eccles – Monton Matters

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.”

[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:

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.”

Monton favourite “La Turka” blossoms into a fabulous brunch hotspot. Next stop: “Monton Carlo”

Fresh look, same fantastic service
Extended hours with dog and pram friendly spaces available
“Monton Carlo” revealed as a “Mediterranean café”: due to open in Summer 2024

The transformation of Monton Road continues as we welcome new businesses to our community.

There has been no expense spared as the team behind popular eatery La Turka revealed a tasteful new interior and extended menu in March 2024, re-branding to ‘Blossom Bistro by La Turka’.

Monton Matters met with Zaf Kesici, La Turka Managing Director, to find out more about the revamp, and his exciting plans for rumoured new venture, Monton Carlo.

A restauranteur with over 30 years’ experience in the industry, Zaf first brought his take on Turkish cuisine to Didsbury and Warrington, before settling in Monton, opening La Turka in 2015.

Famed for tasty skewers, light bites, and “one of the best value Sunday roasts in Monton” – it was great to see a range of exciting breakfast options such as ‘The Full Blossom Breakfast’ alongside the La Turka classics. According to Zaf, ‘The Lord of the Grill’ remains the most popular dish.

New options include daily deals, with ‘Manic Mondays’ offering 2 x courses for £20.95, and ‘Tapas Wednesdays’ offering customers 3 Tapas dishes for £15.00.

The Blossom Afternoon Tea strikes a balance between Mediterranean flavours such as hummus and falafel, with sultana scones and tea; customers can upgrade to bubbles for £5.00 extra.

For those looking to indulge, the trendy Bottomless Brunch is as popular as ever. At £33.00 for 90 minutes, it is an ideal choice for customers looking to stay local for special occasions.

The popular live entertainment including singers and dancers will continue on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Zaf explained that the extended menu and bright décor are designed to appeal to a wider audience, with a bright pink telephone box providing a stylish backdrop for Instagram-worthy photos.

The daytime concept was designed with accessibility in mind.”We have created a dog friendly space in the conservatory area, (and) configured the space to accommodate groups of up to 40 diners”- ideal for baby showers and business meetings.

Zaf welcomes customers with small babies and children, ensuring there is plenty of room for prams.

With comfortable booths and smaller tables to choose from, Blossom is ideal for those tired parents looking for a coffee and conversation during nap time.

Monton Matters asked Zaf for an update on Monton Carlo, opening just a few doors down the road.

Given the building work commenced in Spring 2024, and the name provoking some lighthearted discussion on social media recently, Zaf was delighted to announce more details.

Monton Carlo will be “a family place with a true Mediterranean café feel, offering patisserie-style cakes and light bites”.

The venue will also offer a cocktail menu and remain open in the evenings.

Plans for a soft launch are on the cards, and details will be shared via the Blossom by La Turka Facebook and Instagram pages- watch this space!

Blossom Bistro by La Turka are taking bookings online, and over the phone for group bookings of more than 10. Delivery options are scheduled to resume soon.

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!”

Wandering Palate nominated for Manchester Food and Drink Festival award

For the third year in a row, Monton’s Wandering Palate has been nominated for the Food and Drink Retailer of the Year award.

The Manchester Food and Drink Festival (MFDF) awards 2023 seek to showcase Manchester’s food scene and celebrate the region’s food and drink businesses.

There are 18 categories in total, which have been ‘carefully considered and created with an absolute passion for the city’s industry at their heart’.

Wandering Palate, a Monton retailer offering wines, craft beers, cheese and charcuterie, has been shortlisted for the Food and Drink Retailer of the Year award.

Will Evans, owner of Wandering Palate along with wife Emma, said: “It’s actually our third year in a row being nominated for this award. So yeah, it’s good to be recognised by the wider Manchester food and drink community.”

Will and Emma Evans opened Wandering Palate in 2021

Nominees are compiled by the MFDF judging panel, consisting of ‘the region’s leading food and drink critics, writers and experts’.

“For them to recognise us three years in a row, it kind of gives us some positive affirmations that we’re doing something right, so it’s really nice just to be just be nominated,” Will added.

