Reopening dates for Manchester craft beer bars

With pubs and bars legally allowed to reopen on 4 July, here’s a guide to which craft beer bars in Manchester will be opening their doors and serving beer to drink in. Many venues are choosing not to open right now or are not ready to yet, so this list will be updated.

There’s also still plenty of venues and breweries selling craft beer for takeaway and delivery in Manchester if you want to stick to drinking beer at home.

Last updated: 13/07/2020

City centre

Alphabet Brewing Company

Open from Saturday 4 July, 12-8pm. No walk ins, see their website for details.

Beatnikz Republic bar

Open from Saturday 4 July, 12-10pm. See their Twitter for details.

Beatnikz Republic tap room

Open from Saturday 4 July, 1-10pm. See their Facebook page for details.

Brewdog Manchester

Open from Saturday 4 July.

Bundobust Manchester

Open from Tuesday 7 July. See their website for details.

Cafe Beermoth

Open from Friday 10 July. See their Instagram for details.

Cask Ancoats

Open from Tuesday 7 July. See their Twitter for details.

Common

Open from Saturday 4 July, 12-10pm. No walk ins, see their Twitter for details.

Grub at Redbank Project

Open from Friday 10 July, 12-10pm. No walk ins, see Facebook event for details.

The Knott

Open from Saturday 4 July, 2-11pm. See their Twitter for details.

The Marble Arch

Open from Saturday 8 August. No walk ins, see their Twitter for details.

Northern Monk Refectory

Open from Thursday 9 July, from 5pm. See their Facebook page for details.

Ol Brewery Bar

Open from Saturday 4 July, 12-9pm. See their Instagram post for details.

The Pilcrow

Open from Saturday 4 July, 12-8pm. No walk ins, see their Facebook page for details.

Port Street Beer House

Open from Saturday 4 July, 2-10pm. No walk ins, see their Facebook page for details.

Runaway Brewery tap

Open from Friday 17 July. Outdoors only, see their Twitter for details.

Suburbs/Greater Manchester

The Beagle, Chorlton

Open from Saturday 4 July, 12-10pm. No walk ins, see their Twitter for details.

The Beer House, Chorlton

Open from Saturday 4 July. See their Twitter for details.

Marble Brewery taproom, Salford

Open Saturday 11 July, 2-6pm. See their Twitter for details.

The Magnet, Stockport

Open from Saturday 4 July, 12-10pm. See their Facebook page for details.

Nordie, Levensy

Open from Saturday 10 July. See their Twitter for details.

Project 53, Stockport

Open from Saturday 4 July. See their website for details.

Collaborations announced for Manchester Beer Week

Five collaborations have been announced for this year’s Manchester Beer Week featuring some of the UK’s leading breweries.

The partnerships for the collabs will be Runaway and Bristol-based Left Handed Brewing Co, Track and Brew By Numbers, Blackjack and Hawkshead, and Marble and Northern Monk.

The final collab is a three-way brew between Cloudwater, Bristol’s Lost and Grounded and Verdant in Falmouth.

A Manchester brewery expo has also been announced for Saturday June 24 with all of the city centre breweries, including the likes of Cloudwater, Track, Blackjack and Runaway all opening their doors for tours and tasting events. Dan’s Brewery will also be open and will be hosting Marble, Hawkshead and Magic Rock.

Manchester Beer Week takes place June 23 – July 2 – mcrbeerweek.co.uk.

Easter 2017 Manchester beer events

A long weekend brings about even more beer events than normal and here’s a look at what’s going on over the Easter bank holiday weekend in Manchester.

(Looking for what’s going on during the rest of the year?  See my Manchester beer events calendar)

Beatnikz Republic soft launch

Recently relocated to Manchester from the capital, Beatnikz Republic will be having a soft launch over the Easter weekend at their site in the Green Quarter. They’ll be showcasing some of their beers that have been gypsy brewed elsewhere, ahead of a larger launch party once they’ve brewed at the new site. They’ll be open from the Thursday right through to Easter Monday. (Find out more about them on this Beernomicon podcast)

Thursday 13 April 4-10pm, Friday 14 April 4-10pm, Saturday 15 April 12-8pm, Sunday 16 April 12-8pm, Monday 17 April 12-8pm, Unit 15, Red Bank – Twitter.

Beermoth/Cafe Beermoth – Yeaster Weekend

Beermoth on Tib Street and Cafe Beermoth on Spring Gardens will be celebrating yeast across the Easter weekend with events in the Beermoth cellar and at the cafe. Entry will be free.

Saturday 15 April 4-8pm, Sunday 16 April 4-8pm – Twitter.

Chorlton Brewing Co brew tap

Chorlton will be opening their doors on Easter Saturday and on offer will be beer smoothies alongside their Sour Blend 3 and (sour) Lager and Lime.

Saturday 15 April, 12-10pm, 69 North Western Street – Twitter.

