Sale has been given something of a transformation in recent months, with a bevy of new food and drink operators moving into the Trafford suburb.
From a new Green’s opening from celebrity TV chef Simon Rimmer, to the arrival of city-wide favourites Rudy’s and Sugo Pasta Kitchen at the newly-developed Stanley Square, there’s never been a better time to go and eat there.
The once-brutalist 60s shopping centre has been transformed beyond recognition – tempting local residents to stay in their local area, rather than hawking off to Altrincham or into town.
What’s more, the square’s regeneration is redirecting attention to some of Sale’s long-standing local favourites – such as The Fat Loaf, which has just won a big award, and Michelin-recommended restaurant The Perfect Match.
But it’s not all about the food. There’s also some great retail to be discovered here, as well as great walks, cultural activities and more.
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Here’s our guide to this foodie neighbourhood on the rise.
Food and drink
Image: The Manc Eats
GrapefruitCoffee – Opened by the team behind record, zine and live show outfit Comfortable On A Tightrope back in 2019, this cute little cafe next to the tram stop serves up great coffee and freshly-baked goodies, ranging from gingerbread men to chiffon cake with grapefruit Turkish delight, mascarpone cream and grapefruit marzipan.
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Pizza Ammore Napoli – As the name suggests, Pizza Ammore is all about the Napoli-style of cooking, promising a thin base, charred crust and simple but flavourful ingredients.
Cowtown Grill – Cowtown Grill saw huge success in lockdown as one of the few restaurants in the area to stay open for takeaway. Its traditional Canadian poutine, burgers and steaks have proven a hit with locals. Cowtown also claims to be the first restaurant in the UK to serve the national Canadian dish of chips, cheese curds and gravy.
Greens – A fixture in the south Manchester suburb for over three decades, Greens vegetarian restaurant was a trailblazer in its time – and remains so today, as the oldest surviving veggie restaurant in Manchester. Its owners have just opened a second site in Sale.
The Fat Loaf – The winner of the 2022 Restaurant of the Year – North West category at the Food Awards England, this family-friendly eatery is a beloved local gem putting a focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients. With an open kitchen and al fresco dining in the summer, it serves a light tapas menu, alongside an a la carte feature=ing a white haggis scotch egg and grilled king prawns with nduja and focaccia.
Petisco – Opened by four friends who’ve all known each other since childhood, newcomer Petisco more than holds its own against Stanley Squares’ more established new residents. Here you’ll find all the tapas regulars, alongside some surprise hero dishes.
Petisco more than holds its own against Stanley Squares’ more established new residents. / Image: The Manc Eats
The Perfect Match – A Michelin Guide recommended restaurant, it’s described as a “simple, honest little bistro […] creating tasty, well-crafted dishes from across Europe”.
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Dutch Courage – This craft beer bar in Stanely Square can also be relied on for great cocktails, with outside terrace seating making it perfect for sunnier days.
Draft – Another neighbourhood craft beer bar, at Draft you’ll find a regularly changing menu featuring locally-brewed beers and lagers alongside those from further afield.
Sugo Pasta Kitchen – First opened in Altrincham in 2015, this southern Italian pasta kitchen is known for its Pugliese-style handmade pasta dishes, tiramisu, wine list and thoughtfully-created starters. New to Sale, it is the restaurant groups third Greater Manchester site.
Image: Hops and Boogie
Hops and Boogie – A new bottle shop, tap room and record store in the heart of Sale’s newly rejuvenated Stanely Square. Head down to find booze and beats from around the world.
Sale Food Hall – With a bevy of rotating food traders to be discovered inside, Sale Food Hall currently boasts delicacies from boozy ice cream parlour A Few Scoops, Chinese street food from Dim Sum Su, and Ethiopian cuisine from House of Habesha. From the team behind General Stores, you’ll also find a great convenience store and coffee shop inside.
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Roti – This Indian-Scottish fusion restaurant is unlike anything else in Manchester, with an eclectic menu featuring a roti ‘chip butty’ made with marinated chickpea chips and curried aloo, Haggis pakoras and an Indian twist on the classic Scotch Egg.
Rudy’s – Manchester’s most beloved Neapolitan pizzeria has recently landed in Sale, bringing its award-winning pies with it. Listed in the world’s top 20 pizzerias more than once, it’s a must-visit – and it’s surprisingly cheap, too.
The Perfect Match in Sale is a must-visit according to the Michelin Guide. / Image: The Perfect Match
Cork of the North – This small bar boasts a heated ‘wine garden’ and offers a changing daily selection of tipples by the glass. Its kitchen, meanwhile, serves complementary small plates and various styles of cheese.
