An award-winning Manchester brewery has announced it will be opening a new brewery in Stockport. Runaway Brewery's new site will also feature a tap room and bottle stop when it opens in the central Stockport next year.
When the doors open in 2023, visitors will be able to enjoy a range of freshly brewed beers including regular favourites, seasonal specials and unique collaborations from friends of the brewery. Guests will also be invited to take a tour of the site including its courtyard beer garden, and meet the brewers behind Runaway.
Read more: I paid £25 for a beer and bratwurst at Manchester Christmas Markets - was it worth it?
Runaway Brewery’s founder, Mark Welsby commented: "We’re all really excited by our move to Stockport and to be shifting Runaway’s focus a little. We hope our move from the inner-city will allow us a bit more time to explore the things that inspire us and our beer.
"We’re really looking forward to engaging with a new community here in Stockport - especially opportunities to collaborate with other indie food and drink producers."
To celebrate their upcoming move and introduce themselves to the town, the brewery will be running a pop-up Tap Room at their new premises on Astley Street in the lead up to Christmas. Brewery friends Honest Crust Sourdough Pizza are bringing their wood fired pizza oven to join in the celebrations.
After supporting the Art Battle held in the former Debenhams in Stockport in September - which attracted around 1,000 visitors - brew-tap style, festive weekenders will open every Thursday to Saturday between 1-17 of December. The Brewery Bottle Shop will also be offering Christmas gift packs alongside some special seasonal offerings, including recently bottled rum and tequila barrel-aged stouts, and a 'funky' wine-barrel-aged beer brewed with heather honey sourced locally.
The Manchester-based brewers are currently building their pop-up bar to showcase all their beers in tap, cask and from the bottle. Up to 12 lines of Runaway beer will be available to try, alongside a carefully selected wine list and soft drinks from local producers Steep Soda Co.
Runaway’s move follows a year of planning and refurbishment between themselves and landlord Orbit Developments. The brewery has entering into a 20 year lease with the developers at Crossley House, a former sheet metal works, on Astley Street.
The brewery's arrival in Stockport also follows the news that Robinson’s will be leaving their historic town centre brewery after nearly 200 years. Mark adds: "I'm hopeful that our move can help retain the tradition of brewing in the heart of the town, albeit on a much smaller scale.
"But we also want to create something contemporary, relevant, and valuable at the same time, keeping one eye on the future of Stockport too. I t feels like a fantastic opportunity for us to offer something new in the town and hopefully, like those who are already here, we can have a positive influence on what comes next."
Runaway Brewery's festive pop-up Tap Room opens every Thursday and Friday from 5pm-10:30pm, and every Saturday from 12pm-10.30pm from the start of December until the 17th. The brewery Bottle Shop will be open for Christmas gifts from lunch time until closing on the same days.
Runaway Brewery will be located at Crossley House, 9-11 Astley Street, Stockport, SK4 1AW.
READ NEXT: