Altrincham is possibly one of the most picturesque little parts of Greater Manchester full stop, but one particular new opening in the quaint market town has seen us fall head over heels in love: we’re talking about the simply named Irish Deli.
Launching at the end of September, Irish Deli has taken pride of place on Greenwood Street in the heart of the lovable Trafford hamlet that is fast becoming less of a village and more of a vibrant hub for food, drink, shopping, leisure and more.
Stocking authentic fresh produce and groceries imported directly from Ireland rarely found anywhere else in the region, as well as serving up proper good brews and freshly made sandwiches, cakes and more, they have very much met the assignment when it comes to a deli.
Put quite simply, this little slice of the Emerald Isle is as pretty as a postcard and is quickly becoming a community cornerstone.
The place might be a bit cosy – though there is extra seating downstairs and a lovely sun-trap terrace outside – but it trades on delivering that open-armed Irish welcome that few others can compare to.
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Irish Deli also prides itself on bringing over brands that will remind ex-pats of back home, mainly because you’ll genuinely struggle to find them outside of Ireland itself. As you can see, we walked away with a full hamper of stuff and we’re not even Irish.
We’re not just talking Tayto’s crisps here: we mean McDonnells seasoning sachets for a proper spice bag, Drummully pan boxty potato cakes and superbly sweet Folláin preserves; imported sausages, black and white pudding, whisky brands not typically seen in the UK and so much more.
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Ham, cheese, bread and even the simplest-looking biscuits never looked so comforting. Not only does it undoubtedly drum up nostalgia for natives but it feels like being beckoned into the warmth and smell of your mum’s kitchen when you were just a nipper.
Better yet, its doors have opened right next to the adjoining Kennedy’s Irish Bar – a popular watering hole that’s been thriving since it opened back in 2021 – as part of an expansion that’s been in the works for some time.
We very nearly got a second basket…Wall-to-wall Irish goodness.The Irish Deli in Altrincham is a new favourite of ours. (Credit: The Manc Group)
As they explain it, “Typically in Ireland you will find a ship in the back of the pub, so having our Irish Deli right next door to our Irish Bar really gave it that authentic feeling from home.”
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With the two increasingly popular spots situated right beside one another, locals have taken to affectionately dubbing this small snapshot of Alty as ‘Kennedy’s Corner’ and even just a couple weeks into opening the deli, it really has struck a chord with the local delegation from Auld Eire and more.
Greater Manchester has also had a huge Irish community ever since the early 19th century, even boasting Little Ireland right here in the city centre and the Heritage Centre over Cheetham Hill.
That being said, whether they live in the WA postcode or not, regular crowds are already travelling to visit this cheerful little shop most days, and you’ll find even more of them descending on Kennedy’s Corner come the weekends – especially when they can stumble into the bustling boozer next door.
And as if all that enticing enough already, there’s sport on the box, live music pretty much from noon until night, it’s super dog-friendly and you can grab pints of Guinness for just £4.70 from 11am-7pm every Monday-Thursday. Say no more.
There’s even a stunning three-bedroom apartment upstairs available on Airbnb that we’re seriously considering for an easy getaway. A full weekend of eating and drinking the very Ireland has to offer before only having to hobble a few yards to find a comfy bed waiting upstairs.
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Kennedy’s Corner might not be an official title of any sort just yet but we love that the locals have carved out this special mini-neighbourhood within what is already a perfect melting pot between the modern Manc foodie/hospitality scene, and the splendour of an old Cheshire market town.
It’s not quite suburbia, it’s not quite countryside either; all we know is that this particular street is effortlessly charming and The Irish Deli itself feels a little bit like going back in time to a simpler world. There aren’t many places that can achieve that feeling these days.
Well worth paying a visit the next time you’re in Altrincham.
Lovely staff.Guinness cake is godly.What a great team they make.Our advice for a weekend in Altrincham, spend the day at The Irish Deli and stumble next door come the eve. (Credit: The Manc Group)
Greggs confirms Festive Bakes return date as it unveils 2025 Christmas menu
Emily Sergeant
Greggs has unveiled its Christmas menu for 2025, and that means the Festive Bake is back again in all its glory.
