BY the time you read this GRUB might well have hit their crowdfunding target of £17,000 to transform their new Green Quarter base. By mid-morning on Friday January 24 their Kickstarter tally clocked in at £16,322 with nine days still to go to their make or break deadline.
Success, they hope will will clinch the Red Bank Project site as their permanent home after five nomadic years championing street food around Manchester. Plant-based events have become an integral part of that effort and this (January 24-26) they are reprising their annual ExtrVEGANza at Red Bank, a 10 minute stroll from Victoria Station.
Expect special vegan menus from Oh Mei Dumpling (below), Chou Choux (French patisserie), Sugar Spun Sisters (waffles), Seitan’s Kebab (doners) and fried ‘chicken’ burgers from Huns Vegan (below).
Alongside the grub there will be 22 lines of 100 per cent vegan beers from local breweries on cask and keg plus the usual selection of wines, ciders, hand made sodas, soft drinks, hot drinks and spirits. The ‘plant powered shopping’ market will feature products such as essential oil candles from Therapy and Scent, handmade chocolate from Dormouse Chocolates and vegan honey alternatives from the Northern Pantry.
Their has always been an idealistic element to GRUB. Beyond the food and drink offering. They want the site to be a hub for community group, charities and creatives all under one roof. There are also plans for a free mentoring programme for home chefs who want to get started in street food.
Not content with that, GRUB is looking to build Manchester’s best beer garden (with some covered spaces). In addition, the plan is to build a new interior market hall and a performance space plus equipment to support new traders at their weekend food fairs.
Investors’ rewards range way from pin badges to a street food party for 200 guests. The Kickstarter deadline is 6pm on Sunday, February 2. GRUB hope to follow in the footsteps of successful local indie crowdfunders such as Pollen, Kala and Yakumama, but if they fall even one penny short they won’t receive anything. So please make your pledge here.
GRUB ExtraVEGANza, The Red Bank Project. 50 Red Bank, Manchester, M4 4HF. Friday, January 24, 4pm-10pm, Saturday, January 25, 12pm-10pm and Sunday, January 12pm-6pm. Free entry, families and dogs welcome. Full details of the event can be found on the Facebook event page here.