The 30-cover venue will offer food and fine wines from morning until night
Italophiles Anna and Alex Moss, owners of a digital marketing company, are to follow their dream and open their first neighbourhood cafe bar in Prestwich village.
The couple have been inspired by the cafe culture they experienced during their travels across Italy, after they got married in Florence and swiftly purchased a holiday home in the town of Lucca, Tuscany. This has given them a base from which to source a range of fabulous and lesser known boutique wines, artisan beers, cheeses and sweet things sold in corner cafes all across the region. As much produce as possible will be imported from Italy and they have found a supplier who goes over there once or twice a week.
The high street unit is quite compact but will seat around 30 for all day dining from breakfast until late into the evening, seven days a week. There is no kitchen or extraction to make a more extensive hot food menu possible, but Basil and Lily will serve Italian meat and cheese boards along with a range of bruschettas, paninis and freshly prepared salads. Breakfast will include a range of pastries, fresh fruit salad and homemade granola washed down with good Italian coffee, fresh juices and high quality teas.
Anna describes the decor as ‘modern but comfortable’. The grey and gold colour scheme reflects the balance between elegance and approachability – they’ve actively steered away from the ubiquitous industrial look to create a contemporary but classic Italian atmosphere. Anna told us she is hoping to gather a gallery of photographs for the walls showing some of their Italian suppliers “so customers can see the people who do the hard work.”
Looking forward to starting the transformation on this place :-) #Prestwich #newventure
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Family’s will be welcome during the day and a children’s menu will include a babychino (an espresso cup willed with foamed milk, sprinkled with cocoa) gelato and sorbet in summer and there will be high chairs as well as table mats designed for mini Michaelangelo’s to get creative.
As well as a range of typical Aperitivo, there will be an extensive list of Italian wines split into core staples and a changing seasonal list which feature smaller production wines from boutique vineyards. The list of beers will be more constant but will reflect Italy’s recent love of independent micro-brewers. Moretti have a craft offshoot with beers which reflect the key ingredients of particular Italian regions whether it be chestnuts or seasonal fruit. Basil and Lily are hoping to import some of the exciting high quality independent beers that are being produced over there at the moment.
The name Basil and Lily comes from Anna’s paternal grandpa and maternal grandma who were both born and bred in Prestwich.
Work on the all day wine bar at 449a Bury New Road (between Bargain Booze and Stan’s Barbers) has only just begun, with an estimated opening date of late May/early June.
