Longstanding West Didsbury vegetarian haunt Greensis opening a second restaurant in Sale, its owners have revealed.
The restaurant’s co-owners, celebrity TV chef Simon Rimmer and Simon Connolly, shared the news to social media over the weekend – posting images of their new site in Sale and of them celebrating the new opening over a glass of fizz.
Sharing the news to Twitter, celebrity chef Rimmer wrote: “so yesterday @SimonConnolly9 and I signed the lease on a new site for @greensveggie – 31 years since we opened site 1….site 3 coming 2053!”
Not a veggie but most likeable chef must go to @simonrim and the most patient chef must go to @SimonConolly9 good luck guys
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.
The pair initially met as co-workers in another Didsbury eatery (neither was the chef – one was a waiter, the other worked front-of-house), but after opening Greens neither looked back.
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They have been proudly ‘terrifying carnivores’ ever since, according to the tongue-in-cheek restaurant strapline.
Their new Greens restaurant will open in Stanley Square, joining the likes of Sale Foodhall, southern Italian pasta kitchen Sugo and newcomer Petisco, as part of the old sixties shopping precinct’s ambitious new regeneration project.
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Their new Greens restaurant will open in Stanley Square / Image: Greens
Details are yet to be revealed on the opening date and menu, but it’s likely the kitchen will follow a similar format to create menus similar to those at the existing restaurant on Lapwing Lane.
Greens first began life in 1990 when now-celebrity TV chef Simon Rimmer and his friend, Simon Connolly, set their sites on the Lapwing Lane cafe during an afternoon spent ‘putting the world to rights over a Nepalese curry and a beverage or two.’
It has since become a staple for veggies and vegans across Manchester, with many people travelling just to dine at the restaurant.
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After all, there might be lots of vegan restaurants in Manchester nowadays but there still aren’t that many places dedicated to serving veggies – a group that feels very strongly about good cheese, for one.
Image: Greens
When the pair first launched Greens in the nineties, they championed what they called ‘magpie cuisine’.
In the restaurant’s own words, this meant “shamelessly stealing from cultures across the world to develop dishes that are defined not by a negative absence of meat, but by the positive inclusion of fantastic ingredients and flavours that happen to be purely vegetarian.”
Things have moved on since then, both in the restaurant and across the city. To be vegetarian-only is no longer a shocking concept and the options for plant-based meat alternatives are much greater than it was thirty years ago.
As such, to neglect vegetarians – and, even more noticeably, vegans – in Manchester is to be very much behind the times nowadays.
Greens cater to both very well. A sample a la carte menu is packed with the ultimate veggie indulgence, cheese (feta, halloumi, burrata, gorgonzola all appear), but there’s also plenty of plant protein for vegans, like tofu, falafel and red lentils.
Stand-out dishes for us include the veggie black pudding, mustard mayo, (£4.50 and ve), deep-fried oyster mushrooms, pancakes, spring onion, cucumber, plum sauce (£7.25, or available as a main for £13, ve), and the burrata, salted caramel pecan vinaigrette, pomegranate (£8.50).
As for desserts, think chocolate and avocado mousse with poached pear (ve), sticky toffee pudding (ve), and a white chocolate cheesecake served with blueberries and vanilla syrup.
That said, all is yet to be revealed at the new site – and there could well be a new menu landing there when it opens too.
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Whether you’re a ‘confirmed meat eater’ like Simon Rimmer, or dedicated to a plant-based diet, there’s a lot to get excited about here – that’s for certain.
To keep up with further updates, make sure to follow Greens on Instagram here.
Urgent search for missing 80-year-old ‘keen walker’ from Bury
Daisy Jackson
A keen walker and birdwatcher from Bury has gone missing while out walking in a local beauty spot, with an urgent search now taking place.
Brian Fletcher, 80, travelled from his home to the Tockholes area of Lancashire on Saturday afternoon.
Brian regularly walks in the area, police have said, including the Higher Roddlesworth and Lower Roddlesworth Reservoirs.
He hasn’t been seen since the weekend and officers are now urgently appealing for anyone who was in the area to come forward with dashcam footage.
If you were on the A675 Belmont Road – from Abbey Village to Tockholes – between 1.30pm and 2.30pm on Saturday, and have footage or information, you should contact the police immediately.
Brian was driving a grey Citroen C4 Cactus car, registration WP64HSC, which was found parked in a layby on the A675, near to Tockholes Road.
