Marble Brewery welcomes new owners to the NQ amid brewery expansion plans
Fierce Beer, an award-winning craft beer brewery based in Aberdeen, is to open its first bar in England this week, by taking over the reins at 57 Thomas Street. The new bar will open to the public at 2pm on Friday 4th September and will replace the much-loved venue run by Marble Brewery.
Situated in Manchester’s vibrant and historic Northern Quarter, 57 Thomas Street's modern two-floor bar acted as the younger sibling to original flagship pub The Marble Arch.
Many of our favourite UK craft beer spots are in the Northern Quarter, and we can't wait to join that community
Jan Rogers, director of Marble Beers Ltd, said the brewery were excited to welcome new owners to 57 Thomas St because it gives them the opportunity to focus on production at their main Salford brewery.
“For those of you wondering why we're moving out, it's not that we haven't had a ball at 57 over the years but our new brewery keeps on growing,” she explained. “That growth, plus the news that small brewer's duty relief may well change in 2022, has meant we have had to make some difficult choices about Marble's future plans."
Marble Beers has been brewing forward-thinking beers in Manchester since 1997, from humble beginnings in the back of The Marble Arch pub on Rochdale Road, through to their 12-barrel Williamson Street site and on to their current Salford home. The latest move saw a complete overhaul of the brewery, installing everything needed to bring the brewery up to speed, including a 25hL gravity system brew house complete with new fermenters and a brand new cold store. Marble’s head brewer Joe Ince brews a broad range of beers including Manchester Bitter, Lagonda, and Pint through to their Hop Forward and kettle sours ranges, collaborations and annual releases.
57 Thomas Street's new owners, Fierce Bar Manchester, will be increasing the venue's current set-up from nine to 15 craft beer draught lines with a permanent selection of their award-winning core beers and rotating specials, sours, mixed fermentation and barrel-aged beers. They will also be stocking an extensive range of canned and bottled craft beers from other breweries around the world, as well as gins, rums and other spirits. The venue is child-friendly and dog-friendly.
Dave Grant, managing director of Fierce Beer said: “We hosted a bar at Indy Man Beer Con 2019 and the reception we received from the city was so overwhelmingly welcoming that we decided we needed to find our own place in Manchester.
"It is a particularly challenging time to be opening a new bar, but now is the right time for us. When an opportunity to open in the Northern Quarter appeared, we couldn't turn it down."
"Many of our favourite UK craft beer spots are in the Northern Quarter, and we can't wait to join that community”, added Fierce Beer bar manager Craig Cargill. "We want as many people as possible to be able to try our beer and spirits, which is why we're expanding. We'll be hosting tutored tastings, offering tasting boards and talking to as many drinkers as we can."
Fierce Manchester’s opening week will see the launch of a collaboration beer with the New Zealand Beer Collective (The Main Event - Nelson Sauvin & Motueka DIPA - 8.5% ABV) followed by the launch of their brand new Agave Spirits the following week. The bar has a kitchen set-up, which Fierce will be looking to share with a local street-food operator.
Fierce Beer opened their first bar in Aberdeen 2018 and then Edinburgh in 2019. "We think the look and feel of the venue is cool already; it's a part of why we chose this spot,” says sales manager Louise Grant. “We won't be making too many changes any time soon, but we will be adding our Fierce touches and changing up the bar offering. We love working with local artists in our Aberdeen and Edinburgh bars, so we're planning on bringing that to Fierce Bar Manchester."
A track and trace system will be implemented, along with precautions in line with the current guidance. There is a sizeable licenced outdoor area with seating directly in front of the venue that continues in front of the neighbouring cafe, Teacup.
The bar will open to the public at 2pm on Friday 4th September. Opening hours will be 2-10pm Monday to Friday, 12-10pm Saturday and Sunday
Fierce Bar, 57 Thomas Street, Northern Quarter, M4 1NA
