Hale Barns, Vegetarian - Restaurant Guide

This “fabulous” veteran of vegan cuisine in Manchester pleases all-comers – “I don’t miss meat at all when I’m eating here, the food’s that tasty” – and has its origins in a Gujarati grocery store in Ashton more than 50 years ago, when PG Sachdev and his wife Lilawat (Lily) started selling homemade snacks and sweets to families watching Indian films at the cinema across the road. Several expansions later, it’s a slick modern operation run by their grandchildren.

“Vegan (or vegetarian) and brilliant” – well-travelled chef Eddie Shepherd “works alone, cooking and serving with real passion and exciting techniques”, creating twelve-course meals for £125 per person that are “a must for exemplary plant-based cuisine”. No more than eight guests gather in the dining room of his South Manchester home for each meal – and many are prepared to wait three months for the privilege. In late 2024 it was listed as one of the best 100 vegetarian restaurants in the world by the We’re Smart Green Guide. Top Tip – it’s BYOB, and there’s a fridge if you need to chill your drink.