DON’T call us party poopers but, as a food-centric website, we can’t see the point of dancing the night away without fortifying the inner raver. Hence, we may spend much of The Refuge’s Second Birthday Bash supporting (or being supported by) the bar, arguably Manchester’s most spectacular, or dipping into the small plate menu. Please don’t let the Shawarma run out.
More serious music folk will be concentrating on a stellar DJ line-up, curated of course by the creators of this much-loved food and music destination inside The Princioal Hotel – The Unabombers, Luke Cowdrey and Justin Crawford.
The party spreads across an entire weekend from Friday September 28 through to Sunday 30.
The Friday will begin in the public bar, with the Refuge’s favourite host, Paulette, followed by festival faves Reach Up, Disco Wonderland featuring former DJ and ‘beat finder’ for Portishead Andy Smith presenting and Nick Halkes co-founder of XL Recordings. The courtyard on Waterhouse Way will open its doors from 5pm-10pm with a focus on live music.
Naturally the pick of the city’s craft breweries will be present courtesy of sibling bar Volta and West Didsbury neighbours The Epicurean alongside an array of pop-up food.
On the Saturday Jane Weaver, Bill Brewster and Dave Haslam will hold the fort in the public bar from 3pm-8pm, and closing off until 1am will be Kiss Me Again Vs Supernature Disco – two of the city’s most recent, yet finest LGBT club gatherings.
Saturday in the courtyard, 4pm-10pm, from day to dusk will be The Unabombers themselves. From 10pm-4am the decks are handed over to New York legend Danny Krivit! alongside Manchester’s own Kath McDermott. Tickets available here.
To close off the third day and night celebrations, on Sunday September 30, the exquisite Sunday roast of The Refuge will be served from 12pm, to a soundtrack by Zoe Kyoto live. You see it’s all about the food in the end.
The Refuge by Volta, The Principal Hotel, Oxford Road, Manchester, M60 7HA. 0161 2281111.
