What’s that, another foodie establishment opening in the Cultural Quarter of Hanley?  Why, tie a napkin round my neck, hand me a fork and send me on my way.

It’s no lie that I’m a champion of independent eateries in and around Stoke-on-Trent. They’re what the city needs.  Not only great places to fill yer face but labours of love from those born and bread in the city that thrive and become the go to coffee stops, the lunchtime layovers and after dark cocktail haunts.

We Are Lollapalooza mobile catering owner Nicole has joined forces with Stephanie to transform a unit, which originally stood vacant on Piccadilly in the Cultural Quarter for more than a decade, into a too cool for school gourmet sandwich bar.

Oh hey, Slamwich Club

Slamwich Club has nailed it from the get go.  With their perfect branding, social media presence and food that looks bloody delicious, they tick both the location location location box as well as being just what the *whispers* millennial ordered. With an urban meets industrial decor of deep blue, soft pinks and metallic finishes, there’s room for 50 customers, has a DJ booth built in ready for when the carbs head to bed, the lights turn low and the cocktails such as the on offer are the stars of the show.  Nods to the city can be found in the artwork dotted around Slamwich including a bespoke mural by local artist Rebecca Davis that compliments the overall aesthetic perfectly.

How’s about those sarnies then?

How’s about those sarnies then? With the meaty Slamwiches giving you not much change out of a tenner, it’s easy on first glance to wonder what the Deli-icious has that your £3ish Boots Meal Deal sandwich doesn’t have. And the answer? Girth (and sliced turkey, pastrami, ham, sauerkraut, fickles, emmental and mustard mayo).

Y’see, these aren’t your average sandwiches. These are big fat gourmet sandwiches, packing one heck of a punch with nothing but quality produce between those two buttered and grilled bloomer slices. In fact I’d say these sandwiches are up there in burger territory rather than a soggy Tuna and Cucumber on wholegrain. There’s practically a meal in itself served up alongside a slaw with a kick and a slam dunk sauce to dip those golden crusts into.

Need more proof that they’re worth the £10 price tag? After the first half of my sandwich I had to slow down on my intake of deliciously seasoned, bacon and aioli topped mixed fries (skinny and sweet potato) to have any hope of taking another bite. As a SIDE note, I’d highly recommend the lightly battered but heavy on flavour, Popcorn Shrimp.

Much like the majority of the Piccadilly tenants (hai The Quarter, Klay & Rawr), it’s becoming almost cliche of me t say that “you don’t feel like you’re in Hanley when you’re in here”, but the truth is that the regeneration of Piccadilly has lead way to a new kinda Hanley with a new clientele.   It’s a new era for a new generation of people looking to eat, drink and socialise and Steph and Nicole have understood and catered to that market excellently.

The Slamwich Club opens its doors Monday to Thursday between 11am & 10pm and Friday to Saturday between 11am & 11.30pm.