Another raft of local restaurant operators are moving into the new Stanley Square development in Sale.
The Trafford town is being reborn as a foodie hotspot, attracting some of the biggest independent names from across Greater Manchester.
Already in situ at Stanley Square and the surrounding area is another site for Rudy’s with their Neapolitan pizzas, Sale Foodhall (from the minds behind Ancoats General Store and Stretford Foodhall), and Sugo Pasta Kitchen.
It’s not just pre-established names moving in either, with one of the region’s most exciting new restaurants, Petisco, choosing the area for its first site.
Petisco restaurant in Sale. Credit: The Manc Group
The Portuguese-inspired restaurant has been launched by four childhood friends and serves an exciting menu of small plates, like shell-on green peri-peri prawns and saffron-poached octopus salad.
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And the explosion of new restaurants is only just getting started.
Chorlton’s renowned seafood restaurant The Oystercatcher has announced that it will open its second restaurant in Sale.
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The neighbourhood hotspot has a big focus on oysters (as the name suggests) but generally, if it’s in the sea, it’s on the menu.
The new-look Stanley Square in Sale is attracting plenty of new restaurants.
They champion fresh, seasonal seafood, with an every-changing menu that’s earned it a solid reputation as one of Greater Manchester’s best restaurants.
It’s been a long time coming for Rimmer and co-owner Simon Connolly, who said on announcing the news: “31 years since we opened site 1….site 3 coming 2053!”
The new Green’s is taking shape at Stanley Square and is already taking bookings, with its opening pencilled in for early July.
Zumuku Sushi, which already has sites in Manchester, Bolton, Ramsbottom, Cheadle and Worsley (to name a few) has snapped up one of the remaining empty units in the redeveloped square.
It will soon be bringing its authentic Japanese cooking to the area and rubbing shoulders with its next door neighbours at Sugo.
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It shouldn’t be long before Blanchflower – a popular neighbourhood restaurant and cafe with its own bakery on site – branches over with a second site from its home in Altrincham too.
All eyes are firmly on Sale to see who else decides to move in.
Iconic ice cream cafe Grandpa Greene’s to ‘completely demolish’ canalside location, revealing big new plans
Daisy Jackson
Grandpa Greene’s fans have just one month left to visit the ice cream company’s iconic canalside cafe, with the team announcing its imminent closure – but not for too long.
The family-run business has huge plans for the site, announcing that it will be ‘completely demolishing’ the Diggle cafe to redevelop it into a new space.
This ice cream brand is one of the North West’s favourite food producers, creating dozens of ice cream flavours to serve from their parlours, as well as indulgent treats like pancakes, afternoon teas, hot chocolates, and milkshakes.
The location that most people think of when they think of Grandpa Greene’s is their spot right on the canal in Diggle, but after more than 20 years, it’s time to give the site some TLC.
Grandpa Greene’s has operated from here since 2005, when Carole Scholes opened an ice cream ‘shed’.
Now, they want to turn it into ‘the ultimate hospitality destination’, with reclaimed Cheshire brickwork, huge windows, and a vaulted roof, making the most of the scenic surrounds.
Rick Scholes, managing director at Grandpa Greene’s Luxury Ice Cream, said: “In 2005, my mum, Carole, opened a small canalside ice cream shed in Diggle after bringing my grandfather’s original family ice cream recipes back to life. None of us could ever have imagined where that journey would lead.
Grandpa Greene’s existing canalside location in Diggle will closeThe family-run business has grand plans for the siteCredit: The Manc Group
“Over the last 21 years, Grandpa Greene’s has grown organically thanks to the incredible support of our customers, our team and the local community. It’s amazing to think that what started as a small canalside ice cream shed will soon become the ultimate hospitality destination.
“This redevelopment represents the biggest investment in the history of our Diggle site and our commitment to securing the future of Grandpa Greene’s for many years to come.
“While we’re preserving everything that has made this place so special, we’re creating a fantastic new space that can be enjoyed all year round including one of the biggest milestones for the site… indoor toilets!
“We close our Diggle site this September to begin this exciting new chapter and look forward to welcoming guests back in December.
“On behalf of my family, thank you to everyone who has supported us over the last 21 years. We can’t wait to welcome you back and share the next chapter of the Grandpa Greene’s story.”
All Brewers Fayre and Beefeater locations across the UK are closing down
Danny Jones
It looks to be the end for not one but two of Britain’s best-known and long-running restaurant franchises, as Brewers Fayre and Beefeaters will be closing down all of their locations.
Dating back to the mid-1970s, there will soon be none left anywhere in the country
The pair of recognisable chains, owned by parent company Whitbread PLC – who also own Premier Inn, hence why they usually come as a joint package – have nearly 200 sites across the UK, but they are already in the process of a wholesale shutdown.
News of the impending closures first began circulating back in April, but now the process is said to be fully underway, with multiple Greater Manchester names on the chopping block.
A real shame all brewers fayres are closing down. As a member they’ve sent me a last free main. So enjoying a mixed grill pic.twitter.com/EIHMZ7LCvv
— Daniel Turner⚽️ 🏟️ 1️⃣1️⃣5️⃣8️⃣ (@puffpuff65) August 4, 2026
With roughly 3,800 staff set to be made unemployed as part of the major restructuring by Whitbread, the job cuts will see approximately 12% of their workforce laid off from a total of around 30,000.
One local duo due to face the music is the soon-to-close Stable Gate in Denton and Wheatlea Park in Wigan – both of which are Brewers Fayre branches.
89 of the brand’s boozers have been given until early September (some dates may vary) to shut up shop and hold not just their last orders, but their final dinner service full stop.
The rest of the venues closing next month are Beefeater pubs, including the Heaton Park one in Crumpsall, The Quay House at Salford Quays, and the Whitgate Inn over Oldham way.
As for others nearby, Macclesfield’s Springwood Park is also set to close.
The older of the two British mainstays is Beefeater, which was founded by Whitbread back in 1974 when they opened their first pub, The Halfway House, down in Enfield.
Brewers debuted up North in ’79, with a maiden watering hole called The Farmers Arms in Preston, before going on to open several locations around Lancashire and eventually nationwide.
Most of you will likely have visited or at the very least passed one of those food and drink spots in your time, and while they may be more associated with hotels and service stations these days, they still served as regular haunts for plenty of people who will no doubt be gutted to see them go.
Speaking of services, another big name is expanding further into the North West.
Daisy Jackson -
8th June 2022 
