Nuhad and Ahmed transformed their struggling takeaway into Sips & Dips, a thriving Lebanese restaurant on Stockport Road, Levenshulme, after nearly giving up. The couple, who had poured everything into their business, found it hard to recover post-pandemic. “A lot of people would have given up in our situation, we didn’t know what to do. I remember we were sitting on this table, I said 'we tried, but I don’t think we’re good enough'. I was done with fighting,” recalls Nuhad.
From War-Torn Syria to Manchester
Nuhad’s journey began in Syria, where war forced her family to flee to Athens. Two years later, her sister moved to the UK to study, and the family followed. “My uncle lent us some money so my sister and brother could move over here. They lived in a garage room with just a small bathroom and a mattress for a year. Then she told us to come and she looked for a house,” Nuhad explains. At 19, she earned £10,000 from a TV show, but the money was lost trying to free her father from a Syrian prison. “We had to work again to save more money to find out. We lost everything,” she says.
Meeting Ahmed and Rebuilding
Nuhad found work at a Chinese buffet, where her customer service skills led to a job at a Lebanese restaurant. There, she met Ahmed, who interviewed her. “He actually interviewed me, and after I got the job we got to know each better and I introduced him to my family,” she says. The couple now run Sips & Dips at 994 Stockport Road, with many family members working there.
The Rebrand That Saved the Business
In 2023, they rebranded the takeaway into a restaurant, focusing on Lebanese dishes. “It was really hard work for us, we hardly had any customers. We used to make about £30 a day. We were in-between - we asked ourselves do we close it down, or do something different? We decided to take the risk, and take a different step so we started doing breakfast and more Lebanese food,” Ahmed says. The gamble paid off, and the Levenshulme community embraced their menu of dips, flatbreads, and grilled meats.
Community Support and Political Fans
The restaurant has gained notable fans, including Green Party MP Hannah Spencer. “She loves the cinnamon buns and coffee, and she visited during the evening recently too. It’s beautiful to see actually, when she goes to a small business or local cafes and posts on social media. That's a big support for us,” Ahmed says. Spencer, who won a by-election for Gorton and Denton, is a regular customer.
A Menu Full of Lebanese Flavors
The menu features all-day breakfast, man’oucheh flatbreads, falafel, and a variety of dips like hummus, labneh, and moutabal. Stews and charcoal grills include sunflower chicken and spiced lamb shank. The “sips” offer coffee, chai, matcha, and Arabic tea with mint. The couple credits each other for the success. “The thing with this industry is that you have to love it. If you don’t love it, don’t bother. It’s not fair to customers if you don't give them your all, they deserve to enjoy their meal, and to relax when they go out,” Ahmed says.
Sips & Dips is at 994 Stockport Rd, Manchester M19 3WN, open daily 8am–10pm.
