YOU can’t have a Dockyard without a waterfront, so the third pub from Steve Pilling following The Dockyards at Salford Quays and Spinningfields Leftbank is to be called The Gasworks Brewbar – because it is located on the former Gaythorn Gaswork site now known as First Street.
What’s also new about it is its on-site six-barrel microbrewery. Imagine, say, exiting Home after Hamlet to catch the waft of hops drifting along First Street. As with the previous ventures there’s a canny attention to location, location, establishing watering holes in comparative beer deserts (with apologies to Home Bar!).
Owner Steve Pilling, the man also behind Damson, Guilty by Association and Liquorice bar, said: “With our passion for the raw ingredient and the knowledge and understanding of beer that we’ve built up since opening our first Dockyard, it really felt like a natural progression to start brewing our own.
“When I viewed the First Street site a year ago and started to understand the scope of the development, I knew we had found the right spot to create something unique and as yet unseen in Manchester.”
In addition to their own brews, Pilling ensures they’ll continue to champion local brewers such as Shindigger and Brightside, alongside the likes of Brewdog, Goose Island and Left Hand.
The range of beers, specialists cask ales and craft ales will be accompanied by a freshly prepared menu, including burgers, pies and sandwiches. The industrial design, which is sympathetic to the history and provenance of the site will house large format tables, and will have an 100 cover outside beer terrace.
Main picture is the bar at Dockyards Leftbank.