Diggle-based ice cream company Grandpa Greene’s has opened a new cafe in Uppermill, Saddleworth, transforming the site of an old public toilet into a charming little bistro.
The new cafe and restaurant at King George V Playing Fields is the second location for the team behind Diggle’s popular ice cream parlour, famed for its indulgent desserts, cakes, hot chocolates, and other sweet treats.
After officially opening on Father’s Day weekend, the new cafe can be found at the edge of the park serving up its famous luxury ice creams as well a range of hearty sandwiches, cakes, and hot and cold drinks.
A long time coming, the new opening had several objections at its planning stage which means that alcohol is currently being served inside the cafe only with food.
Image: Supplied
Image: Supplied
On the menu at the new cafe, you’ll find a range of breakfast sandwiches served until 11.45am followed by freshly baked baguettes.
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Filling choices include breakfast favourites like egg, bacon and sausage (with veggie bacon and sausages also available), followed by hearty lunch options like salt and pepper chicken and Italian meats.
Further baguette choices include the La Caprese with mozzarella, tomato and pesto, and the New York Deli with pastrami, Emmental cheese and mustard mayonnaise.
Customers at Uppermill can also choose to build their own sandwiches, starting with the base before adding a filling, cheese and veg.
Image: Supplied
Image: Supplied
Sandwich prices start from £4.50 at breakfast, with half baguettes priced from £4 starting at lunchtime.
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As for Grandpa Greene’s famous ice creams, these can be enjoyed in a variety of different formats with chocolate and sprinkle cones available alongside regular cones and tubs.
Ice cream flavours currently on offer at the new cafe include Bubblegum, Mint Choc Chip, Lotus Biscoff, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Strawberry, Cookies and Cream, and a vegan-friendly Passionfruit and Mango sorbet.
Prices for edible tubs and regular cones start at £3, rising to £3.50 for Grandpa Greene’s sprinkle and chocolate-coated versions.
Commenting on the new opening, the Grandpa Greene’s team said: “The opening of our new Uppermill location is finally here and the wait is well and truly over!! This has been very long in the making & highly anticipated, we cannot wait for you all to see!
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“Our team have worked so hard over the past few weeks to make the opening perfect and we couldn’t be more proud! We hope to have all your support on our new opening and that you like it just as much as we do!
“We’ve always wanted to open up a second location, being in such a beautiful location, this really is what we’ve dreamt of and so much more!”
Featured image – Supplied
Feature
The incredible Asian food market held every month at an 800-year-old church in Stockport
Daisy Jackson
One of Greater Manchester’s most unique food events is taking place monthly in and around the grounds of an 800-year-old church.
Held on the second Friday of every month at St Mary’s Church in Stockport, the Asian Food Market brings together some of the region’s best independent Asian street food traders under one historic roof.
Organised by Eat Good West, the event brings together 16 traders every month, serving up dishes from across Asia.
Visitors can tuck into everything from crispy Taiwanese fried chicken and Korean corn dogs to homemade strawberry mochi.
A real highlight is the Japanese yakitori skewers, grilled fresh to order on a traditional charcoal grill while you wait, served in a cloud of smoke and delicious charred edges.
The market originally launched in Edgeley, but after growing in popularity it moved to St Mary’s around a year ago, giving organisers more space to accommodate the increasing crowds.
For the team behind the event, it’s about more than just great food. They see the market as a way of bringing together Stockport’s diverse communities, creating a space where people can connect over shared meals and discover new cultures through food.
Strawberry mochiA round of drinks for £10Sticky fried chicken
There’s a lively atmosphere throughout the evening, with live music performances adding to the experience. And if Manchester’s unpredictable weather makes an appearance, there’s plenty of additional seating inside the church.
The bar also serves a selection of Asian beers and soft drinks at surprisingly affordable prices. We picked up an Asahi, a Singha and a plum beer for just £10 – one of the best-value rounds we’ve seen in a while.
If you’re looking for an excuse to spend your Friday evening eating your way across Asia without leaving Stockport, this is one event worth putting in the diary.
The former pub in Hulme that’s now a haven for salvaged mid-century treasures
Daisy Jackson
If you’ve ever wondered where old stained-glass windows, vintage toilets, and dazzling chandeliers go when they’re rescued from demolition, the answer is probably Insitu Manchester.
Standing on Chester Road in Hulme, Insitu occupies the former Turville pub, a Grade II listed Victorian building dating back to around 1870.
What was once a neighbourhood boozer is now one of Manchester’s most fascinating places to browse, packed to the rafters with architectural salvage, antiques, and quirky design pieces.
Spread across three floors, every room feels like a treasure hunt. One minute you’re admiring an elegant fireplace, the next you’re standing in front of a huge stained-glass church window wondering if it would fit in your downstairs loo.
The real showstopper is upstairs. The former billiards room has been transformed into a bright, sunlit showroom that feels more like an art gallery than a salvage yard.
Founded in 1984 as a business specialising in reclaimed doors and fireplaces, Insitu has spent more than four decades saving beautiful objects from being lost forever.
Today, its stock ranges from reclaimed timber flooring and cast-iron radiators to stained glass, doors and other architectural features.
The former billiards room is now a beautiful showroomA beautiful mid-century tiled tableVintage sinks and toiletsIncredible stained glass windows at InsituA room packed with mid-century treasure at Insitu in ManchesterPaintings, stained glass, and ornate furnitureThe outside of Insitu in Hulme, ManchesterA glimpse inside Insitu in ManchesterA glimpse inside Insitu in Manchester
During our visit, we spotted a mid-century tiled coffee table, ornate chandeliers, vintage glass lampshades, paintings and fireplaces.
But perhaps the most unexpected room was downstairs, where an entire collection of antique sinks and vintage toilets is displayed. Who knew a loo could be so beautiful?
Part of the fun is that you never quite know what you’ll find around the next corner. Every item has a story, and many have been carefully rescued from buildings that no longer exist.
Come for the fireplaces, stay for the vintage toilets. Trust us.
Georgina Pellant -
21st June 2023 
