Award winners and beer festivals - we'll drink to that

Greater Manchester Beer Awards: The results

Seven weeks on from the end of Manchester Beer Week, the ten day long citywide celebration of hop and malt has announced the winners of its inaugural Greater Manchester Beer Awards. 

Chosen by public vote from shortlists drawn up by experts, the list of victors shows the strength of the city and region’s contemporary beer culture:

Best bar: Heaton Hops (Heaton Moor).

Best pub: The Magnet (Stockport).

Best new pub/bar: Reasons to be Cheerful (Burnage).

Best beer range: Cafe Beermoth (city centre).

Best restaurant beer range: Bundobust (city centre).

Best independent beer retailer: Epicurean (West Didsbury).

Best brewery: Cloudwater Brew Co (Manchester).

Best brewery tap: Blackjack Brewtap (Manchester).

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Bundobust won best restaurant beer range

Wigan wins CAMRA pub of the year

Meanwhile, the eight local branches of CAMRA have crowned Wigan Central as their Greater Manchester Pub of the Year. Opened less than three years ago in an arch next to Wigan North Western station, it’s the brainchild of the town's Prospect Brewery.

Prospect brewer Patsy Slevin said: "Back in 2014, our aim was to have a dedicated real ale bar in a historic part of the town. We invoked memories of the long since closed Wigan Central station with our decor and furnishings that reflect the age of steam. But we aren't stuck in the past – regulars and occasional visitors love our real time monitors showing departures at both Wigan stations."

The Central is now a contender for CAMRA’s national Pub of the Year.

20170822 Wigan Central
Wigan Central - pub of the year wigancentral.bar

The Independent Salford Beer Festival 2017

Organisers hinted that 2016 might be the last, but they've relented and have just announced that it will run from October 19-21, again raising money for its venue, St Sebastian’s Community Centre. The size of the centre limits entry, so organisers recommend booking tickets (£5) in advance via this link. Well worth it with 150 per cent more beer and several interesting brewery one-off collaborations promised.

@salfordbeerfest

20170822 Salford Beer Festival
Tickets for the Salford Beer Festival are now on sale