Borello – A traditional Italian restaurant in Sale with a huge menu, Borello’s offering spans bruschetta and antipasti, classic pasta favourites like carbonara, bolognese, lasagne, as well as pizzas, mains like chicken milanese, steaks, salmon and more.
Off The Hook – This popular fish and chip shop began life as a pop-up before coming a Sale mainstay. Head down for all your chippy tea favourites, alongside homemade pies, pakora-style sweetcorn and halloumi fritters, and locally-made Grandad’s Sausages.
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Shopping
Image: The Manc Group
Maker’s Market – Popping up in Sale on the third Sunday each month, the Maker’s Market is a great place to find gems from local traders in Mancheser – ranging from foodie goodies to plants, homeware, records and more.
Emporium M33 – Home to 37 local independent businesses, Emporium M33 is a true hidden gem. Set across three storeys, it’s drawn a number of comparisons to Affleck’s Palace with traders selling everything from fashion items ad antiques to candles, cakes, buttons, jewellery, pet accessories, bags and art.
Ashby’s Greengrocer – Opened in February 2022, Ashby’s is a new groceries store opened with the mission of bringing back the ‘traditional greengrocer’. Selling a range of organic, fresh produce, this is the place to go for all your fruit and veg.
Idaho – First opened in Altrincham, this charming little shop houses the very best indie brands from all over the globe – from homeware to cards and more.
Nightlife and hotels
Image: Booking.com
As a densely residential suburb of Greater Manchester, Sale’s nightlife tends to wrap up rather promptly around 11pm.
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It does boast a number of popular bars, with locals recommending The Steamhouse, The Brooklands Tap, and Jackon’s Boat down the road in Stretford as all being good for a night out.
Alternatively, you can always hop on the tram and be in the city centre in under 20 minutes.
As for hotels, on the budget end, you’re looking at either a Travelodge or Premier Inn, whilst on the slightly more premium side of things, there is The Belmore – a charming real ale pub with rooms upstairs and a cracking Sunday roast.
Culture
The canal in Sale, with the Waterside Arts Centre on the left. Credit: Geograph
Sale’s cultural hub is right in the town centre – the Waterside arts centre.
This modern complex combines the Robert Bolt theatre, the Lauriston Gallery, a library, studios and workspaces.
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Throughout the year, it hosts a massive range of dance, theatre and comedy suitable for all ages and interests, with something to do just about every day of the year.
The waterside location of Sale is also a massive draw for locals and visitors alike.
Walkden Gardens in Sale. Credit: Geograph
You can rent kayaks to cruise along the canal, or do the same over in Sale Water Park, with the added option of stand-up paddleboarding.
Sale Water Park is home to one of the prettiest park runs in the region, which loops along the River Mersey too.
Then there’s Walkden Gardens, a stunning bit of green space featuring an arch of wisteria, a Japanese Garden, and a theatre lawn.
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Property
A mansion for sale in Sale. Credit: Rightmove
Sale is definitely on the pricier side of the scale in Greater Manchester, though it pales in comparison to some other parts of Trafford.
According to the Land Registry, the average house price around here is £346,324, and majority of homes sold were semi-detached properties.
Terraced houses average a bit cheaper at £289,340 and if you can find a flat in Sale, the average for those is £185,196.
Sale is helpfully on the Metrolink line, with Altrincham-bound trams taking about 15 minutes to get there from the city centre.
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There are buses too, but the tram really is the quickest way to get around from here.
Cyclists can take advantage of the traffic-free canal towpath that goes all the way to town, passing Old Trafford.
Sale is also one of those suburbs that’s right next to the M60, so drivers can get on the ring road in mere minutes.
Feature image – The Manc Group / Hops and Boogie
Boroughs
Former Greater Manchester school supply teacher pleads guilty to several child sex offences
Emily Sergeant
A former supply teacher has pleaded guilty to a number of child sex offences, including upskirting in schools across Greater Manchester.
Abusali Rahman – a British national of Bangladeshi ethnicity from Salford – is remanded in custody after first being charged with, and then pleading guilty to, several offences.
The offences are including, but not limited to, 12 counts of taking an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child (images obtained by upskirting), three counts of making indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child (making AI-generated images), and one count of attempting to meet girl under 16 following sexual grooming.
A mugshot image of Rahman has also been released to the public for the first time.
The offences are alleged to have taken place between December 2023 and June 2025, according to Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
Thirteen girls have been identified – aged between 13 and 16 at the time of the alleged offending – at seven high schools in three Greater Manchester boroughs (Bury, Bolton, and Salford).