The UK’s most-popular high street bakery chain has officially revealed its festive food and drink offering for the 2025 season, and there’s a few brand-new goodies joining the lineup this year, along with the return of some undeniable fan favourites.
And of course, nothing spells Christmas at Greggs quite like the Festive Bake, right?
The chain’s classic crumb-coated pastry filled with chicken, sage and onion stuffing, and sweetcure bacon in a creamy sage and cranberry sauce goes down an absolute treat each year, and is a serious fan-favourite, so it’s no surprise it’s made a comeback for 2025.
Thankfully for plant-based foodies, the Vegan Festive Bake has also made a comeback, but this year under a slightly different name – the Vegan Lattice (Festive Edition).
Greggs has unveiled its Christmas menu for 2025 / Credit: Greggs
Despite the new name, the flavours have stayed the same, as the Vegan Festive Lattice is puff pastry filled with savoury-flavour Quorn mycoprotein pieces, sage and onion stuffing balls, and vegan bacon, finished with a mouth-watering cranberry and red onion sauce.
Another returning Greggs festive favourite this year is the Christmas Lunch Baguette, which is a freshly-baked baguette ‘jam-packed full of festive flavours’, alongside last year’s newest addition, the Festive Flatbread – which is filled with sage and onion-style chicken, sweetcure bacon, mayo and cranberry and red onion relish.
When it comes to sweet treats, Greggs really does take some beating, as the lineup is full of tasty cakes, muffins, biscuits, and more.
Some of the stand-out newbies this year include the Gingerbread Muffin, and the Christmas Mini Caramel Shortbreads, while returning for more is the indulgent Chocolate & Hazelnut Flavour Doughnut, the Christmas tree and start-shaped biscuits, and of course, the classic Sweet Mince Pies.
The festive drinks lineup this year includes the popular Mint mochas and hot chocolates, and the Salted Caramel Latte.
Gingerbread returns for 2025 too, and you can get Gingerbread Lattes both hot and iced, as well as a Gingerbread Flat White.
All drinks are topped with whipped cream, and come with a range of festive sauces and toppings.
The 2025 Greggs Christmas menu will be available to tuck into across the UK from 6 November and will run right up until the new year.
Featured Image – Greggs
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Mongrel – New taproom and pizzeria set to move into the former Street Urchin site
Daisy Jackson
A brand new taproom, coffee shop and pizzeria concept has announced plans to move into Ancoats.
Mongrel will come from the same team behind Crust, a much-raved-about pizza joint that operated off a Stockport industrial estate until earlier this year.
They’ve now confirmed they have their sights set on the city centre, specially the magnificent corner unit that was previously home to the beloved Street Urchin.
Street Urchin suddenly closed earlier this year after co-founder and head chef Kevin suffered a heart attack, leaving them ‘unable to continue as a business’.
Rachel Choudhary, Kevin’s partner and co-founder of the neighbourhood restaurant, wrote at the time that they were ‘heartbroken’ to close the business.
Street Urchin was quietly one of the top restaurants in Ancoats and operated in a market diner fashion, creatively cooking the best catch of the day for an ever-changing menu that honoured each season.
Thankfully, this key corner unit won’t be quiet for much longer, with another local operator now lined up to move in.
Inside Street Urchin before its closure – the site will now become a pizzeria called Mongrel. Credit: The Manc Group
Mongrel has so far shared that it’s set to be a ‘coffee shop, pizza place and taproom, all under one roof’.
Upon closing Crust in Stockport they confirmed this will be ‘a huge step up from the Crüst you know and love’.
They posted on Instagram: “Thanks to everyone who’s popped down over the last year. We’re eternally grateful for the support from our fantastic customers, and will look back on this period with huge gratitude.
“It’s with great sadness that we announce our departure from Stockport. We know this will come as a disappointment to our Crüst family – we haven’t made this decision lightly.
“We have been looking for a new premesis in Stockport for a while, however after multiple applications going nowhere, we have finally found a new home in Manchester City Center!
“Our new home will be a huge step up from the Crüst you know and love… We can’t to reveal what’s to come!
Mongrel is set to open its taproom and pizzeria on Great Ancoats Street, in the former Street Urchin site, in November.