TV chef Simon Rimmer and business partner Simon Connolly, owners of gastro vegetarian restaurant Greens, have cooked up a plan to celebrate 30 years in business whilst supporting Francis House Children’s Hospice.
The fundraising partnership was officially launched at a charity dinner at the award-winning restaurant in West Didsbury.
The three-course meal, including truffle mushroom wellington with colcannon mash followed by Greens famous cheesecake, was served to a full house of more than 70 enthusiastic diners.
The Sunday Brunch presenter said: “When we opened Greens 30 years ago, we could never had imagined that we’d be planning this birthday year of celebrations and the fantastic journey that we’ve been on.
We wanted to share our anniversary by giving something back to the community, and Francis House is a local charity that does brilliant work.”
“We’ve been working with Francis House for approximately ten years and we’re massively proud to be working alongside them. It’s our way of saying thank you to them for the incredible work that they do for all the people that pass through their doors.
“If you ever get the chance to visit the hospice on an open day it is an amazing place.”
The Lapwing Lane restaurant is hosting a series of celebratory events throughout 2020, including a series of exclusive gourmet evenings with specially invited guest chefs.
The next event on March 10 has already sold out. Restaurateur Gary Usher, from Hispi and Burnt Truffle, will join Simon in cooking up vegetarian cuisine.
Future activity includes an English food and wine matching event on April 23, and two mystery guest chef nights planned for the summer months.
The events are expected to sell out fast by offering diners a unique experience of exceptional food produced by internationally recognised chefs including Tom Kerridge provisionally booked on Sept 8.
“It will be pot-luck how people can get tickets but that will be a beast of a night,” said Simon.
Money will be raised for the hospice through raffles and a percentage of the proceeds from the celebratory events.
Lucy Thompson, event manager at Francis House said: “We are thrilled that Simon and the team at Greens approached us to join them in celebrating their thirtieth year. We are delighted to have been chosen as their birthday partner.
“Coincidentally, Francis House became a registered charity thirty years ago in 1990, so it is even more fitting that they wanted to partner with us in their exciting year.”
Based in Didsbury, Francis House provides care and support to more than 500 families from across Greater Manchester. Sibling support, homecare and emotional support are among the services offered by the charity that needs to raise £12,900 every day.
To find out more about the events join the Greens mailing list via their website.