A former supply teacher has pleaded guilty to child sex offences in schools across Greater Manchester / Credit: GMP
All affected schools and the parents of the 13 identified girls have been informed, GMP has confirmed, and all necessary safeguarding personnel have been made aware of the ongoing investigation – with specialist support on offer to them throughout this case.
“This was a horrifying case involving an abuse of trust that affected multiple young victims,” explained Alex Mann, who is a Senior Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)
“Rahman fell well below the standards expected of his role – first by sharing sexualised deepfake images online, before escalating to upskirting and voyeurism offences.
“Following a comprehensive GMP investigation, prosecutors were able to piece together a compelling case that left the defendant with little choice but admit his crimes.
“The guilty pleas entered today means he will face the consequences of his appalling actions, without victims having to prolong their suffering by reliving their experiences at trial.”
Rahman is due to be sentenced on 1 September, GMP has confirmed.
Featured Image – GMP
Boroughs
The very best ice cream and frozen yoghurt places around Greater Manchester
Danny Jones
We know it’s not often sunny out in these parts to enjoy the proper summery joy of lapping up lots of ice cream, but there are still bloody wonderful places to get it here in Greater Manchester – and we know some of the best.
Of course, it always hits different when the sun does come out.
It doesn’t matter if you prefer it chock-full of chocolate chips and coffee, mouth-frothingly fruity sweet, you’re in your pistachio phase or cannot get past the raspberry ripple, there are plenty of places to get whatever you’re after.
Be it Manchester city centre or beyond, we do ice cream pretty darn well for a place that basically rains for two-thirds of the year.
15 top ice cream, soft serve and fro-yo places around Manchester
In no particular order, by the way, because we already hate playing favourites and all those serve our infinitely sweet tooth are created equal.
1. Grandpa Greene’s – Oldham
First up, there are few other fitting enough places to start than the Diggle Lock’s legendary Grandpa Greene’s, which serves not just some of the best desserts we’ve EVER had but stunning, homemade ice-cream that we here at The Manc have even helped make in the past.
In fact, this place has been such a hit in the area that they’ve gone on to open their own bistro and, unsurprisingly, it’s proved just as impressive and popular.
2. Midnight Brownie Club – Ashton-under-Lyne
Heading over to Tameside now, Midnight Brownie Club is one to indulge at any time if you ask us, especially if you treat yourself to one of their sumptuous sundaes, which you can top with everything from kunafa, Lotus Biscoff crumble, raspberry ripple and more.
You can go wrong with those fudgey little chocolate squares, of course, and they obviously do lots of different stuff besides just ice cream and their namesake brownies, so our own recommendation is that you give it a try sooner rather than later.
From Oldham over to the borough of Bolton, and native favourite, Milk Maids, whose award-winning dairy farming expertise has seen them garner an iconic status among locals, and it’s no wonder.
We’ve been on to this place in Over Hulton for ages, but now they’re approaching a decade of serving their oh-so-sweet scoops, we can’t pretend to take even the remotest bit of credit. Their reputation precedes them and is about as long-standing as their lines.
4. Hello Oriental – Oxford Road Corridor
This one might come as a surprise, but if you’re in the market for some really good soft serve, subterranean pan-Asian food hall Hello Oriental just so happens to have it on offer.
Available in tubs or even served on top of a cute little animal-shaped waffle cone hybrids (there’s even a little chocolate surprise inside), they’re not just smooth and silky, they’re also adorable.
In at number four is arguably the ice cream and dessert parlour with the very best name in Manchester, and that’s Big Licks, which recently relocated from Liverpool Road over in Castlefield to Printworks. Now positioned in a much more central location, it’s no surprise that the spot has seen an increase in queuing.
You’ll find pretty much every combo you could ask for here; they also do some pretty banging burgers if you fancy eating both tea and afters here. We’re big fans of their ice cream sandwiches, as well.
As a native Stopfordian myself, my grandma only ever called dessert a ‘sweet’ or ‘pudding’, regardless of what it was, but regardless of what you call it around your way/in your family, we have a Stopfordian ice cream spot that you need to visit.
Macari’s Gelateria opened up over in Heaton Moor back in 2023, and it’s quickly grown a passionate cult following – ourselves included. From their punchy and/or fruity flavours, to the super soft texture that their perfectly flaky wafers just about hold up to, it’s pretty perfect. Remember the name.
Credit: The Manc Group
7. Lazy Sundae – Manchester Arndale
We’re past the halfway mark now, and if you’re not already feeling a bit sluggish after this sugary feast for your eyes, you almost certainly will after looking at the super indulgent Lazy Sundae, who do everything from bubble tea and creative Korean desserts to standard ice cream cones.
