Finding somewhere healthy to eat at lunchtime in Manchester can sometimes leave you scratching your head. It’s not to say healthy options are not out there – a lot of cafes, restaurants and bars have them – but they don’t always shout about it.
A new concept that is setting out its stall early, and bringing plenty of wellness-led lunch options to the city centre is Clean Greens. Opening on Deansgate this week, it’s being billed as a ‘new destination’ for feel-good food and drinks.
Bringing its fresh take on modern wellness to one of the city’s busiest areas, the new cafe-bar has been built around making healthy choices feel easy, accessible and enjoyable. Its menu will feature build-your-own salad bowls, fresh juices and smoothies, matcha, cold brew coffee, fresh wellness shots, and ‘wellness boost’ add-ons.
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Founder Rieff Bridgman, first moved to Manchester from the Cotswolds when he was 18 to attend university. He studied advertising and brand communications, and then never left.
When it came to his career, there was always a passion for creating something in the wellness and health space. And he couldn’t have picked a better time given the rising interest in healthy eating and clean living.
“I’ve always been in hospitality, made for that world, and I’ve always wanted to open a health bar,” he tells the Manchester Evening News ahead of opening.
“There’s so many places in London but Manchester is lacking a real health bar. There’s so many viral cafes but here we’re all about real, whole ingredients – nothing rubbish basically.”
According to a YouGov/AHDB Pulse survey from earlier this year, consumers are keen to eliminate certain elements from their diets. For example, 26 percent are planning to reduce consumption of ultra processed foods (UPFs) and 23 percent are planning to reduce sugar, fat and salt (HFSS) from their diet.
In terms of adding food groups, 14 percent of respondents are planning to increase their protein intake and 13 percent to increase their fibre. The survey found that this trend is mostly driven by under 34s who gain their inspiration from fitness apps or social media.
Appealing to this demographic, and those who are looking for healthy options in the city centre, is the cafe’s made-to-order salad bar, where customers can build their own bowl from a selection of fresh ingredients.
Build-your-own bowls, which are priced at £9, include a choice of greens and one carb option, including spiced chickpeas, miso sweet potato and giant couscous. Customers can then choose three main ingredients, with options spanning charred lime sweetcorn, edamame and Mediterranean courgettes.
Customers can then finish it off with a topping and dressing from the likes of chipotle Caesar and charred jalapeño ranch included. Optional protein can be added from £4.50 including harissa chicken, hot honey halloumi or honey gochujang salmon. Bowls can be further customised with extra add-ons including sliced avocado, marinated feta or parmesan too.
“I was going to do pre-made bowls but I think it’s a better experience to choose your own ingredients, ” adds Rieff.
Clean Greens’ salad offering will be refreshed on a monthly basis, introducing seasonal and fresh ingredients, while keeping the core build-your-own concept consistent, allowing customers to discover new bowl combinations and flavours.
Alongside salad bowls, there will be a strong line-up of fresh juices, smoothies, matcha drinks and cold brew coffee, alongside optional functional and ‘wellness boost’ add-ons. These are extra concentrated vitamins and nutrients added to food and drink to target specific personal goals like more energy or better immunity.
Customers can upgrade their chosen drink with additions such as Glowwa Collagen and adaptogenic powders, allowing them to personalise their order depending on their wellness priorities.
“The functional boosts all have their own benefits, which can be added to drinks. Some go better than others so spirulina has got quite an earthy taste so matches well with the green juices. We use the best we can because some are very weak but we’ve got strong collagen for example.”
There is also a dedicated grab-and-go fridge stocked with smaller food options including hummus and crudité pots, overnight oats and protein balls, alongside kombucha and soft drinks.
“Clean Greens is designed to be somewhere you can come into every day, whether that’s for a clean matcha in the morning, a fresh bowl at lunch or a juice and wellness boost later in the day, feel good about what you’re having, and actually enjoy it.
“This is the first one, but I am planning to do more. Hopefully this one goes well so I can open a few more in Manchester.
“The idea has always been to make healthier choices feel more exciting, accessible and part of everyday life. Wellness shouldn’t feel like something you have to make time for or completely change your routine for – it can be as simple as adding a wellness boost to your morning drink or choosing a fresh, nourishing lunch.”
Clean Greens is open now and will operate from 8am until 6pm daily, seven days a week.
