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)
Didsbury favourite Rustik has confirmed its will sadly be closing this month
Danny Jones
West Didsbury favourite Rustik has sadly announced it will be closing for food after a decade at the end of this month.
The beloved Burton cafe and bar has been a staple of the tight-knit foodie neighbourhood since 2015, but now the independent Irish eatery has confirmed that the business will be shutting down permanently in less than a fortnight.
Confirmed on Wednesday afternoon, 17 September, the casual Manc restaurant and hangout informed their loyal followers of the unfortunate news.
Unsurprisingly, their social media has been awash with condolences, collective sadness and support for the local institution.
Posting across all of their accounts, Rustik wrote: “After an unforgettable 10 years on Burton Road, the time has come to close our doors. It’s hard to believe how far we’ve come — never in a million years did we imagine Rustik would grow into what it became.
“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to every single one of you who walked through our doors and supported us along the way. We poured everything we had — our time, our energy, our lives into making Rustik a space for everyone. And what a ride it’s been.
“From the chaotic, beautiful brunch shifts to late nights dancing on tables to ‘Wagon Wheel’, pushing through the challenges of COVID and helping our community with meals during hard times— we’ve done it all, together.
“To our amazing staff, past and present: thank you for your hard work, your dedication, and the love you brought every single day. You helped build something truly special, and we’ll never be able to thank you enough.
“To the incredible musicians who filled our space with life — keep doing what you do. The noise complaints? 100% worth the unforgettable nights.”
The team go on to detail that the official closing date is Tuesday, 30 September, reiterating that it is “business running as usual until then” and urging fans to “come down, grab your last Rustik fix, and raise a glass with us one final time.”
Signing off with an emotional farewell, they add: “Lastly, a message close to our hearts: please support your local cafes, bars, and independents. Hospitality is tough right now, and they need your support more than ever.
“Thank you for the most incredible decade of our lives. It’s over and out from us.”
It goes without saying that we’re gutted to see Rustik go and know how much it meant not only to the Burton Road community, but also to the Didsbury community, Chorlton and many other Greater Manchester natives.
A ‘saucy’ new Korean fried chicken restaurant is opening in the Gay Village
Daisy Jackson
A brand-new Korean fried chicken restaurant and cocktail bar is set to open on Canal Street this week.
CLUK is promising some big deals and amazing giveaways to celebrate its launch in Manchester, including free food and prize draws.
The newcomer in the heart of the city will specialise in Korean-style crispy fried chicken, but also warming ramen bowls, and salt & pepper classics.
Signature dishes will include Korean cheese-powder fried chicken, and Cheese Volcano Chicken.
CLUK will also serve dishes like kimchi cheese loaded fries, salt & pepper chicken, and huge sharing platters.
You can customise your Korean fried chicken order by size, choosing between wings and boneless and picking a flavour out of honey garlic, sweet and spicy, honey mustard, and honey and sour.
They promise it’ll all be ‘saucy, crunchy, and seriously addictive’.
That’s all washed down with ice-cold beers and creative cocktails, like martinis, spritzes and sours.
CLUK is now open in the Gay Village in ManchesterA spread of CLUK dishesInside CLUK ManchesterFried chicken with Korean cheese powderInside CLUK Manchester
The CLUK team are hoping to create a fun late-night dining option for this buzzing corner of the city centre.
To celebrate its launch on Thursday 18 September, CLUK have announced a whole heap of promotions.
This includes free chicken bao for the first 50 guests to visit during the first five days.
Over the two week launch period, visitors can spin the wheel whenever you spend £12 – spend £24 and spin twice.
And there are big prizes available – the top prize is a £100 gift card or £50 cash, with other prizes including free drinks, food and a £3 voucher as a consolation prize.
Plus, anyone who buys a gift card and tops it up with £100 will receive a free beer or cider.
When those two weeks are up, CLUK will run a £1,000 prize draw.
Danny Jones -
10th October 2024 
