I visited the tiny Greater Manchester deli that ‘smells like Ireland’ and I'm already planning a second visit

There’s a small deli in Greater Manchester that's offering people a slice of Ireland without the need to hop on board a plane or ferry.

The Irish Deli, located on Greenwood Street in Altrincham, is situated right next to the Kennedy’s Irish Bar overlooking Altrincham Market. It serves up popular brands and treats from the Emerald Isle - like fresh cheese, Tayto crisps, White Pudding, and Barry’s Tea.

Having never actually been to Ireland myself, my desire to visit The Irish Deli comes from seeing pictures on social media of its quaint set-up, its mightily-packed sandwiches and its much-raved chocolate Guinness cheesecake. But, joined by my colleague from Galway, she is excited to get her hands on things that she wasn’t able to sneak into her suitcase during her last visit back home.

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Heading to the deli on a midweek afternoon, the first thing that greets us is the picturesque surroundings of the shop, which is neatly nestled within the lively Altrincham town centre. Passing the outdoor seating area to walk inside, the shop itself is quite small - but every corner is crammed full of delights.

As we peruse the shelves, my colleague begins to admire the fact that they have everything from Hunky Dory’s crisps and cans of Club, as well as Spice Bags and Galtee butter. And it seems like she’s not the only one feeling reminiscent as we overhear one customer telling the server how the shop ‘smells like Ireland’. I’m pretty sure it was meant as a compliment.

Dotted around the walls of the shop are popular Irish phrases like céad míle fáilte, which I’m reliably told means ‘a hundred thousand welcomes’, and níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin (‘there's no fireplace like your own fireplace’).

Not content with the tiny upstairs space, the deli also has room downstairs for a few tables - offering a sit-down operation for when the weather is a bit too sharp to dine outside. Thankfully, we have our big jackets on and decide we’ll brave it outdoors on this occasion.

Keen to try some of the best things that Ireland has to offer, both the server and my colleague steer us in the right direction for what we need to try. Ahead of our trip, my Galway companion explained that there's something special about a chicken roll - which is just not like anything we have here, apparently (my suggestion that the likes of Greggs and Tesco sell decent chicken sandwiches doesn’t go down too well).

She also said the chicken roll is further heightened when had with a can of Club in the morning after a wild night as she described it as the ‘ultimate hangover cure’. Both excited to give it a try, our enthusiasm is abruptly cut short when the server tells us that they have completely sold out of the hot chicken fillet rolls due to high demand.

Asking the server what the next best thing is, she tells us it’s a toss up between a corned beef or a ham, cheese and coleslaw sandwich. With neither of us being a fan of corned beef, it’s an easy decision.

Priced at £6.50, it’s a little more expensive than your average meal deal sandwich but the quality and the taste far exceeds what you’d find within the supermarket’s lunchtime offering. Packed between thick slices of fresh and locally baked white bread, it’s a sandwich done right with ham from Ireland’s own Connolly’s Butchers of Distinction paired up with a beautifully creamy Irish cheddar. It’s homely, comforting and utterly delicious.

If that’s not to your liking, there’s also an Irish Plougman’s on offer, as well as a ham and cheese croissant, with a range of specials also served up on occasion too. To partner up with our sandwich, as per my colleague’s instructions, we’ve got a can of Club each (I go for lemon, she goes for the Rock Shandy combination of orange and lemon), and a bag of Tayto’s between us.

Upon first sip, the lemon Club provides an instant sharp shock of sugary sweetness but is utterly delightful. Being a big fan of Fanta Lemon, I immediately hail it better than my OG as it tastes like it might actually have seen a lemon or two in its lifetime.

Having wolfed down the sandwich between us, we decide it’s time for tea and cake - Irish style. Getting a pot of Barry’s tea, we get a £4.50 slice of the chocolate Guinness cake - and it’s a hefty serving that is perfect for sharing.

The bitter, malty flavour of the Guinness goes perfectly with the rich sweetness of the chocolate to make a really delightful piece of cake. If it wasn’t such a huge slice, I’d be going for seconds immediately - and I'm not even particularly a fan of Guinness as a drink.

The deli only opened within the last month, but it feels part of the Altrincham community already. During our visit, a wealth of customers pop in and out for their fill of staples - whether it's Irish bread, mustard, or coffee - proving its already popular with locals.

Whilst prices do, understandably, tend to reflect the fact that things have to be imported here, the deli still manages to avoid being too extortionate and the sandwiches and pastries all have a big focus on locally homemade fare. They also use Irish-sourced ingredients where possible.

And it certainly helps that the servers were so welcoming and on hand with their recommendations - even trying to convince me to give white pudding a try. Whilst I can’t say for sure what that customer meant when she said it ‘smelt like Ireland’, I am sure it has something to do with the friendly and positive atmosphere and the delightful smell of freshly-made goods ready for the taking.

I’m already eyeing up a second visit - when I will hopefully get a chance to try that well-hailed chicken roll.

The Irish Deli is on 34 Greenwood Street, Altrincham, WA14 1RZ.