, and a select number of Monton residents, with Stanley and Debbie citing the importance of offering locals the chance to experience the venue and provide feedback first.

While the couple acknowledged the delays and the resulting anticipation felt by locals, Debbie offered the final word on The Garden Bar & Restaurant’s long-awaited opening in January 2024: “It’ll be worth the wait!”