Move over Staly Vegas, this Salford suburb is the new place to be, say locals
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Overheard in Monton: ‘It’s turning into Didsbury’
The Salford village has undergone something of a transformation in recent years.
That has led to comparisons – even if slightly tongue in cheek – with the Manchester suburb of Didsbury, with new bars and restaurants cropping up left, right and centre and established venues carrying out refurbishments.
And that has led to a new nickname being born – Monton Carlo!!
While comparisons with the south of France may be a little extreme, there is definitely a buzz about the place and here we bring you your essential guide to M30.
So, we may not have the Mediterranean coastal climate, but what puts the 'Carlo' in Monton?
Let’s take a tour down Monton Road….
The family-run Italian pizza bar has finally branched out with a second restaurant – and it's proving pretty popular.
The original place in Walkden has been running since 1971, meaning the new location marks the business's 45th anniversary.
And what a way to celebrate, with a quaint little venue smack bang on the high street, which includes an intimate seating area upstairs and a fully-licenced bar.
Regulars from the original restaurant have been venturing to see what the fresh one is about, but staff have been excited to welcome new customers, who are surely to become frequent visitors, too.
Davardi's offers a huge range of stone-baked pizzas, side dishes including garlic prawns and thick-cut potato wedges, while also providing a take away and dine-in service.
It is open Wednesday – Saturday (5pm -10.30pm) and Sunday (4.30pm – 10pm)
This venue is widely credited with sparking the boom of new ventures in Monton, and is still leading the way.
Replacing the Drop Inn – a kind of institution on Monton Road, where you could play a game of pool and enjoy a cheap pint.
Coming in to take over a traditional pub with a swanky new bar was a risk, but still, the opening of The Blind pig was hugely anticipated.
Many would have thought its initial popularity would waver, with a bar in Eccles unable to compete with the choice in the city centre just a couple of miles down the M602.
But it never did, and with its two-year anniversary looming, driving past, especially on a weekend evening, the outdoor seating area is packed with drinkers, who have made the ‘Monton Mile’ the new place to be. Northern Quarter who?
With the odd live music night, decent food, a good choice of drinks (even if a little expensive) and cool, bespoke decor – a look it describes on the website as ‘1920’s-meets-contemporary interior, inspired by the Speakeasy culture.’
Wine bar Enoteca is small and quaint and sits at the Monton roundabout end of the high street.
When it first opened, it served deli foods and platters, with the counter since making way to create more space for seating.
It’s a popular option for those kicking off a Monton pub crawl.
Enoteca has been open just more than a year and looks set to remain a fixture in the village.
Any competition is good competition, right?
Well, in steps champagne and cocktail bar Bodega, situated in the old Post Office site.
Serving the biggest range of cocktails, from classics such as the Cosmopolitan to signature drinks, Bodega is the kind of place to enjoy for a pre or post-meal treat and has a function room upstairs.
This used to be a staple for Montonites to refuel after a night out, with their full English breakfasts and deli sandwiches and dishes.
But the decision to transform the English bistro into a bar has been a successful one. Owners are said to have spent £10k on the transformation, with naked lightbulbs, rustic wooden fixtures and fittings and modern artwork adorning the walls helping it fit right in Monton's self-made new image.
Tapping into the real ale market is a genius move for Malt Dog. The beers are on tap, in bottles and an off-licence style shop so that customers can take their favourite drink home with them is inspired.
Often full, with customers having to spill outside, Malt Dog may be small but it has huge character.
This is the latest high profile and much talked about new restaurant to open, after it bought out the site of the former Passage to India.
A lick of paint and a good few thousands of pounds later, and the restaurant certainly looks good. It’s bright, colourful and roomy, with several references to Turkish heritage, with a giant mural on covering one wall and traditional belly dancers entertaining diners at the weekend.
The menu is vast, from sharing mezzes and tapas to seafood platters and it's even proving popular with local stars, with Hollyoaks' Jorgie Porter and Kieron Richardson dining there with fellow cast and crew. Read our review here.
Situated right on the Bridgewater Canal, the owners of this venue clearly had access to a crystal ball when they upped sticks from Swinton to launch in Monton. The bar/restaurant’s motto is ‘eat, drink, relax enjoy’ and it is hard not to see why this applies in spades.
The kitchen is led by experienced chef Gary Hewart, with top-notch food served either inside, with space for 70 covers, or outdoors on its tranquil terrace by the canal, where a further 140 can be accommodated.
The Waterside offers a great option when starting an amble/crawl through Monton but you’d be forgiven for whiling away an entire day there too.
Contact 0161 7888788 or visit here.
As Monton Road got busier, the former Felicini restaurant opted for a re-brand and overhaul of its menu.
Now 6/Cut, the menu is fun and modern and the interior is funky and again, much more in-keeping with the forward-thinking design choices at other places to eat along Monton Road.
It still has a good-sized function room in the basement and has added an extensive outdoor seating area.
It is good to see 6/Cut finally make the most of the unusually wide pavement outside the restaurant to its advantage.
The Blue Bell has been in Monton for some time and it is fair to say it has had a variable reputation over the years. However, it was taken over by Middleton brewer JW Lees in 2013 and its fortunes have been transformed.
Gone are the big screens for football – you can’t even wear football shirts in there any more – and in its place are stylish fireplaces, a family atmosphere and a vastly improved menu to boot. There is also a decked terrace and regular theme nights, live entertainment and a smartphone quiz.
Good quality, hearty English food cooked with the best locally-sourced ingredients makes Blacksticks one of the longest-serving eateries in Monton.
Its earlybird menu is ideal for those looking for a midweek meal that won't break the bank and the recent refurbishments, including new signage and stylish sliding doors the width of the restaurant, made sure it kept up with the competition. The venue has also recently undergone a revamp, with a new menu to boot!!
You can’t beat a traditional family Italian restaurant. This place is homely, always welcoming and you can pretty much guarantee service with a smile.
The food is excellent value for your dollar and families are well catered for.
It’s simple but effective and sometimes, that’s all you need.
There's always something happening at The Park and last year saw epic changes to the popular watering hole.
Locked at the tip of the high street, it has a very loyal set of regulars and the outdoor seating area is guaranteed to be packed when the sun shines. But a recent refurb has completely transformed the pub has opened it up to new punters.
The Vault and Lounge are still there but the interior and exterior look completely different. Astroturf as been installed as part of the extended outdoor seating area, the pub's front has been overhauled with a wooden finish and the interior has been given a contemporary facelift. and it's the place to be to catch live sport, with Sky Sports and BT Sport available.
There's Joseph Holt ale and lagers on tap.
There may have been loads of bars opening in the last year but don’t ignore Monton Sports Club, which has been there since roughly 1903.
It has a clubhouse that doubles up as a function room, lacrosse facilities, a full-size cricket pitch, two squash courts and three tennis courts.
There’s also a new roof terrace – a great place to spend a rather English afternoon, with social memberships a snip at just £30.