Star date: 28th August 2012 

DELI-LAMA COMES TO BEXLEY SQUARE

"There's a chance we could make something happen here that is by real Salford people" Linda Robson

A delicatessen, a café and soon to be a bar, the aptly named Deli-Lama is out to create a new Salford vibe. Standing out on The Crescent, at the corner of Bexley Square, the deli-café-bar is aiming to encourage artists to exhibit on its walls, sell local goods and host a few gigs, as well as creating the cutest food fare in town…

Full mouth watering details here…

The Deli-Lama. It's a top name but has to have a bit of a difference about it to carry the pun. Thankfully the delicatessen cum café cum bar does have that difference. In line with places like Eccles Art Gallery (a former shop now a community exhibition space) and The Black Lion (a pub that's also a cinema and arts venue) the Deli-Lama has been born out of adversity and is much more than it appears.

It's run by Linda Robson, recently made redundant due to cuts at Seedley and Langworthy Trust, and the aim, she says, is not to make massive profits but to do something she loves and put something back into the community.

"I haven't got a background in catering but I love being around people and I love food, so that's what this is about" she says "Salford's my home and I love this area of central Salford, I remember trudging through it when I was little and going to places like the Education Offices. There is a chance that we could make something happen here that is by real Salford people."

Linda was also central to SCMP (Salford Community Media Partnership) and wants to encourage artists to use the Deli's walls to exhibit their work, as well as selling goods and food made by local enterprises. It's also hosting a gig as part of this year's Salford Music Festival, the World Music Jam on September 20th.

Yesterday, the Deli-Lama kind of officially opened, giving a flavour of what to expect with a Caribbean Chill Out Day, featuring some top Jamaican ska+ tunes, while serving exotic punch, jerk chicken and plantain. For the most part, however, the menu is going veer towards a Mediterranean feel, with home made hummus, salads and soups.

"It's mainly around a veggie vibe, very colourful and with as many natural ingredients as possible" Linda explains "Like, if I'm doing a tomato soup it's got to have real tomatoes in it; I can't just open a tin and say `That's tomato soup' because I like my food too much. I wouldn't give anyone any food that I wouldn't eat myself."

"We want to open as a store as well, so you can come in and buy a really nice loaf of bread or something from the deli counter" she adds "The Women's Institute in Salford is interested in selling some of their stuff through us too. We're trying to support other local businesses and enterprises."

As the multi-zillion pound Chapel Street regeneration moves ever nearer, Linda wants her family run Deli-Lama to be retain its unique taste of Salford and attract its own community. Indeed, future plans for the area were never even a consideration… "No, it was a complete accident, I was actually looking at an old bank in Eccles but was chatting and heard that this place had come up for let."

The former solicitors office has now been transformed into a bright, cheery, comfy, extra friendly delicatessen cum café cum bar, with tables and chairs spilling outside, making its distinct mark on historic Bexley Square. Well recommended.

The Deli-Lama
220 Chapel Street
Corner of Bexley Square, M3 5LE
O7762 018925
Open 9am-5pm (soon to be 11pm with alcohol licence)

For further details search Facebook: Deli-Lama-CafeBar
Twitter: Deli-Lama Café/Bar