Ariete bar and restaurant a staple of Newton high street for 20 years

With Newton-le-Willows located just off the M6 and on the busy Manchester to Liverpool railway line, its high street has become a thriving hub of independent businesses in recent years, with many business owners working together to encourage visitors to shop local.

While many of the independent traders have set up shop in recent years, Italian restaurant Ariete has been developing its reputation for the past 20 years.

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Pasta at Ariete (Image: Ariete)
Located at the end of High Street, Ariete was launched in the former entrance building to Haydock Park Estate two decades ago.

With such a grand building to keep up, general manager Kyle Doran admitted that the venue was looking a little tired before the pandemic.

However, as all businesses were forced into closure in 2020, a positive consequence for the Ariete team is that this gave them the perfect time to "take a step back" and reinvest in the building.

The indoor and outdoor dining areas had a refurb during the pandemic (Image: St Helens Star)
Kyle said: "Covid ended up being one of the best things that happened to the business because it gave us the time to take a step back and an excuse to refurbish the place.

"After restrictions were lifted, it's not stopped really and we are one of the busiest places on the high street.

"We have had to adapt [during the cost of living crisis] like every business has, because everything has doubled in price, but we manage this by having a lot more promotional offers."

Pizza at Ariete (Image: Ariete)
Following the revamp of the building's indoor and outdoor dining areas, some of these offers include bottomless brunch as well as live entertainment to create a vibrant atmosphere at the restaurant.

While Ariete is one of the longer-standing businesses on the high street, its popularity is evident as Kyle says the restaurant is fully booked for weeks in advance on Saturdays.

And while he remembers the high street consisting of just a handful of venues, he agreed that the increase of independents has created a vibrant area that attracts visitors from all over the North West.

The business has retained a popular reputation over two decades (Image: St Helens Star)
Kyle added: "We have really good relationships with the other business owners along the high street, even with places like [Italian restaurant] Verona where you would think there would be competition.

"I think it's a good thing and we want to keep changing and trying new things to make sure we're one of the focal points of the high street."

The restaurant is housed in a grand old entrance building on High Street (Image: Ariete)