Formby businessman has helped revive Southport's Cambridge Arcade with the Hungry Monk
The owner of a Southport restaurant has helped to revive the fortunes of Cambridge Arcade.
Paul and Sara Dawbarn at The Hungry Monk in Cambridge Arcade in Southport. Photo by Graham Moreton of Tarleton Photography
Formby man Paul Dawbarn opened the Hungry Monk two years ago, in the space once used by Cafe Matisse.
Paul decided to take on the unit, and has run the independent restaurant with his wife Sara.
The couple’s teenage children Jason and Sophie are drafted in to help out at the weekend.
Last year Paul opened two shops in the arcade selling gifts and sweets, and has hopes to open a third unit soon.
Paul has a background in catering, and ran a cafe on Lord Street prior to opening the Hungry Monk.
The Hungry Monk restaurant in Cambridge Arcade, Southport
Paul said: “We noticed the unit was empty because I used to walk past it most days. I remember when Cafe Matisse was a real ‘in place’, with big queues at the weekend.
“So we decided to take the unit, and have not looked back since. We sell home cooked food, and source produce locally. We specialise in sharing, tapas style plates , and huge steaks. We do sirloin, t-bone and rib eye, all bought from a good local butcher.”
The restaurant is adorned with memorobilia and mementos from Paul and Sara’s family histories, which helps the restaurant to stand out from the high street chains.
Paul explained how the Hungry Monk has now become an extremely popular venue at the weekend, with customers queueing to get in.
He added: “We put on live music at the weekend, and choose acts to to suit our audience. We are very, very busy, and we cannot take bookings for Saturday nights.
“The customers at weekend tend to be over thirty. Yes, many of our customers are from Southport, but not all of them. We find people in town for the weekend want to eat at the Hungry Monk on Saturday nights. We have a lot of people from Liverpool and across the north west. Fortunately we attract a nice crowd.
“We have a good relationship with the other business owners in the arcade. We know Julian at Tap and Bottle, and we help each other out. I think some people have a drink there and eat with us, or eat first and then have a beer at Julian’s.”
In 2014 several of the units in the Victorian arcade were empty, and some traders felt the area had become moribund.
The arcade roof was damaged during the construction of the Atkinson centre, which caused rain water to pour into the arcade outside the florists.
At the time traders said that the damage to the roof and problems with the guttering were symptomatic of a broader malaise and that the historic arcade was in decline.
Paul said: “The arcade is now thriving and we like it here.
“There are no longer any empty units, which is good for everyone.”
Story and photo source: Southport Visiter by Tom Duffy
