Ex-Wolves star Harvey Livett to open Fast and Fresh takeaway

The homegrown academy graduate, who left the Wire at the end of last season for Salford Red Devils, has gone into business with school friend and Plymouth Argyle footballer George Cooper.

And the pair, alongside rugby coach David Manfredi, will be opening healthy eating joint Fast and Fresh in the former Dora Thornley's unit on Academy Way next month.

Their deli bar will focus on custom-made salads, as well as smoothies.

Harvey and co are hoping that the eaterie will be the first of many and that the business will eventual develop into a franchise.

The 24-year-old second rower said: "It's going to be really good for the town centre, so it was a no brainer really.

"It's something that the town centre is really missing.

"I know we've got a competitor in a big brand like Subway, but hopefully we can get quite a few people down to support us with us being from Warrington.

"The location is key – across the road is the new market development and we will have people walking past along Bridge Street as well.

"Rugby doesn't go on forever – it's a short career, so it's about doing something away from the sport and focussing on something else so that I'm ready for life after rugby.

Livett in action for Wolves

"We will start here and, depending on how it goes, we might open a few more but we will knuckle down on this for the next few months and get it up and running.

"If people can come down and support us, that would be brilliant."

Fast and Fresh's grand opening is planned for Saturday, May 22.

Twenty-five-year-old David, from Chapelford, added: "The concept is that you will choose your base – pasta, rice, cous cous or mixed leaves – and then choose your veggies and your delis.

"It's more of a premium salad, something I got the idea for while working in offices.

"There's nothing really in town where you can go and get that salad or a healthy wrap.

"With the university moving here in September and the town centre being completely transformed, we're at the start of a journey.

"We're three young lads ourselves, and we want to grow with the business.

"George and Harvey aren't going to be playing football and rugby forever, so this will be something for them to have in five years' time.

"We want to have a franchise, moving to other areas or opening other shops in the town – that's the ambition we all have.

"It's all of our first businesses – it's a big step, but we've got our heads screwed on and we're in the right place to run a successful business."