Cloudwater x Magic Rock x Other Half tap takeover at The Pilcrow

Cloudwater, Magic Rock and Other Half (all the way from New York) will be teaming up to provide 12 taps of their beers on Easter Sunday at the Pilcrow. As well as the takeover, a special meet the brewers’ event will be held from 6.30pm at Redfern House (across the road) – this is a ticketed event and they’re on sale now.

Sunday 16 April, 12pm, Sadler’s Yard – Facebook event.

Easter Pint of Portent weekend at The Marble Arch

The Marble Arch will be cracking open bottles of their Russian Imperial Stout, Portent of Usher, that they’ve been saving over the bank holiday. It’ll be there from midday on Friday, but they don’t expect it to last long!

Friday 14 April 12pm until it runs out, The Marble Arch, Rochdale Road – Facebook event.

Grub ExtraVEGANza at Alphabet Brewery

Grub’s weekly street food events at Alphabet have become more and more popular over recent months and following their first vegan-only event earlier this year, they’re hosting another over the bank holiday weekend. Vegan food will be available from traders including Wallace & Sons, Fat Annie’s, Pollen Bakery and Ginger’s Comfort Emporium and all of the beers available behind the bar will be 100% vegan.

Saturday 15 April, 12-10pm, 99 North Western Street – Facebook event.

Manchester tap takeover at The Beagle

Chorlton’s The Beagle will be celebrating the best of Manchester on Easter Saturday with a tap takeover showcasing brewers from the city on both cask and keg. Expect Blackjack, Cloudwater, Runaway, Squawk, Track and more. It’s all part of Chorlton’s Neighbourhood Jam event which also includes Marble Beerhouse, Font, Pi and more.

Saturday 15 April, 12pm, 456-458 Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton. Neighbourhood Jam Facebook event.

Torrside Easter Brewery Tap

Technically not in Manchester but only a short train ride away, New Mills’ Torrside will be opening their doors on Good Friday and Easter Saturday. Ten beers will be available on draught, including I’m Spartacus on both cask and keg, and they’ll also be previewing their collaboration with Rivington Brewing Co.

Friday 14 April and Saturday 15 April, 12-8pm, New Mills Marina, Hibbert Street, New Mills – more info.

Unit 101 opening

Unit 101 is a new beer bar and events space from the team at Beer Merchants and will be opening its doors for the first time on Easter Saturday. They’re planning on opening every Saturday for both on and off-sales (including growler fills) and will have 11 beers on draught.

Saturday 15 April, 12-7pm, 101 North Western Street – Twitter.

Weekly events taking place

Just because it’s a bank holiday it doesn’t mean the regularly occuring events won’t be taking place.

Beer Nouveau Brewery Tap

Beer Nouveau will have extended opening hours over the bank holiday, including opening their doors on Easter Sunday.

Friday 14 April 12-10.30pm, Saturday 15 April 12-10.30pm, Sunday 16 April, 12-8pm, 75 North Western Street – Twitter.

Cloudwater

Not only will Cloudwater be taking part in a tap takeover at the Pilcrow, but their Barrel Store tap room will also be open on the Friday and Saturday. They are also opening their brewery for a tour on the Saturday morning, with tickets now available for £13.15.

Friday 14 April, 4-9pm, Saturday 15 April, 12-8pm, 13 Sheffield Street – Twitter

Manchester Brewing Co

Update 12/4 – Manchester Brewing Co have now announced that they won’t be opening over the Easter weekend

Manchester Brewing Co have started opening their doors weekly as from the beginning of this month and will be again opening their doors on Easter Saturday. 

Twitter.

Ten events not to miss at Manchester Beer Week

I’ve been thinking about it for so long that it’s hard to believe Manchester Beer Week is now mere days away! It was the launch of the official beer last week – a collaboration between Cloudwater and JW Lees named MCR Fold – and the full guide to what’s taking place during the festivities was also on hand during the event. There’s a wide programme of events with something for all, and here’s my take on the ten beer events not to miss.

Historic ales to be revived for Manchester Beer Week

Four breweries in Greater Manchester are to recreate a collection of beers, some dating back more than 100 years, for Manchester Beer Week.

Three recipes have been taken from the archives of JW Lees and adapted for modern techniques and tastes, while a fourth beer will be revived from a now closed down brewery in Stalybridge.

Blackjack are to recreate Lees’ 1951 C Ale, a Manchester-specific style of dark, strong ale; Squawk Brewing are making their own version of Lees’ 1952 Stout while Beer Nouveau are heading even further back in time to make Lees’ XXX strong ale, which dates back to 1903.

Meanwhile, Stalybridge’s Ticketybrew will be bringing back an Invalid Stout from Heginbotham’s, a brewery which was formerly owned and operated by Robinsons.

Connor Murphy, the organiser of Manchester Beer Week, said: “Although there has been a lot of talk about the beer boom in Manchester, it is also important to remember the city’s brewing heritage.

“It represents an intriguing challenge for the brewers involved as they will need to adapt these historical styles to suit modern techniques, ingredients and equipment while staying as true to the original beers as possible.”

The beers will be launched at The Smithfield on Monday June 13 at an event which will include a talk from beer historian Ron Pattinson.