Wandering Palate opened in March 2021, and their ambition to be a ‘community hub’ means that their services also include workshops such as life drawing classes, quiz nights, and wine tastings.

Will expressed a particular pride for the shop’s music nights every Friday, during which locals who are passionate about music are invited to curate the evening’s soundtrack.

“We do a little bit of everything for the community of Monton. We always wanted to be more than just a shop.”
Will Evans, Wandering Palate

It is their food and drink, however, for which they have been nominated. Will attributes this to the shop’s ‘premium convenience’ offerings: “I always talk about the fact that we’re not really a specialist in anything in particular, so even though we’ve got a really wide and varied wine selection, it’s not as big as some wine specialists in Manchester.

“Also with the cheeses and charcuterie, even though I think we’ve got a really good selection, we’re not a cheese specialist or a cheese monger.

“But what we do do is premium convenience, so if you’re living in Monton and you want a little treat, you want some nice cheese, or you want some nice charcuterie, or you want a really nice bottle of wine, you can come and get a really good selection.

“You can come and get something that’s a little bit special and just heightens those occasions that you’ve got, either on a night out or something to take to your friend’s house or a little gift for for a loved one.”

Wandering Palate sell a wide selection of wine, cheese, and charcuterie

Monton itself has also been shortlisted in the category ‘Foodie Neighbourhood of the Year’, alongside other Greater Manchester hotspots such as Altrincham, Prestwich, and Stretford.

“I think the awareness of Monton in Manchester now is much bigger than before we opened. I think we’ve done a little bit towards that but I think people have their eyes on Monton anyway,” Will said.

“It’s a beautiful village, it’s got all the shops and bars on one main strip which leads up to a lot of green space at the top so it looks like a pretty village, and I think people in Manchester have their eye on Monton for potential future sites.

“The more Monton is recognised for awards such as this and the more venues in Monton are recognised for awards such as this, the more people will want to develop and grow and expand into Monton and with that will come more investment in the right people wanting to get involved.”

To vote for Wandering Palate as Food and Drink Retailer of the Year, and for Monton as Foodie Neighbourhood of the Year, visit: https://foodanddrinkfestival.com/awards/

Monton Scouts actively seeking new members

Monton’s Scout group have written articles for Monton Matters calling for new members to join them as part of their Media Relations and Marketing badge.

With only nine members, 10th Eccles Scouts, which is based at Monton Methodist Church, hope to persuade other young people in the area to join up.

Leader Joe Mickleburgh, who took over the group in September, said: “While the Beaver and Cub sections are doing well, Scouts have extremely low numbers – we have nine and are losing five at Christmas!”

Now, the Scouts hope to spread the word about how much fun Scouts can be. The following two articles were written by the Scouts in their two patrols, Stags and Lions.

Stags

Have fun while learning important skills for life
Try new things you’d never otherwise get to do
New challenges for everyone

Scouts is a community aimed at letting young people to have fun, while teaching them skills for life, as well as doing your bit to make your country proud.

Not only in Scouts you do things such as camping and hiking, but you get the chance to meet new people and see things you haven’t seen while doing the activities of a lifetime.

Scout activities can be traditional, like pitching tents, cooking, survival skills, and shelter building, but also modern, like learning to solder electronics, engaging with the local community, and snow sports.

One of the members of the 10^th Eccles Scout Troop said: “Scout camp feel like home – there’s always something to do and I’m with some of the best friends I’ve made.”

Another said: “I just joined for the camps but every Tuesday at Scouts the leaders never fail to make it fun.

He added: “I like Scouts because of life lessons I learn.”

If this seems like you, or sounds like something you would do, get in touch with your local Scout group and join the 57 million Scouts worldwide on their adventures.

Lions

At 10^th Eccles Scouts, you’re free to be you. No matter what your hobbies are, how you identify or your appearance. It’s a great way for your children to express themselves.

There’s a plethora of different and unique badges that are fun to earn and collect. You can even put them on your scout shirts sleeve. It looks very fashionable. These badges include the Chef, Dragon Boating and Master of Arms badge.

