WHAT we love about GRUB is their down-home vibe. If you’re going to keep street food fresh you have to seek pastures new – and, of course, relish the prospect of finally boasting your own fire pit. Just in time for Christmas.
That’s one big attraction for GRUB Food Fair as it launches its new venue on Friday, November 1 at the Red Bank Project at No.50 Red Bank above the Green Quarter. They promise a lot more interaction as they move on from previous restrictions at the Mayfield and Fairfield Social Club.
The food line-up for Friday, November 1 and Saturday, November 2, is Sticky Beaks, Old Town Chimney Cakes, The Bootle Oyster, Armenian Family Street Kitchen, Guerrilla Guerrilla and Bakeorama. Sunday, November 3 follows the traditional Plant-Powered formula, featuring The GF Pie Co, Charlie Macs Fancy Corndogs, Goody Gujarati, The Ottö-Men, Cookies & Dough, Drizzle City Bakes.
In addition to the top-class street food GRUB is well known for, the new venue will also be home to a new dedicated kids play room, two separate bar areas (one with 22 lines of craft beer on offer) and a flexible event space designed to house activities and workshops.
This will be regularly used by well being events team Feel Good Club who are looking to use the space for events which aim to turn self-doubt into self-belief, calm over-thinking minds, encourage people to step outside of their comfort zones and much more.
Expect workshops full of yoga, art, working out, good food or even enjoying beer. The street food will be served up in the yard area which will feature that fire pit to keep visitors warm throughout the winter.
November will also see a welcome return of the GRUB resident DJs Jamie Groovement, Pasta Paul, Jeff O’Toole, Tom Clarke, Johnny Shire, Pablo Blanquito, Chris E (Better Days) and more.
GRUB are also kicking off a new free series of workshops for prospective street food traders called ‘School Of Grub’. Wannabe street food chefs will be invited to an open Q&A to learn more about what a career in street food entails and will be able to submit their business ideas on the night. The best concepts will then be selected by GRUB to attend four free half-day workshops on branding, menu construction logistics and more. The successful new traders will be welcomed to trade at GRUB markets going forward.
The Red Bank Project itself is a newly-opened temporary space for Manchester’s artists and makers. It aims to become a street art hub and was inaugurated on October 21 with a psychedelic mural by street artist Marc Craig (pictured). Further announcements will be made in the coming weeks and months as more artists and creative businesses join the Project. The Project is set to evolve and expand in spring 2020.
GRUB director Juliana Bailey, Director told us: "It’s absolutely fantastic to find a new site that will give us both a winter and summer home for the next few years. We can’t wait to get in and start building our new home”.
GRUB Food Fair runs every Friday and Saturday while the 100 per cent vegan street food market Plant Powered Sundays runs every Sunday. The event is always free entry, no tickets are needed and all comers including families and dogs are very welcome. Full details of the opening event can be found on the event page here. The event can be found at The Red Bank Project, 50 Redbank, M4 4HF.