Manchester is famed for its club scene and has a wonderful selection of bars and restaurants but this bustling city also has an impressive selection of breweries and tap rooms, ready to provide world-class and original tasting beers, alcohol, and street food in the most creative environments and locations. Most of these are hidden gems with relaxed atmospheres and unique qualities. Let’s take a look…
Alphabet Brewery
Alphabet Brewery is a small craft brewery on North Western Street in Manchester “focussed on making hop forward and original beers”. They strive for a high-quality taste to their beers and have a variety to choose from: pilsner style lager, oatmeal pale ale, white breakfast stout, and session IPA, to name just a few. If you’re not experienced with craft beers, Alphabet Brewery also has a brew tap and food yard open every Saturday from 12pm until 10pm where you can sample their products and enjoy some street food and live music from DJs.
99 North Western St / Manchester / M12 6JL
Ancoats General Store
Found on the corner of Blossom Street, the owner of Ancoats General Store has used his knowledge of the traditional corner shop to produce a hipster, modern, and creative space in the ever-changing Manchester region. Like a convenience store, you can buy everyday grocery items from a range of cultures – from Vietnamese tea to baked beans – and enjoy fresh coffee from their own coffee shop and the opportunity to try craft beers. The intention of Ancoats General Store is to “cater for the both the neighbourhood’s long-standing residents and the millennials”, and the result is a wonderfully unique environment.
57 Great Ancoats Street / Manchester / M4 5AB
Blackjack Brewery
Blackjack is a microbrewery that produces and serves its own finest quality craft beers and selected brews in a laid-back tap house, perfect for those who prefer a more relaxed and intimate environment. You can find this charming brewery based in Manchester’s Green Quarter tucked under a railway arch, also with its own DJ programme for some in-house music. They are currently creating a new website, so you’ll have to pop down and have a look if you want any information!
36 Gould Street / Manchester / M4 4JT
Cloudwater Brewery
Cloudwater Brewery specialises in modern and seasonal beer, introducing new ranges of alcohol to accompany each changing season – the purpose of this is to showcase the flavours and abundance of the natural world as well as taking inspiration from what nature provides for us at different times of the year. In addition to the brewery, there is also a tap room open Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays for the chance to try some delicious beer.
Brewery: Units 7-8 / Tap Room: Unit 9 / Piccadilly Trading Estate / Manchester / M1 2NP
GRUB
GRUB is a street food events company that organises events that feature many different types of street food, craft ales, and live music. The food they serve is often locally sourced from independent businesses and grassroots food operators and their service provides the opportunity for customers to get to know exactly where their food has come from. This hidden gem in Mayfield also hosts “Plant Powered Sundays” where they serve 100% vegan street food. Inclusive, friendly, and local, GRUB is the perfect place to enjoy a bite to eat and a good drink.
Mayfield, 11 Baring St / Manchester / M1 2AD
Hatch
Found conveniently on Oxford Road, Hatch is a new pop-up retail, food, and drink destination with 7 operators, serving everything from coffee to craft beers. This is the perfect spot to enjoy a bit of shopping from their retail stores under the Mancunian way, a bite to eat at their street food courtyard (open 7 days a week), or a relaxing drink. Based in a perfect location for students of Manchester Metropolitan University, Hatch boats a unique and eye-catching exterior with a very modern selection of stores.
Oxford Rd / Manchester / M1 7ED
Words by Abby Hilton (@AbbyHilton_)
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