He’s described as 5ft 8, slim, with grey hair and a small scar on his face from a recent procedure.
When Brian was last seen he was wearing a dark blue jumper, blue cargo trousers, a tan baseball cap and walking boots.
Bolton Mountain Rescue confirmed that search helicopters and dogs are being used in the search.
Lancashire Police said: “We are concerned for Brian’s welfare and if you think you have seen him over the weekend in the Tockholes and surrounding areas, please get in touch.
“Any sightings, please call 999 immediately. If you have dashcam footage of his car or any information which could assist us in finding Brian, contact 101 – quoting log 1544 of 22nd March 2025.
“Our officers are being assisted by Mountain Rescue teams in the search.”
Worsley-born wood-fired pizza brand set for sensational US expansion
Danny Jones
A Greater Manchester food brand that started in the little village of Worsley is about to go international in a big way as local Leopard Pie pizza is set to take America by storm.
In one of the most major and exciting culinary success stories to come out of Salford in some time, perhaps ever, much-loved pizza Leopard Pie have quietly struck a deal to carry out a significant expansion into the US.
Not only does this mean the likelihood of there being more of their restaurants up and down in the UK but with multiple venues scheduled to open across the Atlantic, the brand could be at the start of an unbelievable global journey.
Come on, how often do you hear a Manc foodie name in the same sentence as the States?
Leopard Pie and their delicious wood-fired pizza are set to make their debut in the US. (Credit: The Manc Eats)
Speaking exclusively to The Manc, Leopard Pie confirmed: “We’re proud to share that Leopard Pie is embarking on a major U.S. expansion with a multi-location deal over the next five years.
“This marks a defining moment in our journey as we introduce a bold new Leopard Pie identity to the American market—while staying true to the heart and spirit that has made our UK brand and locations so widely loved.
“This milestone represents the start of an extraordinary journey as we introduce the next evolution of Leopard Pie—one that amplifies everything that has made our brand beloved while bringing fresh energy and bold new design concepts to a global audience.”
Already working intensely behind the scenes on what they’re hailing as a “visionary new US restaurant concept” for their pizza empire that not only elevated the dining experience but will “set new standards in the fast-casual dining scene”.
They also detailed plans to set up a dedicated domestic base of operations across the pond which will include a world-class training and development hub “to ensure that every chef and operator joining our US family delivers excellence from day one.”
When it comes to Manchester food and drink brands that have blown up, you’d be hard-pressed to any that have gone from an idea that started as recently as 2015 and gained traction during lockdown to expanding within such a fast time frame, let alone on such a massive scale – not even Rudy’s.
The big news now put to one side, it won’t surprise you to learn that Leopard Pie has stated “This is just the beginning”, teasing that they plan to expand into several other key territories and keep building the brand as much as possible.
Owner Lee Chester told us that America always felt somewhat in the stars for the neighbourhood staple; “From the very beginning, Leopard Pie was built with global ambition— the word ‘Pie’ itself a subtle nod to our U.S. vision, a hint as to what was to come.
“I am incredibly proud to be leading the brand into this exciting new era, where my role will evolve to mentor and empower new entrepreneurs to achieve success under the Leopard Pie name.
“I believe wholeheartedly that Leopard Pie’s next chapter will be one of exponential success, built on passion, innovation, and leadership. For those who partner with us now, the potential is immense—and the journey promises to be unforgettable.”
The brand has remained 100% independently owned since day one, having turned down multiple investment offers to date, but is now embarking on what feels like an unprecedented chapter for a local restaurant as they open up to “select strategic partnerships and investments”.
While specifics regarding how quickly the move into America will get underway and just how many sites there will be are still being kept under wraps, more details will be released soon enough.
Lee summed up the next steps by adding: “I believe with absolute certainty that Leopard Pie is entering a decade of unparalleled growth and excitement. For those who choose to partner with us now, the rewards and the legacy we will create together will be remarkable.”
And last but not least, you don’t have to worry about a local joint that started in Worsley forgetting their roots – the Salford staple isn’t just one of the best pizza places in Manchester but their hometown story is what makes this so special.
For now, you’ll still find them serving up full wood-fired Neapolitan pies and slices over in Worsley and from their stall in Kargo MKT in Central Bay, so give it a try if you haven’t already.
Their Kargo MKT site in Salford Quays.It really is very good.Credit: The Manc Group
Georgina Pellant -
17th January 2022 