But make no mistake, there’s nothing plain or basic about this place: it’s remained one of the best places for ice cream in Manchester, and while we may have said goodbye to their OG spot in NQ back in January 2025, the Arndale parlour now serves as the perfect flagship location.
Sticking with the city centre and whipping our way back to NQ (pun very much intended), we’ve got the brilliant Black Milk up next, who we confess most regularly visit for a proper good milkshake, but they do shine when it comes to pretty much anything sugary, to be honest.
Ice cream-wise, you can’t go wrong with their cookies and cream sundae, and their special St. Patrick’s Guinness gelato is still one of the most unique desserts we’ve ever had. Speaking of gelato…
Heading out to Trafford now, and the ever-growing foodie scene in Sale, their increasingly well-known Gelato Creamery® store has been making waves for some time now, and by waves, we mean perfectly swirled scoops of ice cream’s somewhat healthier but still just as tasty Italian cousin.
They have a more central pod at Jacuna Kitchen over in Ardwick on the outskirts of the city centre, but really do recommend visiting their shop on School Road for a lesson on what proper good gelato should taste like.
Another Stopfordian stop on this ice cream tour comes in the form of All Things Nice, who couldn’t be more appropriately named if they tried – both when it comes to the scran and the service.
Over in the hilly village of Marple, this lovely little cafe on Market Street is known for all manner of bakes, brunch plates, pastries, and a fair few sweet treats, including their ice cream, which is just about as delicious as everything else on the menu. No surprise here.
Credit: The Manc
11. Wazuzhi – Chinatown
Here’s another one that might surprise people: yes, the affordable Manchester city centre favourite and Chinatown staple formerly known as Wasabi isn’t just great at the savoury side of things; they also have some lovely desserts, too.
Specifically, they do ‘shaved ice’ cups, which come in a variety of flavours, many of which are super fruity and fresh, but we do heartily reccommend coming for the sushi first and this for afters.
Since we’re mixing things up a bit, now it’s time to throw some ‘fro-yo’ into the conversation, and if you haven’t tried MAST over on King Street West – that little backstreet just off Deansgate and around the corner from Crazy Pedros – you’re really to correct that oversight.
There’s something about this one that feels like a proper treat whilst also balancing that sugar content, thanks to the healthier ice cream alternative, as you still get that fix from toppings like Smarties, crushed Oreos, classic candy lovehearts and tonnes more. Pretty as a picture.
13. Frurt – Various
Sticking with the frozen yoghurt theme, it’d be foolish to overlook the kings of the local game, as this may be a franchise, but it started right here back in 2010 with husband-and-wife team, Syed and Shaza Hassan, and they’ve only got bigger and better, still offering healthy, dairy and gluten-free cups.
You can find them in the following locations: the city centre (a pair of them), Stockport, Sale, on Bury New Road, Bolton, Oldham, not to mention soon the Trafford Centre and beyond Greater Manchester.
The penultimate blood sugar pincher is the famous Get Baked, which barely even turned the key to unlock the doors before they had a crowd waiting outside the shop window of their first permanent Manchester location.
Whether you’re three for big cookies, the famous Matilda-inspired ‘Bertha’ cake or their free-flowing soft-serve that is easier to drink than water – we know we have a problem, we’re working on it – you won’t be disappointed, no matter how long you wait.
Credit: The Manc
15. Baby Mayhem – Ancoats
Last but certainly not least of the latest newcomers to the Manc dessert scene, and while it may not be strictly just an ice cream parlour, it is one of the best places for anyone who is powerless to resist their cravings for things fresh, cold, filled, fried and covered in sugar.
Baby Mayhem is where ice cream and doughnuts collide in one superior pudding. How does a ‘donut ice cream sandwich’ sound? Incredible? We thought so… It’s popped in the old Lazy Tony’s Lasagneria site and is already following in its footsteps of filling locals’ bellies to the max.
That should just about do you for now, and if this list wasn’t sickly enough, don’t you worry…
You best believe we’ll be going around all around Greater Manchester in search of more ice cream and the best places that do it whenever the sun is out.
So, just keep your eyes peeled for when we inevitably update this one, because there’s always room for one more scoop.
Well, speaking of…
Honourable mention
Take issue with this if you want, but any place that offers a free ice cream sandwich on your birthday deserves to be on the list if you ask us, so here’s our nod to the wonderful Nell’s.
Available in dulce de leche, cherry pie, cookie dough and, of course, that birthday cake flavour – not to mention various one-off specials through the year – nothing quite compares to a slice and one of these sweet little frozen sandos.
Georgina Pellant -
22nd May 2022 
