Alderley's 'most wacky' restaurant calls it a day

by Lisa Reeves

Tuesday 12^th January 2016

Tue 12^th Jan 2016

Tomfoolery at 34 has announced its closure just five and a half months after opening its doors.

The eccentric and quirky restaurant, which recently described itself on Twitter as "the most wacky place in town" was the brainchild of Alderley Edge resident Manzur Iqbal.

Manzur spent 18 months transforming the former Alderley Rose Chinese restaurant which his father Iqbal Ahmed, Chairman of Seamark Group, purchased.

Along with Laura Burgess, they spent months sourcing the interiors from ebay, warehouses and car boot sales - including mix and match antique sofas and armchairs, old gaming machines, an old TV and typewriter, plus an eclectic collection of lamps, suitcases, ornaments and memorabilia.

Whilst chef Brice Moore, who had previously worked at Manchester House, celebrity chef Michael Caines' Gidleigh Park in Devon and Paul Ainsworth at No 6 in Padstow, created a unique menu with everything handmade on the premises.

We have been unable to obtain a comment from Tomfoolery regarding the reason for their closure and future plans for 34 London Road, although they have posted the following message on their Facebook page:

"What a great Xmas! shattered. Thank you all for coming to our pop up boutique. We hope we brought something new and heartfelt to Alderley Edge hopefully your experience with us made you younger and made you remember the simpler times.

"Moving to an exciting city now! If you want Tomfoolery at your town/city email us [email protected]

"BE COOL...STAY IN SCHOOL."

Tags:: Restaurants, Tomfoolery at 34

Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Jon Williams

Tuesday 12^th January 2016 at 2:45 pm

Not supprised at all

Graham Vickers

Tuesday 12^th January 2016 at 3:05 pm

Sadly it is no surprise.

This was quite clearly a vanity/dream project run by an individual with no commercial acumen or experience of any kind.

Besides I had no desire to sit in a bathtub in public view!

Diane Bygrave

Tuesday 12^th January 2016 at 3:16 pm

I really wanted it to work because the children loved it, but the food just wasn't good enough.
The service was bad and the one time we went one of the huge animals on the wall fell on my sister's head! (None of the staff came to help) We were crying with laughter when we left, but for all the wrong reasons...

Dawn Kelly

Tuesday 12^th January 2016 at 3:51 pm

Loved the funky style but thats where it ended. Think they were trying to be like 'Expo Lounge' in Didsbury but without the great menu & service was doomed. Shame!

Dave Clarke

Tuesday 12^th January 2016 at 5:56 pm

I respected where they were trying to be but executing of the approach was poor. Like another comment I felt this was a vanity project. My wife and I only went once and the experience and food was below average.

My only hope is that it morphs into something better and doesn't stand empty for too long.

Fiona Doorbar

Tuesday 12^th January 2016 at 7:01 pm

Let's have another go at a Spanish offer.... la tasca and la vina used to be one of our faves but must have gone as they didn't fit the village needs at that exact time?!
Family friendly and tasty food with great wine . That's the recipe for success in Alderley

Daniel Stephenson

Tuesday 12^th January 2016 at 10:23 pm

I always found this place somewhat frustrating. I enjoyed the nostalgic decor and attempt to ooze individuality in a relatively sterile / corporate strip of restaurants, but found the service to be weird and the food to be quite poor. It was not clear to me whether it was primarily a cafe, restaurant or bar - nor did they seem to know - which meant they never really connected well with a significant audience willing to invest in repeat visits.

Neil Stelling

Wednesday 13^th January 2016 at 2:10 pm

This concept could have worked on Beech Rd, Chorlton or Burton Rd, Didsbury.

In its place we need a proper, sensibly priced Chinese Restaurant that also does takeaways/delivery. Or an Indian, or Thai. Any of those three can be very successful if done properly in that location.

Vin Sumner

Wednesday 13^th January 2016 at 11:03 pm

So they had a go and it didn't work ; at least they tried something different. The world would be a sterile place without innovation and change ....

Steve Savage

Thursday 14^th January 2016 at 9:29 am

It wasn't the concept as such, the food was bang average at best. The market is there if the product is right.

Vince Chadwick

Thursday 14^th January 2016 at 2:41 pm

Alderley Rose - about 50 years on that site. This loony scheme - a few months. Is anyone really surprised?

Dominic Brown

Thursday 14^th January 2016 at 3:53 pm

Sad to see it go especially considering all the buzz when it opened. It did seem like they put in a big effort over the last couple of months to keep it going but sadly it didn't happen. To be honest I think Alderley was the wrong place for it, more suited to the Northern Quarter in Manchester. But I think it's biggest problem was that the food itself wasn't that great. Added to its low hygiene rating you have to wonder how serious they were.

Quite ironic it closing so soon when you consider the two businesses in that building before them lasted over 100 years.

DELETED ACCOUNT False Name (Louise Gray)

Thursday 14^th January 2016 at 7:23 pm

I would like to say a big thanks to Tomfoolery for the Skips and building noise and months of construction and disruption in the heart of the village all for a few months of restaurant service only for it all to be ripped out (very eco!) and start all over again. Oh the joy!

Thursday 14^th January 2016 at 7:27 pm

The place was an accident waiting to happen, cables and junk a over the place.

Glenn Hudson

Friday 15^th January 2016 at 12:12 am

How to make a small fortune from a restaurant run as this one was.....start with a large fortune

John Clegg

Friday 15^th January 2016 at 11:50 am

It quite often turns out that no change wins over innovation, doesn't it? It's usually someone imposing their will or vision on something when it wasn't required.
That's why the Unicorn didn't get transmogrified into a Hickory Smoke House and just remained a decent pub.