Cubs, Beavers and Scouts alike all describe scouting as fun and especially at our rural camps. We participate in several camps each, so every participant receives high quality days, experiences and nights.

In conclusion, Scouting is a fantastic way to entertain all children while giving them a strong education with exciting experiences to go along with it.

“Been fun!” said Amy, a 12-year-old (nearly 13) girl who has been in Scouting for 6 total years.

“There are fun activities, you can’t go crate-stacking everywhere.” She believes that everyone there is nice and unique in their own way. Amy thinks it is cool to go camping so regularly.

At a Scout meeting last Tuesday 10 October, the Scouts finalised their stories for publication on the Monton Matters website.

Throughout the evening, they told stories of the fun experiences they’d had at 10th Eccles, and ended on a game they’d made up themselves, which was similar to dodgeball but instead of a teams game, the Scouts took a more ‘every person for themselves’ approach.

Joe told Monton Matters: “After this badge, we’re going to start on the Local Knowledge badge with drawing maps of the local area and then looking at road atlases to get to grips on what local transport is available in Monton.”

Scouts meetings take place every Tuesday from 19:45 to 21:00 at Monton Methodist Church, Grange Drive.

For more information about 10th Eccles Scouts, including how to join, please contact Joe Mickleburgh at joe@10theccles.org.uk

The Luma Practice: A holistic medical approach for modern times

If I say “holistic and medical therapy”, what do you think about?

Strange smelling incense? Yoga? The ‘om’ sound? Hippies?

What about ground-breaking healing techniques?

Mental health help?

All round physical and emotional balance and care?

The new Luma Practice in Eccles is doing things a little different than you might expect. Alternative approaches to wellness are hot topics right now, but Luma isn’t jumping on any bandwagon. The Luma practice has its own unique and fully inclusive approach to helping others in a holistic way. That’s what their open day was all about on Sunday 1 October.

Bustling with activity, there was something for everyone. Crystals, crafts, hair and make-up, candles, jewellery, salt lamps, all sorts of stalls and treatments were available on the ground floor and the local people of Eccles were there to find out more.

Upstairs in this three storey ex-doctors practice and you get a sense of what the excitement is all about. Door after door of treatment rooms hosting a myriad of treatments, all to help with holistic wellness.

In one room, the sound of Tibetan singing bowls can be heard. Crystal bowls which when struck produce sound and are played by moving a small mallet around the rim of the bowl – otherwise known as a ‘sound bath’. Recent studies in the Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine suggests this technique helps with stress, fatigue and depression. The feeling of calm and peace in the room was almost tangible.

Not so long ago though, the whole building was abandoned and run down. Looking at the change in each room compared to how it used to be, it’s clear a lot of hard work and dedication has been put into the place. The transformation and the very atmosphere of the building now a world away from where it once was.

The owner Leanne Claire of Monton was on hand to show visitors around shared some of her plans:

“This place was a mess,” says Leanne, “A lot of people don’t realise it’s been stood empty for about 17 years, I would pass by and look at it, I just knew I had to do something with it some day”.

That day arrived for Leanne around two years ago: “It was completely trashed and dated. It needed a lot of love put into it.”
Leanne Claire, Luma Practice Owner

1st floor corridor. Use slider to see before and after.

As you explore the floors, it becomes clear Leanne’s attention to detail is second to none. Each room and area of the building has a theme. One of the rooms feels like you’re stepping into the deep forests of Indonesia. Beautiful tapestries on the wall, privacy screens with large, green printed leaves on.

Another boasts a wall mural of a forest, bringing the outdoors in, helping bring a sense of serenity and calm, connecting with the earth. The whole building now oozes class and style and it’s clear her heart and soul have gone into this transformation.

“The open and wellness day is aimed at letting local people of Eccles, Monton and surrounding areas come and see the transformation of the building. I also wanted to bring local Salford businesses in a similar industry together to help promote themselves, as we’re going through a recession it’s hard for people to be making profit. We’ve also featured and encouraged new local businesses to be here. It’s amazing to see new businesses launch especially in the current climate. It’s been so well received and it’s going so well for everybody.’’
Leanne

So why was this such an important venture for Leanne to achieve?

