Welcoming communities in Prestwich

“I came in with my granddaughter last week, and I must say, the food was exceptional! Upon walking into the establishment, it felt as if we were transported to New York. As a proud American, I must say I felt right at home! My granddaughter, on the other hand—who is very hard to impress—took her time, but by the time the food arrived, her demeanor had changed. We ordered the Benny's Burger, the schnitzel wrap, and the sweet potato chips. I have to mention that my granddaughter did not make the life of the young lady at the till easy. With the number of notes my granddaughter gave for her schnitzel wrap, I was sure she would be laughed at by our server. Instead, we were met with kind responses, smiles, and absolutely no issues. The food came out very quickly, and all three items we ordered were presented exquisitely! Every note was followed perfectly. The service was probably the best I have experienced in this otherwise abysmal country. I come to England at least twice a year from New York to visit my children and grandkids. I try to give each one time alone with me so I can give each the attention they deserve. My son had mentioned that there was a splendid restaurant I had to try; he has ordered Uber delivery from you a few times. I truly recommend the dine-in experience! I will definitely be returning the next time I come to visit the kids. (I do apologize, as I had intended to share the photographs that were taken. But sadly, only my granddaughter took photos—she has the better phone and therefore the better camera—and she seems to be taking her time sending them to me.)”

“This place is five ⭐ stars!! Afternoon event for a Holy Communion! Food, atmosphere and staff all amazing. A sense that they all enjoy their work!! Very clean and probably the best breakfast food I’ve had in years! Perfection!! Value for money also was a 5/5!!!! My son who has autism enjoyed his food and ate it so that’s a big compliment!!! We will be back!!!”

“Best place in the village hands down. Nice folk and no loons”

“Great shop for all your essentials for pets. Our Shih Tzus love the AVA Advanced Nutrition kibble for Shih Tzus and the pate in the tin. No issues at all with them refusing to eat which has happened with other brands in the past. They also drink more now as well which is good.”

“The friendly owner's are very nice. The food for the 6 or 7 times I've been in the last 6 months is always very good, freshly prepared and piping hot.”

“Under new management, better prices , all legit goods and in date. Lovely staff too”

“Super friendly barber, great cut, and really fair pricing. Highly recommended!”

“First time having physio and Lisa was amazing. So kind and attentive, accommodating and understanding. Thank you.”

“We have had a couple of bad experiences recently welding around the country , butter fingers has now set the bar high , look at pics , fantastic prices , fresh salad & hot food , lovely lady on front of house xx burger & chips takeaway £5.50”

“All the food is great, fresh made. I particularly like spam and scrambled eggs on bagel or jacket potato tuna mayo and cheese. Love this place”

“Amazing pub. Great atmosphere, lovely friendly staff. The Landlord and Landlady can't do enough for their regulars and new patrons alike. Can't recommend enough!!!”

“Geoff and Steve at this barber shop deliver an exceptional experience! This barber shop opened over 40 years ago and their skilled hands and attention to detail ensure a fantastic haircut every time. The welcoming atmosphere and friendly conversation make each visit enjoyable. A top-notch destination for grooming! Thank you guys”

“What a fabulous place this is. Called in for breakfast which was freshly cooked tasty & delicious. Exceptionally clean, lovely owners/staff very professional & polite. Highly recommended”

“Had a great time here playing pool (card accepted, name on blackboard, winner stays on) with the friendly locals.”

“Absolutely love this place! The Greek food is authentic, flavorful, and always fresh. The staff is incredibly friendly, and the ambiance is cozy and welcoming. Highly recommend it!”

“Came on a Monday, and there was a buy one free one offer on Mondays! So it was super worth it for us. The portion was large and the taste was good. The staff were approachable and friendly and even asked us whether the food was alright afterwards! Overall a great experience for you to bring family and friends over!”

