Slattery's

Bury New Road, Whitefield

Slattery’s Chocolatier and Patissier is an award-winning family business based in Whitefield. It’s the home of bespoke chocolates and decadent cakes, with their magnificent creations unrivalled and unbelievable. Stepping over their threshold is like entering Willy Wonka’s fairytale factory in real-life.

Chances are, if you asked anybody from Greater Manchester if they knew anything at all about the little village of Whitefield in the suburbs, the most likely response would be ‘Slattery’s’. People flock from far and wide to sample the delights of this enchanting emporium. From chocolate sculptures and delicious cakes to freshly baked bread, sandwiches and pastries, it’s a food-lover’s very own piece of paradise.  

Founded in 1967 and currently celebrating its 50^th year in business, Slattery’s is the baby of Bernard and Margaret Slattery. Their son, John, who began working for the family firm at the tender age of 14, is now the owner, and has the day-to-day running of ‘that wicked shop in Whitefield’, off to a fine art.

It’s so much more than a chocolate shop. Above the retail store is The Masons Dining Room, named after the pub that used to occupy the imposing manor-house style building before Slattery’s upsized in 2004. As a child, I used to hear talk of people dining at Slattery’s, thinking it was only something really posh people did. After all, it had a reputation for being posh and expensive. I finally got the opportunity in 2011 and ever since, I haven’t been able to keep away.

I take time out to go for lunch at Slattery’s as often as I possibly can, although given the overwhelming popularity of the place, it’s not as often as I would like. Last Friday, I had my annual catch up with an old school friend upstairs in The Masons. It oozes sophistication, with its ornate decor and self-playing piano tinkling the ivories, providing a relaxing soundtrack.

Upon my very first visit, one myth was immediately busted: it’s not at all expensive, given the exceptional quality of the food. The sandwiches are freshly prepared and elegantly presented. It’s not just sandwiches though, there’s plenty of hot food available, including jacket potatoes, loaded potato wedges and monthly specials.

The speciality sandwiches are always a treat. This time, I had the brie, bacon and tomato triple decker. It was served warm on toasted bread, filled with chunky bacon and melted brie oozing out of the sides. The bread was a little over-toasted for my liking, I would have preferred it a little softer, but it made little difference, as the sandwich was incredibly flavoursome and not at all dry. It was served with a handful of spiced potato wedges and a fresh and crispy side salad. Perfectly reasonably priced at £6.95, they turn their sandwiches into an entire meal, making for a deliciously satisfying lunch. 

Brie, Bacon and Tomato Triple Decker

Naturally, the most exciting part of lunch at Slattery’s is always the dessert. I’ve sampled so many delights over the years. A favourite of mine is the Wicked Chocolate Sampler - four mini chocolate cakes, served with pots of melted chocolate and cream for extra indulgence. It’s the ultimate treat, but you’d have to be a serious chocoholic to get through the whole thing, chocolate pots included. There’s also Mrs Slattery’s Cake Sampler: small squares of Victoria sponge, fruit cake, carrot cake and lemon drizzle, served with cream. If you can’t decide what you fancy, these platters provide the perfect opportunity to taste test everything that Slattery’s does best.

This time, however, I had to snap up the Easter special: a chocolate dippy egg, filled with vanilla cream cheese topped with an orange curd yolk, served with biscotti soldiers and a white chocolate spoon. Brilliantly creative and inventive, it was ultimately one of the best desserts I’ve ever had. This was the genius of Mr Slattery at its very best. 

Chocolate Dippy Egg

I think I may have squealed as it was placed in front of me. I’m not ashamed. It was physically impossible for me to contain my excitement. This magnificent creation looked so impressive on the plate, such was my reluctance to tuck in. The biscotti was delicious on its own, crunchy around the edges but soft inside, filled with dried fruit, perfectly shaped for dipping. The orange curd on the top was delightfully zingy, swirling into the runny vanilla filling as I plunged through with my first piece of biscotti. Alternating between eating the ‘white’ with the biscotti and licking it off the end of a spoon made entirely of chocolate, I was winning. My day couldn’t possibly get any better, so I thought.

It did. As I reached the halfway point and my melting spoon could no longer reach the filling, I knew I’d have to crack the egg in order to carry on. I screwed up my eyes, expecting it to be a rather messy experience. I was worried I’d lose half of it across the table, and quite frankly I wasn’t prepared to do this. Luckily, it went smoothly. The egg split perfectly in half, revealing that, sitting at the bottom of the milk chocolate shell was a layer of crushed biscuit. So basically the filling was like a runny cheesecake. Amazing. So lost in the moment, I almost forgot that I could actually eat the milk chocolate shell once I’d finished. It was sheer perfection; an ingenious creation, the kind of thing which makes Slattery’s so wonderfully unique. 

At less than £17, it’s not at all expensive and totally worth every penny. We were booked in at 11:45am, as it was one of the few reservations available around lunchtime. At 2:30pm, we got up to pay the bill. We’d had a leisurely lunch lasting almost three hours, and at no point did we feel like we were being rushed out, despite the fact that they’re always fully booked. The service is always impeccable, and nothing is too much trouble for the waiting staff.

Lunch in The Masons Dining Room is a very special experience. I can’t recommend it enough. Booking is essential. Given the monumental popularity of Slattery’s, I wouldn’t recommend turning up without having made a reservation, especially not during the busy lunch periods, as you’re likely to have your dreams shattered. If it’s a Saturday you’re after, you may have to wait a long while, as reservations fill up months in advance. However, it’ll be totally worth the wait.

Slattery’s is the jewel in Whitefield’s crown, glistening brighter than all the rest. If you don’t come away feeling absolutely stuffed and a little bit queasy, you’ve not had the Slattery’s experience.

The menu for The Masons Dining Room, alongside all the cakes available to order can be found at:
https://slattery.co.uk/