GRUB & Runaway – Food and Beer. Matched. 

I’ve been struggling to write recently. I needed something that matters to me, that I care about to get me jump started. And then I noticed what was happening on Saturday.

In the last 3 years or so, Manchester has been blessed with great beer. I’ve written about that side of things to the point where even I yawn. But in those 3 years, I have been privileged to witness – along with some old friends – some fabulous events held in (what I would regard as) the real Northern Quarter. Part of the original N/4. Events that pull together great local beers, great tunes and – most importantly – fabulous food.

And at the heart of this are Bailey & Jules. Better known as the people behind GRUB.

Starting at Black Jack and more latterly Runaway Brewery, they have created a “feel good vibe” that it has been a pleasure to be around. Relaxed, civilised and undeniably Mancunian. With a street food contact book to kill for, excellent beer connections and an instinct for what feels right, they have put on events that have become quintessentially Manc.

Just a little like a Manchester summer (that thing we rarely get), no matter the weather, when the canvas goes up in either Runaway or Sadlers Yard, I know what I’m going to get, great beer, great food and a smile on my face.

This weekend is no exception.

Runaway just make some of the best keg beers in the country. No palaver, no hype, Mark, Darren and the crew just get on with making great beer – I’m a HUGE fan of the Pale & American Brown to name but two! And the newly married Bailey & Jules have brought together some simply stunning food traders to have with them. There might even be a Keg of the Hawkshead Mass Collab Session IPA knocking about.

(left – then clockwise – Scoop Up, Oh Mei Dumpling, What The Truck)

Food from three  exciting (and no doubt nervous) new traders in Scoop Up (Ice Cream – pray for the Sun Gods!); Oh Mei Dumpling (need a clue?) and the fabulously named “What The Truck” (Tacos, Bahn Mi and much more….) as well as the most excellent Mac Daddies & Hip Hop Chip Shop.

(Mac Daddies & Hip Hop Chip Shop)

What Bailey & Jules have done is put their heart and soul into something that they truly love – great food – and adding a certain Mancunian soul, it’s the only way that I can describe it. They make it look effortless. And I – for one – know the hard work that this takes.

With great food and beer like this (as well as some seriously laid back tuneage), let’s be proper Mancunians eh?

Let’s pretend it’s summer!