Now I like the way that stories have a habit of bouncing back, which is what happened to the one about an Altrincham ghost sign.*
At the time, the picture of the brick warehouse with the name G.W. BONSON picked out at the top of the building was just an interesting example of a ghost sign, which is a record of a business long gone.
In this case, it refers to G.W. BONSON who after setting up a carpet beating business at the age of 23 in 1881, moved into this fine brick building in 1894, and started trading as a cabinet maker, upholsterer and furniture outlet.
At the time, that was pretty much it, and while I promised myself I would go looking for more on Mr Bonson I never did.
And then by chance a friend took us on a mystery trip to a new restaurant.
We had no idea where we were going or what to expect, but as we walked up Moss Lane into the heart of Altrincham, there was Mr Bonson’s warehouse, complete with the ghost sign and below it picked out in black the name Tre Ciccio!**
I have to say eating pizza in the former warehouse gave me a sense of continuity with the past, and that becomes the rest of the story which began when two friends“started one magical summer’s evening meal in the Campania region of Italy, and ended by becoming the masterminds behind who we are today.
Invited to the extremely popular La Terrazza in restaurant in Calvanico by the lovely Scafuri family, we experienced an evening like we never have before.
From owner Michele managing his hungry guests from his scrap of paper and pen, to the mouth watering authentic Neapolitan pizzas, roast chicken diavola, Cacciatore and freshly picked porcini mushrooms that we devoured, we were left craving much, much more!”.
More than that it set them off with the idea that these simple Italian dishes could work here, and the success of the restaurant Tre Ciccio! proved them right.
We were there last night, on a cold Thursday evening and the place was full.
At which point I could write in detail about my pizza, the starters, or Tina’s roast chicken, but I am no food writer, just a jobbing historian, so instead I shall let the pictures do the business and recommend the place.
And as historian I was intrigued at how the shop had been converted into the waiting area where you can watch the pizza’s being made before gently being slid into the giant wood burning pizza oven.
The old wooden ceiling and some of the original features have been retained, while in contrast the restaurant which was the workshop, has a contemporary feel with a roof which can be pulled back on those rare days when the sun shines and you could be under a Neapolitan sky, consuming San Marzano tomatoes, Amalfi lemons & buffalo mozzarella direct from the south of Italy.
And that is about the extent of my food writing, so instead I suggest you step into Mr Bonson’s warehouse and enjoy a night at Tre Ciccio!
Location; Tre Ciccio! Altrincham
Pictures; Mr Bonson’s warehouse, 2016, from the collection of Andy Robertson, remaining images courtesy of Tre Ciccio, 2018
*Finding a ghost sign in Altrincham, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/2015/02/finding-ghost-sign-in-altrincham_19.html
** Tre Ciccio! https://www.treciccio.co.uk/
In this case, it refers to G.W. BONSON who after setting up a carpet beating business at the age of 23 in 1881, moved into this fine brick building in 1894, and started trading as a cabinet maker, upholsterer and furniture outlet.
We had no idea where we were going or what to expect, but as we walked up Moss Lane into the heart of Altrincham, there was Mr Bonson’s warehouse, complete with the ghost sign and below it picked out in black the name Tre Ciccio!**
I have to say eating pizza in the former warehouse gave me a sense of continuity with the past, and that becomes the rest of the story which began when two friends“started one magical summer’s evening meal in the Campania region of Italy, and ended by becoming the masterminds behind who we are today.
From owner Michele managing his hungry guests from his scrap of paper and pen, to the mouth watering authentic Neapolitan pizzas, roast chicken diavola, Cacciatore and freshly picked porcini mushrooms that we devoured, we were left craving much, much more!”.
We were there last night, on a cold Thursday evening and the place was full.
At which point I could write in detail about my pizza, the starters, or Tina’s roast chicken, but I am no food writer, just a jobbing historian, so instead I shall let the pictures do the business and recommend the place.
The old wooden ceiling and some of the original features have been retained, while in contrast the restaurant which was the workshop, has a contemporary feel with a roof which can be pulled back on those rare days when the sun shines and you could be under a Neapolitan sky, consuming San Marzano tomatoes, Amalfi lemons & buffalo mozzarella direct from the south of Italy.
Location; Tre Ciccio! Altrincham
Pictures; Mr Bonson’s warehouse, 2016, from the collection of Andy Robertson, remaining images courtesy of Tre Ciccio, 2018
*Finding a ghost sign in Altrincham, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/2015/02/finding-ghost-sign-in-altrincham_19.html
** Tre Ciccio! https://www.treciccio.co.uk/
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