What has happened to Beech Road, Chorlton?

Posted by jameswdcrawford on July 11, 2009 under Chorlton | 2 Comments to Read

What has happened to Beech Road, Chorlton?

Something is happening in Chorlton.  Beech Road, a laidback, independently minded  South Manchester centre of fun, is falling to pieces.

I’m going to get some stick for writing this from my friends on Beech Road, but sometimes the truth hurts.  Beech Road is a mess!

Let’s look at this statement for a moment.  The Chip Shop has been empty for two years, Emma Hatton Estate agents is shut, the frame shop has closed down, there is a derelict church building, an empty house with a burnt out roof, and a bloody great tranche of waste land where once a Garage stood.

And then there is Marmalade, once a beloved South Manchester eating institution.  We all know what happened there :http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk/index.asp?Sessionx=IpqiNw86JDfoJ0qiNwF6IHqi

Of course, Beech Road is still great.  The new Horse and Jockey is beltingly good, Lorenzo’s Tapas Bar is fun and a good night out, and my mate Mark from Truth runs a great business and is a funny guy to boot!

However, compare the once all conquering Beech Road to other parts of Chorlton and they are falling far behind.  Wilbraham Road now has Out of the Blue, the best food store in South Manchester, Electriks, possibly the finest bar in the city and off course Dulcimer and Oddest are great new drinking establishments to add to other stalwarts like The Bar.

Then you can look at the Manchester Road end of Chorlton.  Barbican deli, Marble Beer House, Unicorn, Pi and outpost Jam St Cafe really have upped the ante.

All in all, when you compare these new areas of Chorlton to Beech Road they make it look scruffy. 

Of course, this needs to be tempered.  There is an embarrassment of riches in Chorlton.  Sometimes you don’t know how good you have got it and I wouldn’t live anywhere else other than Chorlton Green.  However, I want Beech Road to get its act together!  Get a great Restaurant Beech Road as Manchester road has Ostara which is serving deliciously original food.  Get a deli.  Manchester Road has one… get a bar to replace Marmalade.  SORT IT OUT!

© James Crawford’s PR and Media Blog.  2009

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  stephennewton said,

  I noticed Beech Road was beginning to lose it’s way a little the other week. Have you eaten in the Horse and Jockey? I’ve not heard anything good and the menu is all wrong. Marmalade was a sad loss, but service was appalling.

  But Lorenzo’s is fabulous.

  Oddest is already my new favourite bar. Are you sure about Electrik? I walked in and walked straight out without buying a drink. It felt like a cafe.

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  jameswdcrawford said,

  Horse and Jockey does good pub food. It is not world beating but a nice addition to the area. It is no secret that Marmalade was crippled by the rent. I did wonder why it was so expensive – restaurant prices – and now we know why. I always found the service OK, but it wasn’t restaurant standard. I just think marmalade wasn’t a pub, but it wasn’t a restaurant either and suffered from an identity crisis.

  You are right about Lorenzo and Oddest. Electriks for me, though, is the best because of the music, simple as that. Best juke box in Chorlton.

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