YOU can almost imagine the sun on our backs. First the clocks went forward and now street food impresarios GRUB have announced they are returning to the Mayfield Gatehouse for the third successive summer season.
It’s all change too at their winter haven, the nearby Fairfield Social Club. Already an events space for hire, from May the Temperance Street space could be up and running as a 400-capacity gig venue, run by live music promoters Strange Days.
By that time GRUB’s street traders will be out in the open at the Gatehouse on Baring Street close to Piccadilly Station with a site that has increased in size by 50 per cent in partnership with the site owners, The Mayfield Partnership. That means more food stalls, second bar, a dedicated kids play area and more seating in what’s regarded as the city’s best beer garden.
Top class street food will continue to be the star of the show both at the GRUB Food fair every Friday and Saturday plus Plant Powered Sundays.
Friday will have six street-food chefs while Saturday will boast eight, made up of the classic GRUB regular traders including: What’s Your Beef, The Ottomen, Chou Choux Patisserie, Parmstar, and Bakeorama. These regulars will trade alongside an array of 100 per cent debut GRUB traders made up of new local food heroes and never seen before out-of-town guest traders.
Expect fine burgers from Wagyu Lookin’ At, authentic South Indian cuisine from Dosa Love, American comfort food from Redheads Mac-n-Cheese, rustic Italian piadina from Casa Rustica, Japanese okinomiyaki from Osaka Local and some of the best vegan Mexican food in the UK from Club Mexicana.
Alongside the existing bar pouring 12 keg lines and four cask lines of the best beer in Manchester and the north and the usual top quality wines, ciders and soft drinks, a second express can bar is in the works – offering local beers, cider and a specially produced new line of boozy sodas from Steep Soda. House lager comes from newcomers Manchester Union Lager, whose brewery is only a barrel roll away.
Jason Bailey, director of GRUB said: “When we look back on where we started it’s unbelievable to think how big the market has grown to now and that it’s still growing. We can’t wait to host everyone and introduce you all to some new traders.”
The Mayfield Gatehouse, Baring Street, Manchester, M1 2AD. Grub Food Fair every Friday and Saturday 12pm-10pm, starting Friday, May, 3; Plant Powered Sundays takes place every Sunday 12pm-6pm. Free entry for all-comers including families and dogs. Full details of the re-launch event can be found on the Facebook event page here. GRUB will continue as normal at Fairfield Social until the end of April with a special version at Islington Mill on Saturday, April 27.