Alima Nadeem visits the neigbouring towns for a day of café culture.
ALTRINCHAM
It’s the town that has been nominated twice as the best place to live in England and where the market that brings in visitors from far and wide and the excellent choice of independent cafés are fast becoming social media stars.
The Little Dutch Café
This delicacy on Goose Green is brought to you by brother and sister duo Josh and Naomi Jorritsma, serving delicious authentic Dutch pancakes cooked up before your very eyes. If you have room, go for ice cream from the famous Daresbury Dairy in Cheshire.
Gail's Bakery
Gail’s, first made famous in London, chose Shaw’s Road, Altrincham to open a new outlet. Regulars hail the dirty chai, a chai latte with a hint of espresso, and then there are the honey cakes, chocolate finger cakes and hot cross buns.
Visit them on Shaw’s Road.
SO Marrakech
Bringing Morocco to Altrincham, is SO Marrakech in Market Street, a family-run coffee shop with a twist – it sells homeware too.
The café aesthetic is of beige and browns, inspired by the sights of Marrakech.
Try the cheese biouat with tomato confit, a staple from the Red City. Then, once you’ve had your fill, walk through the homeware aisles for some retail therapy.
Blanchflower
If you’re in search of an Instagrammable café, this place ticks the box. Blanchflower on Shaw's Road is the home of the three-day sourdough, with the chef even providing instructions on how to make it.
The cute café has racked up millions of views on TikTok for its touch of comedy while showing its take on dishes on the menu such as fried chicken sandwiches, roasted purple sweet potato risotto bubble and squeak cake and banana bread.
The homemade lemonade is the perfect summer drink.
Gran T’s House
Inspired by a real gran, this homely café on Stamford New Road is a place where the cakes are served on pretty china plates any granny would approve of.
Try a strawberry and kiwi loose tea and a giant bourbon for your lunch or delve into the much-loved vegan pistachio carrot cake. Dogs are welcome at Gran T’s and puppuccinos are on the menu too.
Gran T’s also sells branded t-shirts, tote bags and travel mugs if you want to buy a gift for a devotee.
SALE
This year the Sunday Times named Sale as one of the best places to live in Greater Manchester.
Stanley Square, is the spot to be seen in with its snazzy cafés and shopping.
Bean & Brush Art Café
This is the place to go if you’re looking for a family outing. With pots to paint and clay imprints, Bean & Brush gets loud and creative every weekend, when diners sit down with a cup of tea and a paintbrush in hand.
In the evening, friends gather over nachos and cocktails.
Bean & Brush is known for its impressive ‘freak’ shakes, topped with cake and heaps of whipped cream and the menu offers everything from pulled beef brisket on toasted brioche to pecan cake.
Café Med
This Middle Eastern and Mediterranean mezze café in Washway Road is fitted with outdoor luxury seating as well as an intimate and lavish interior.
The family-run establishment serves deliciously presented food. Crunchy spring rolls on a bed of salad and slow-cooked spiced lamb are on the menu, and if you want something healthy but tasty there are the Med summer salads.
Café Med sells its own Mediterranean beers, perfectly paired with its mezze.
Grapefruit
The friendly neighbourhood Grapefruit on School Road is right next door to Sale Metrolink so if you’re on short on time, you can still enjoy a good before jumping on the tram.
It opened as a café but since the pandemic has operated from a hatch.
àmphora
àmphora on Hope Road is known for its delicious cake. The choice is always changing, but there’s mocha, vanilla and blueberry, and chocolate orange among the selection.
The café has a great reputation for its freshly made food, great coffee and friendly service.
Stutter and Twitch
The ‘caravan of love’ as they call it, is sited on Sale's George Street, serving up artisan coffee and blasting out sunshine tunes. There are hot dogs and homebaked doughnuts too.
The caravan can also be seen at events around Greater Manchester and Cheshire.
TALKING HEADS
Sale is a great place to live. The location is perfect, with Manchester city centre a few miles north and stunning countryside to the south. We’re also close to the airport, which is fantastic as my family live abroad and visit often.
Sale has a lovely vibe with lots to do for families. There are many fantastic independent businesses. I am really proud to be part of the small-business community and love seeing it grow, especially in the past few years with the Makers Market and the regeneration of Stanley Square.
Greta Williamson, Love To Craft Manchester
In 2010, Altrincham was described as a ghost town in the national press with, allegedly, 37 percent vacancy rates. It was never quite that bad, but it was pretty grim. Then the renaissance started, and the town has continued to flourish.
Starting with the Market House as the catalyst we’ve seen bars, cafés and restaurants spring up alongside arts and crafts-based retailers. Its improvement has been incredible and it’s now a fab place to eat out and shop and continues to improve and grow, bucking national footfall trends.
Anthony Collier, Timperley
