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!”
Monton Matters 