As the lights switch off for the final time on a Manchester institution, its devastated neighbours fear what's coming next

With its leafy streets, buzzing brunch scene and huge houses with sprawling gardens, its not hard to see why Didsbury continues to be one of the most covetable places to live in south Manchester. In terms of its food and drink scene, it's well stocked for breakfast options, but also boasts cosy neighbourhood restaurants, late-night drinking spots, and dining institutions that have called it home for decades.

Sadly though, this week it was confirmed that one Didsbury institution has called it a day after more than 30 years in business. Walk down Lapwing Lane in West Didsbury towards Burton Road, and you'll usually see Greens packed to the rafters, but on Tuesday, the lights were turned off at the hit vegetarian restaurant after its owners confirmed its sudden closure.

Co-owned by celebrity chef and Sunday Brunch host Simon Rimmer and his business partner Simon Connolly, Greens opened in the suburb in 1990, paving the way for the popularisation of vegetarian dining in Greater Manchester and beyond - it was truly trailblazing. But on Tuesday afternoon, a joint statement on their website explained that they could 'no longer make it work' as a rent increase of 35%, coupled with the rising cost of ingredients, power and staff, made it 'impossible' to continue.

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Customers, fans and celebrity friends of Rimmer were quick to share their sadness at the 'devastating' news, while some described the rent increase as "daylight robbery". Fellow chef Tony Rodd, who also announced the closure of his highly regarded restaurant on Tuesday wrote: "I'm so sorry Chef. We've done the same today. It's a horrific situation we all find ourselves in,