“When investigating local childcare options for our daughter, we were stuck between the homely setting of a childminder and the consistency of a nursery - to us Swan’s offered the best of both worlds... The setting As a small setting it has a real family feel and impressed us from the outset with Nicola (Nursery Manager) showing real pride in touring us. There are three rooms: Baby, Tweenies and Pre-School and all are well loved and maintained with changing seasonal displays, toys and activities. There is an outdoor garden area that offers great stimulation - it isn't the largest but they do make great use of it! Overall, it's an inclusive and diverse community atmosphere. The staff All of the staff are excellent and the majority are extremely experienced. Management have been in place 20+ years and Toni in the baby room has been at Swan's for years & years (so many, I forget!) - I found this reassuring when our daughter first started at 9 months old. The staff have remained consistent throughout our daughter’s 3 years at Swan’s with only a small, natural turnover - always a good sign! The staff are friendly, caring and vigilant and work hard to bond with the children and encourage development on an individual basis. They seem to genuinely enjoy their jobs and workplace. Many of the staff also have their own children (not that this matters but some may find it comforting to know.) Ofsted Swans is rated Ofsted 'Good with Outstanding features' (personal development being one area they excel at.) It’s one of the higher rated Ofsted nurseries in the Prestwich area but often seems to get overlooked - I'm never quite sure why! It's a hidden gem. Rates, funding and inclusions Contact the nursery for the latest rates and funding info - all childcare is expensive but I remember it being one of the more reasonable rates in the area! Provisions includes breakfast, lunch and a light tea at around 4pm. Nappies, wipes and suncream are included for comparison purposes. Core hours Included in the standard daily payment rate is drop-off from 08.00am and collection by 5.30pm. You can pay a small fee extra to drop-off earlier (from 7.30am) and collect later (by 6pm.) Location & Parking Swans is located on Whittaker Lane - just 3 minutes walk from the Heaton Park metrolink stop. There is on-street parking behind the nursery on Earl Street - ideal for drop off & pick up, you will never find yourself fighting for a spot. App & tracking Swans uses the Learning Journals app to detail your child's day, communications and events. Up until pre-school - sleep, food intake, toileting and development milestones are all logged on the app along with regular pictures and videos of what your kiddo has been doing during the nursery day. Accidents/Incidents are also recorded via the app. Extracurricular activities My daughter has enjoyed regular seasonal walks/trips to Heaton Park, Stretch & Grow exercise classes (and for a very small fee extra) externally provided French lessons. Pre-school trips have been to Smithill's Farm and the Transport museum. Swans also put on an amazing graduation ceremony - it was above and beyond expectation with some lovely small take-home keepsakes. Other features There is secure on-site pram parking within the nursery boundary for those who need it. Summary We've been extremely happy with our experience of Swans for 3+ years. If we were to have any more children there is no doubt that I'd be popping my name down on the waiting list ASAP. Plus, both of my daughter’s Grandmas are retired primary school teachers and both have independently commented on how good her development has been (and now she's older - her readiness for school) crediting it largely to Swans and its staff. A huge thanks to Nicola, Emma, Joanne, Toni, Sana, Rachel, Leona, Kira and Ciara - you all do an amazing job and we’ll miss you & the amazing environment you work so hard to create on a daily basis.”

“A nice atmosphere we felt welcome.”

“My daughter is thriving at Stagecoach North Manchester. It’s a lovely supportive class which builds confidence and is most importantly fun. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Beth and her team if you’re looking for a performing arts class in Prestwich.”

“One of the best baby and toddler classes around, Jen is brilliant with the babies and my son and I love going I can't recommend them enough!”

“The best sensory class there is! I should know, I have tried them all. Jen is incredible and makes every baby & parent feel so welcomed. The class has such a wide variety for learning new skills and accommodates a wide age bracket. We love you adventure babies & Jen xx”

“I want to point out the outstanding support we get each time we attend the pharmacy! The team is very professional and patient. Each time we need their professional guide, they go above and beyond to give us a hand! I do not know of other pharmacies providing such professional and caring support!”

“St Hilda’s worked perfectly for my daughter. She was very happy at the school and thoroughly enjoyed all of her time as a pupil there. She liked all her lessons and a variety of after school clubs. The staff at St Hilda’s are all pleasant and very helpful. Parents evenings were always informative and the teachers were always good at explaining my daughter’s academic progress. Although St Hilda’s is considered a Christian school, there are a variety of children from other faiths who attend the school. Although pupils frequently visit the church next door, there is no pressure for them to be religious. There is plenty of free parking close to the school and the Metro station is about a 1 minute walk away. Would highly recommend St Hilda’s school to any parents in the Prestwich/Heaton area.”

“I've got two children at St Margaret's and two more that have since left. It's a wonderful school with great teachers and a credit to the area.”

“Excellent school you should go to go to school”