One of Southport’s oldest and most popular restaurant sites is getting a brand new lease of life as the town’s first-ever pottery painting and pizza parlour.
Work is currently underway to transform the former Fuego’s Mexican restaurant on Stanley Street into Clay & Crust, a vibrant new venture led by local hospitality expert Joe Bolger.
Opening seven days a week, the venue will offer families and people of all ages the opportunity to paint pottery while enjoying a menu of artisan pizzas, small plates, and antipasti.
Beyond the restaurant, Clay & Crust will offer “pottery parties” that bring the experience directly to people’s homes, before taking the creations back to the studio to be professionally fired.
A Full Circle Journey
The vision for Clay & Crust marks a personal milestone for Joe Bolger, whose family has a long history in the North West hospitality scene.
His father, Steven Bolger, ran the popular Le Frog in Southport, while his brother Daniel owns Penelope’s in Southport and Ghetto Golf in Liverpool.
Joe, who has managed venues in Manchester and the Lake District, said:
“I’ve worked in hospitality since I was 14 or 15 years old.
“My first ever job was working in a pottery painting studio, so my life’s now come full circle!
“Fuego’s was such an iconic Southport restaurant, it was here for 25 years.
“We wanted to come in and transform the building and create something exciting where people can come in and enjoy great experiences.”
Something New for Southport
The new venue aims to cater to a wide demographic, from family daytime outings to evening date nights.
Joe believes the timing is perfect given the wider regeneration of the town:
“I think it’s going to be a brilliant new addition for Southport.
“There are lots of exciting things happening, with new places such as the new Warehouse Arts Centre opening on West Street soon, the new Footy Nation now open at Ocean Plaza, and restoration work on Southport Pier starting soon.
“We have The Open Golf Championship and all the new events happening in Southport this year too, so there’s plenty of reasons for people to come and visit.”
Clay & Crust is expected to open in mid to late May, with a team of five or six local staff ready to welcome the first painters and diners.
