THE owner of a new restaurant in Sale is pledging to give back to rough sleepers after a homeless man helped him to find a dream location.

Abed Ahmed, who worked as a caterer in the NHS for almost 10 years, including at Wythenshawe Hospital, opened NaNa's Cafe and Grill on School Road last week.

The 30-year-old chose the location, on the site of what was a bank then a Tim Hortons coffee shop, on the advice of a homeless man who came up to him in the street.

After putting 'his heart, his soul and his life savings' into the restaurant and postponing due to the pandemic, Abed opened at last on Friday.

He intends to give back to the homeless man and others like him in the form of fresh food.

Abed said: "The man helped me to make up my mind.

"It was the biggest dream of my life, and so I'll be serving fresh food to the homeless as a thank you, and because I think it's right to help them get back on their feet.

"I spent nine years at the NHS, but the last year was like no other. We all had to work hard.

"I felt it was time for me to move on and create NaNa's as something lasting for my family."

In attendance at the restaurant's opening was Mike Kane, Labour MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East, who commended Abed's choice of location in 'boom town' Sale.

He said: "Sale's a boom town, because of its proximity to all areas of Greater Manchester thanks to Metrolink.

"The town has re-emerged and it's home to so many independent businesses and bars."

Councillor Barry Brotherton of Trafford's Priory Ward echoed the MP's commendation.

He said: "It's great to see new businesses. All town centres have suffered in lockdown.

"Even before it, people weren't using the shops in the way that they used to. It's a changing world, but if you can offer something you can’t get online, you'll do well."

Serving a mixture of eastern and western cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the restaurant is providing the town with around 75 jobs.

Abed is hoping to open more restaurants in other parts of Greater Manchester in future.