Blanchflower is one of those places you can’t help but be impressed by. This south Manchester (well, Altrincham) institution has roots way, way back in one of the city centre’s early ‘new generation’ coffee and tea specialists. Then the team opened Caffeine & Co at Longford Park, Stretford, before going all-in on their flagship Altrincham cafe-restaurant, which opened in 2017. At which point it quickly found favour among locals and visitors alike. Spend five minutes inside and you’ll appreciate why.
Located in the thick-of-things, as they say, with the famous Altrincham Market little more than a stone’s throw away, Blanchflower is a generously proportioned eat-in bakery above all else. Breads, pastries and more are all made on site, hence how good everything tastes, from cruffins to vegan banana loaves (and so much more besides). Expanding our focus out, there’s also a fantastic brunch and lunch menu on offer, with many dishes showing off those exceptional baked bits. Being entirely seasonal makes it hard to pick out evergreen recipes, so instead let’s opt for a few typical examples: risotto of roasted squash with rosemary and parmesan toasted pumpkin seeds, pan roast swordfish, handmade pies and that’s barely scratched the surface.
Or how about roast pork tenderloin, crispy pork belly, caramelised celeriac purée, pear ketchup, crispy potato terrine, creamed lettuce, peas, spring onions and pork jus? This being a home of great cakes means no matter when you visit there will be some insanely good desserts being plated up. Memories of an incredible tiramisu with espresso syrup, an elevated take on the Manchester tart, and the apricot frangipane tart with basil cream all stand out. Add to this excellent coffees and teas, a range of speciality soft drinks and a fully licensed bar and you can easily see why this walk-ins only spot is constantly packed.