See more events from Manchester Beer Week on the Manchester beer events calendar.

Looking for more information on Manchester? See my guide to the best things to do in Manchester on my travel blog.

Manchester breweries to open their doors for Easter weekend

Five Manchester breweries will be making the most of the bank holiday weekend by hosting brew tap events across the city.

Beer Nouveau will be hosting a special ‘Beer from the Wood’ weekend at 75 Temperance Street. They’ll be showcasing six of their beers conditioned in and served from traditional wooden casks. Local cider, wine, soft drinks and snacks will also be on offer. They’ll be open 12-9pm on Friday March 25, Saturday March 26 and Sunday March 27.

Blackjack Brewery will host their first brew tap of 2016 over the weekend, opening their doors at 35 Gould Street on Friday March 25 6-10pm, Saturday March 26 12-11pm and Sunday March 27 12-6pm. They’ll have 12 keg lines and four cask beers available as well as cider, wine and spirits. Grub will be providing the food line-up.

Chorlton Brewing Co will also be opening their doors for the first time in 2016 on Saturday March 26. They’ll be serving three of their sour beers direct from the tank at 69 North Western Street. They’ll be open 1-7pm.

Finally, Track and Squawk have again teamed up for another event at Track Brewery on 5 Sheffield Street. A new beer will be launched, and there will also be food from Mac Daddies at their event which takes place from 1pm (til late) on Saturday March 26.

A beer eggstravaganza (…sorry)!

See more beer-filled goings on and festivals on the Manchester beer events calendar.

Bundobust Manchester to have dedicated Mikkeller tap

Craft beer bar and Indian street food venue Bundobust will have Manchester’s only dedicated tap for Danish brewery Mikkeller when it opens its doors in the city.

Bundobust, which currently has a site in Leeds, has applied for a licensing application to open up a Manchester bar at 59 Piccadilly. The application will go before Manchester City Council’s licensing team on April 5.

Although Bundobust has been quiet on the plans for the new site since it announced it would open in Manchester last year, it has now been revealed that the bar will have its own dedicated Mikkeller tap. Bundobust Leeds also has a tap just for Mikkeller, which has previously been ranked as the world’s third best brewery.

Bundobust Manchester was originally expected to open in spring 2016 but it now says ‘late 2016’ on the venue’s Twitter.

 

Runaway Brewery to host monthly Grub street food fair

Runaway Brewery is to become the home of a monthly food fair, hosted by street food events organisers Grub.

The inaugural event is to take place at Runaway Brewery near Victoria Station on Saturday March 19 from 12-10pm and will feature a variety of street food traders – and plenty of craft beer from Runaway.

Runaway beers on offer will include their IPA and Pale Ale alongside a number of specials and there will also be a second bar serving wine, cider, spirits and soft drinks.

Food traders at the first event will include Boerewors Bloke (traditional Dutch sausage grilled South Africa style), No Tacos (brand new trader serving up fusion tacos mixing up world cuisine with the classic Mexican street snack), Chaat Cart (real Indian street food specialising in dosa) and Blawd Co (bakehouse dishing out modern doughnuts, bakes and cakes currently supplying Common Bar, Rapha and North Tea Power).

Grub’s Jason Bailey said: “It’s a fantastic feeling to finally have a space where we can grow an event month after month, not only that but we’re stoked to be working with one of Manchester’s best brewers.”

Runaway Brewery, Unit 4 Millgate, Dantzic Street. From Saturday March 19, 12-10pm. See more info and future events on their FB page.

Smithfield Tavern to host Spanish collabs evening

Viva Espana!

The Smithfield Tavern, the Northern Quarter pub operated by Blackjack Brewery, is to host an evening featuring special collaborations with breweries from Catalonia.

The event on Tuesday February 16 will feature Blackjack collaboration brews with Barcelona-based Garage Beer and Quer Beer from Berge near Barcelona, as well as the launch of a special collab between Runaway and Bidassoa Basque, a brewery located in the town of Irun in the Basque region of Spain.

The festivities kick off at 7pm.

Hot off the press: next Tuesday! @RunawayBrewery launch @Blackjackbeers Spanish collabs eve! Expect manchego! X pic.twitter.com/tM8V0rFD4D

— The Smithfield Market Tavern (@TheSmithfieldNQ) February 10, 2016

See more Manchester beer events.

Port Street Beer House introduce discount cards

Good news Manchester craft beer fans – Port Street Beer House are bringing in membership cards which will offer discounts on beer at their NQ bar.

The cards will be available to pick up as part of their fifth birthday celebrations from this Thursday and provide members with 10% off beer to drink in the bar and 20% off for takeaway beers. To get your hands on one, you’ll have to register on their website – although registration is not open yet so keep an eye on their social media for more info.

All-new Port Street membership cards dropping Thursday. 10% off beer to drink in / 20% off beer to take out. pic.twitter.com/shseS16pgd

— PSBH (@portstreetbeer) January 26, 2016

Sister venue Common also has a discount card if you’re after more beer savings.

Got a Manchester beer story? Get in touch.