Sunday Brunch’s Simon Rimmer takes the biggest decision of his career as the TV chef has announced the news of shutting down his restaurant Greens in West Didsbury, Manchester, which he co-owns with his friend Simon Clooney; they’d opened it back in 1990 as partners.
Rimmer, who’s a co-presenter on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch and is a former MasterChef contestant, posted the announcement video on his Instagram account. The chef and television personality confirmed the news that the continuation of their service is to cease at their first restaurant, Greens, after being in business for 33 years due to the increase of 35% in the rent. However, the second sale will continue services and business.
Why is Simon Rimmer closing down restaurant Greens?
The Sunday Brunch host, Simon Rimmer, was left heartbroken as he announced the shutting down of his restaurant, Greens, the first branch of the vegetarian restaurant after almost more than three decades. While looking at the camera, when Rimmer started to announce the news, he was “heartbroken” and “couldn’t believe” that he had to take the closing down of his vegetarian restaurant in Didsbury.
Simon Rimmer, along with his business partner and friend Simon Clooney, opened his first branch of a vegetarian restaurant in Didsbury, Greens, in the year 1990. Rimmer had said, “Well, this is a very sad day. After 33 years of running Greens in Didsbury, we’ve unfortunately had to close the door,” he wrote in a post on his Instagram account. Further, Rimmer went on to mention the obstacles their business has been facing, which will cause them to discontinue their service at its first branch, Greens.
On the Instagram page of the restaurant Greens, a post read, “With great sadness, we have to close the doors on Greens Didsbury for good after 33 fantastic years.” Further, it reads that they can’t make it work any longer as their landlords have increased the rent by 35% of Greens, and this has caused an increase in the overall cost as well.
The post on the Greens’ official page said that “increases in power, food, and staff costs have made it impossible for us to continue.” Later in the post, they showed gratitude for the customers, staff, suppliers, friends, and family who were there to support them in their journey.
In regard to the announcement, some adjustable issues were discussed by Rimmer, especially the increase in rent by 35%, which has made an increase in expenditure together, which doesn’t balance with the company and has left the business ‘unviable.’
The closing of Greens is not only heartbreaking for Rimmer and Cloney and the people who work there but also for the friends and fans of the owners. As the announcement was posted, Great British Bake-Off star Candice Brown said in the comments, “Oh Simon, I’m devastated for you! So sorry! It’s a terrifying time,” while showing her condolences.
Chef Tom Kitchin added, “Sorry to hear this, mate. Big love, following which singer Jessie Ware added that she was “so sorry. In reply to it, Rimmer thanked her and said, “Tough day.” Some of his celebrity friends, like Adam Thomas, Gorka Marquez, and Helen Skelton, shared love in the comment section.
The reason for the shutting down of Rimmer’s business at Didsbury’s Greens is said to be rent, which is more than one-third than usual. Noting this, Andi Oliver said, “Oh, @rimmersimon, so sorry!!!!! Greed will be the death of this country”.
While criticizing the landlord, a follower wrote, “Such a shame. And if the rest of Greater Manchester is anything to go by, the building will now sit empty because no one can afford these rent hikes, so that the landlord will be losing out anyway.”
In the announcement posts on the Greens official Instagram page, they wrote, “Our sister restaurant in Sale is still open, and we’d love to see you all there to help the Greens story continue.
If you have a reservation with us, we’ll be in touch.” A second branch of Greens was opened in the summer of 2022 on Stanley Square on Sale. It is the first of the brand to have its own standalone bar and an outdoor terrace, along with being a 60-cover restaurant.
