STORMS forecast for the Bank Holiday weekend but the real electric storm kicking up will be down at Refuge by Volta where the Unambombers DJ duo are whipping up a wild celebration of art music and food called The Electric Weekender.
An unlikely star of the three day extravaganza (May 26-28) – highlights DJ Justin Robertson’s original art show, a musical homage to New York’s legendary Spirit of the City club and a ‘summer of love’ street party hosted by Croatian festival Love International – is the Manchester Kebab.
It’s the latest creation of chef for hire Robert Owen Brown (above), the man who brought you the Manchester Egg and its recent spin-off O’Shea’s Irish Egg?
Now Owen Brown has collaborated with Unambombers Luke Cowdrey and Justin Crawford (above) to rustle up this one-off delicacy It’s made from a Yorkshire pudding mix rolled out into a naan, filled with a Volta favourite, Lamb Shawarma (below), and a mixed Vimto Sriracha sauce,
It is available on the outside street grill in the hotel’s own Waterhouse Way all day Saturday and Sunday (May 27 and 28) along with other bar snacks created by the ex-Mark Addy chef.
On the Saturday, 5pm till late, you can wash your kebab down with a selection of beers from local craft heroes ShinDigger whose tap takeover will offer England IPA (new release), Mango Unchained, Everything’s Peachy, Pils and Weiss. A can selection will include Session IPA.
On the Sunday Refuge is hosting an all-day collaboration with Ibiza’s infamous Pikes Hotel. From daytime to dusk it will feature Ibizan legends and Balearic jocks galore with Spanish wine selections alongside pop up food by the award-winning Levanter of Ramsbottom.
Luke Unabomber told ToM: “This weekender is the culmination of a 25 year journey that has taken us from being DJs to bar and restaurant owners and festival organisers. This is so much more than a music festival, it’s about food, drink and good times.”
Electric Weekender – Summer of Love, Principal Hotel, Oxford Road, Manchester, M60 7HA. 0161 2281111. Full running order here.
