Celebrity chef Simon Rimmer says 'onwards and upwards' as he says 'massive' thank you after shock Greens' announcement
07.01.2024 - 13:23
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Celebrity chef Simon Rimmer has spoken out after his much-loved vegetarian restaurant announced its closure. On Tuesday, January 2, the news broke that Greens in Didsbury is now shut after 33 years.
The team said they "can no longer make it work" after their landlord increased rent by 35 per cent, and rising costs have made it "impossible" to continue.
The popular dining spot, which has been located in the heart of West Didsbury since 1990 revolutionised vegetarian dining, but shared news of its closure in a heartbreaking post this afternoon. Its second branch, which opened on Sale's Stanley Square in the summer of 2022 will continue to operate.
Fans of the Didsbury institution flooded social media to share their heartbreak and, on Saturday, the celebrity chef took to Instagram to share his own thoughts on a difficult week. Chef Simon Rimmer, best known for his role on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch, and his business partner Simon Connolly opened Greens in Didsbury on Lapwing Lane more than 30 years ago.
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Armed with a cup of tea on Saturday morning, he recorded a short video thanking Didsbury diners who supported Greens during the restaurant's lengthy tenure, and said it's now "onwards and upwards".
"What a week. It's been such an emotional rollercoaster," he said in a video posted on his Instagram account.
"We had to shut Greens in Didsbury this week which was heartbreaking after 33 years. But to all of you, so many people who have got in touch to express the sadness of it and share the stories of what they've done at over the years at Greens, it's meant so much, it's just been absolutely incredibly.
"It's kind of eased the pain of