Northern craft beer and Gujarati street food venue, Bundobust, will be opening its long-awaited brewery on September 16th at 4pm. So, what better way to celebrate the launch than a free beer? They will be giving away the first 200 pints for free (*with the purchase of food).
Located in the Grade II-listed St James Building on Oxford Street in Manchester – not far from Oxford Road station – the new venue will make the perfect place for a quick post-work pint, a mid-week drink or a celebratory weekend session in the 150-seat taproom and restaurant.
Widely regarded as a game-changing independent food and drink enterprise, Bundobust has established itself as a beacon of successful casual dining in the North.
Bundobust opened their first restaurant in Leeds in 2014, with Bundobust Manchester Piccadilly following in 2016, then Bundobust on Bold Street Liverpool in 2019. This second Manchester site comes within a fully functioning brewery representing the next step in the venue’s incredible exploration of great craft beer and Indian street food.
The brand is well-known for its discerning taste in craft beers and collaborations with internationally renowned breweries. Recent collaborations include ANDHERA Hoppy Black Lager with Deya Brewing Company, NEW DELHI DAZZLER India Pale Wit with Northern Monk, and SALTED LEMON SOUR with North Brewing Co. But now Bundobust will have the facility to brew its very own beers, right on site (although Bundobust Brewery will continue to collaborate with the cream of UK brewery talent.)
The new Bundobust Brewery has been under construction since 2019, but now complete, the 10-hectolitre custom-build is capable of producing 20,000 pints per month.
“We were due to open in May 2020. The past 18 months have slowed us down, but the delay has meant that we’ve been able to develop our beer recipes,” says Marko Husak, co-founder of Bundobust (pictured left). “Expect the familiar Bundobust vibe and menu, with the bonus of being in a working brewery”.
The overall design has been influenced by US brewpubs, with a nod to the atmosphere of a German beer hall. Woodmancote Retro, who produce sustainable furniture, has created the brewery’s high tables and stools. Each chair is made from 40 recycled plastic water bottles, while school-style desks have been repurposed into beer hall-style tables, complete with “I Woz ‘Ere” etchings.
The giant glass atrium used to be occupied by a car park, so keep an eye out for original features, from vintage alarm bells and glazed bricks to ‘Drive Slowly’ signage.
“The opportunity to carve out an iconic Manchester building from scratch has been a massive undertaking, and we’re excited to welcome people in.” says co-founder Mayur Patel. “We’re looking forward to opening a unique space alongside theatres and gig venues, Oxford Road station, and great pubs like The Peveril of the Peak.”
Dan Hocking, former Head Brewer at Holland’s world-renowned Uiltje Brewery, will be at the helm of this Bundo venture. He’s spent the past year perfecting recipes behind closed doors in the state-of-the-art facility. Bundobust’s beers are crafted with the venue’s iconic Gujarati menu in mind, meaning they pair perfectly with its award-winning Indian street food.
The brand new Vienna-style Cartway Lager will be available exclusively at the brewery when it opens – named after the historic ‘Cartway’ space within the St James Building that the brewery occupies. “Vienna Lager has a fantastic balance of sweetness and bitterness, and it’s the best all-rounder beer style to pair with food,” says Dan.
Here are the beers you can expect to find on rotation at Bundobust Brewery (and all Bundobust sites from) now on:
- CHAITRO. 5% Nitro Chai Porter. Smooth and creamy Porter with roast malts, a whack of Bundobust chai masala, and fresh ginger.
- PEELA. 4% Pale Ale. Easy drinking hazy Pale, brewed with Azacca and Ekuanot hops. Loads of tropical fruit flavour.
- DHANIA PILSNER. 4.8% Coriander Lager. Clean and crisp Czech-style Pilsner with a hit of citrusy toasted coriander seeds.
- KIPSY BHAI. 4.8% Kellerbier. Traditional Kellerbier-style lager with German malts and hops. Clean, balanced and crisp.
- EAST IS EAST. 6.5% New England IPA. New England-style IPA showcasing ever-changing combinations of the freshest hops.
- WEST IS WEST. 6.5% West Coast IPA. Dank and bitter IPA. Piney and resinous, brewed with a rotating selection of the choicest hops.
Instagram: @bundobust Twitter: @bundobrewery
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