“The practice is extremely important for me. I’ve struggled with my mental health, like everybody, and after coming through a relationship breakdown I was left alone with two children but little practical support. I had no help and couldn’t afford nursery fees, but to be honest, I didn’t want to have to pay someone to pick up my kids. So I created a business 5 years ago that helped me provide for my kids and also pick them up from school. It expanded quickly, month on month and for years I’d been drawn to this building. With my business going the way it was, it finally became an option for me. So I took it.”

The first floor corridor gives plenty of space for more therapies with a number of rooms providing a safe and inviting space for those accessing treatments there. Services include various types of medical massage such as sports, deep tissue treatments focussing on specific health conditions; reiki massage, reflexology and hot stones.

What’s interesting are the newer and perhaps lesser known therapies, such as cupping, hatha yoga, and a brand new modality that helps transform limiting beliefs trapped in the subconscious called Belief Coding™.

Up to the second floor a Swedish style sauna room, next to a fully kitted out cold water therapy room, inclusive of a freestanding bath filled with icy water for anyone wishing to try it (under supervision of course). Next, a kitchen with a hatch opening onto what is known as the ‘retreat’ room, fitted with a number of chaise longues. The idea here being that after your treatment you can take some time to relax and process your healing experience.

Fully immersive retreat days are also in the pipeline according to Leanne, as well as twice monthly ‘Moon Meetings’, networking events, and personal trainer ‘boot camp’ style classes. Crystal workshops for kids, hosted by kids will also be going ahead soon and Leanne says that community involvement is hugely important too. In fact, she says couldn’t have done half of what she has if it wasn’t for the support from some of the immediate local residents, especially Carl and Vicky who became friends during the renovation.

Jenny, a local body art business owner from Eccles who had a stall at the open day says:

“Luma is so important to this area as we continue to live through the mental health pandemic following lockdowns, which I believe can be eased by the therapeutic approach to self care that Luma offers our community”.
Jenny, local business owner

Others echo this sentiment. Caroline, a resident of Peel Green said: “Mental health after covid is really bad. People who never thought they’d have problems like that are getting anxious going places where there are a lot of people. If Luma [practice] can start to help people with things like that then it’s a really good thing. People need to be around other people. That’s partly why I came today, and to see what it’s all about. It looks great.’

Leanne has her own views on this:

“Since COVID, there has been a whole shift on how people look at life. Mental health issues are increasing, yet there is less support. Holistic support through the NHS for mental health is virtually non-existent, yet we can help ourselves by treating ourselves. Self care is one of the main things that can improve mental health symptoms for things like depression, anxiety. So I’ve created this centre as a place people can come, have a treatment that is affordable and be able to relax and use different treatments to work towards improving their mental health. Massage is great for touch and comfort and also effective for pain management. So if someone is constantly at the GP for a bad back instead of masking that with pain killers, I want to get it out there – I’m a medically trained massage therapist and we do a lot in the practice that can help long term pain management, we can really change your life. We have clients that have been on medication for 6 years, received one or two sessions and have been able to greatly reduce or completely stop medication with no more pain, better sleep and therefore improved mental health.”

Local mother of three Pauline said: “I’m glad we have such a good space in the community. It’s a place of sanity, a place to relax and de-stress after a long shift, night shift, long days of training, going to school, looking after family. I will call it a haven. It’s healthy, it will work wonders for people going through emotional, psychological distress, back pains, muscle pains, stiffness. It’s a therapeutic place for people to come to.”

Leanne added: “I’m not just a massage therapist using my hands. I use my ears and my heart to help clients with their mental health battles too. I’ve helped clients leave toxic relationships, talked them through mental health crises and been told by clients I’ve saved lives. As a team and as a practice, we are tackling the complete wellness of those local to Eccles, Monton and everywhere in between.”

Stags

SCOUTS: MORE THAN JUST CAMPING!

Lions

10th Eccles Scouts – Exciting Adventures!