monton road – Monton Matters

[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.”

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.

‘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!”

Artisan butcher and fishmonger to bring fresh, sustainable produce to Monton high street

Wandering Palate have teamed up with Butcher’s Quarter to open Farm & Fish on Monton Road
Customers will also be able to enjoy a drink on site and dishes made up of the shop’s produce
Locals have raised concerns over the application for an alcohol license seen in the shop window

A new butchers and fishmongers will be opening on Monton Road this March as a collaboration between Butcher’s Quarter and Wandering Palate.

Farm & Fish will have a butchers counter and fish counter, as well as offering deli items and fresh fruit and vegetables.

The addition of indoor and outdoor seating will mean that customers are also able to have a drink or enjoy dishes made from the store’s produce of the day.

Monton locals have been without a place to buy fresh fish and meat on the high street since Oscar’s closed in 2015.

Butcher’s Quarter, a Manchester based artisan butchers, has two locations already in the city centre on Tib Street and Deansgate.

When looking to expand, they considered various Manchester suburbs before deciding on ‘delightful’ Monton.

BQ’s Charlotte Roberts said: “It just seemed like the perfect place to go, there wasn’t anything like that in the area.

“It just seems absolutely delightful. It’s really up and coming and people are obviously crying out and interested in that kind of thing.”

Their collaborators, Emma and Will Evans of Wandering Palate, discovered and ‘fell in love with’ Monton when delivering beers to Malt Dog from Will’s other business, Manchester Union Brewery.

Having lived in the Manchester suburb for 7 years, they opened Wandering Palate after craving the ‘Friday night treats’ they were unable to get at Tesco, and initially planned to host seafood-tasting events.

Concerns over space led them down the charcuterie route instead, but when another unit on Monton Road became available, the pair were keen to go through with their original plans.

Both Wandering Palate and Butcher’s Quarter were nominated for Food and Drink Retailer of the Year 2021.

Charlotte explained: “We kind of just got chatting properly there and just hit it off, our values were just in line, and we realised that it’d be a great collaboration.

“We’ve all got something to offer to the table and it’d just be fun more than anything.”

After an alcohol license application went up in Farm & Fish’s window, some Monton residents voiced concerns on the Monton Chat Facebook group that the new butchers would turn into ‘just another’ bar.

Addressing this, Charlotte said: “Generally it will be daytime trade.

“We’ll do off-license for wine so you can come in and it’s a bit of a one-stop shop for everything, so if you want a delicious meal for two, you can come in and get your steaks, get your veg, get your wine.

“You can pop in for a lunch and have a little glass of wine with that.”

Fish and shellfish products will be appear in the store the day after they are caught

Charlotte also alluded to the possibility of evening events: “That’s why we’ve applied for so late as well.

“We might have a little wine tasting on, we might do a supper club where we invite a chef.

“They get free range of the counter, they make a menu out of that and then we pair wines with it.

“It’s certainly not a restaurant and it’s certainly not a bar.”

Emma added: “Will and I are very conscious of that, you know, it’s our community as well.

“We’re going to have a lovely wine menu if you want to come in and have a wine, but it’s not a bar, it’s much more than that.

“We just want to bring some really good quality meat and fish to Monton.”

Farm & Fish will source and dry-age meat products from local farms within a 45 mile radius.

Charlotte said: “It’s all highest levels of husbandry, beautiful, local, ethical and sustainable, which is super important to us.”

Their fish will be line-caught from day boats by Wild Harbour, a Cornwall fishery that supplies ‘sustainable and traceable’ fish, and will be with Farm & Fish the day after it is caught.

Fish products will be line-caught from day boats

Shellfish such as lobsters and scallops will be sourced from Scotland.

Renovations are currently underway, and while an exact date has yet to be confirmed, Farm & Fish will be open in March after a ‘couple of soft launches’.