Thursday 24 April 2014

London Craft Moving North

Now I don't know Choice Restaurant and Bar in Manchester's Castlefield area, even though it has been around for over a dozen years.  It seems it is closing.  So what?  The interesting thing is that it will shortly re-open in what seems to be a joint venture with a London Craft Brewer.  Intriguing eh? I don't really know any more, but if you are interested, Manchester Confidential can tell you all about it here, though the identity of the brewer remains shrouded in mystery.

Owner Jon Grieves said  "Choice will be reinvented," he says. "A London-based craft beer company wants to move into the North West. We’re being brought into the brand to develop it."

Meantime seems to be heading the list of contenders, though I'd have thought it more of a Draft House kind of thing.  Anyone out there know? 

I also read that the concept will have to have some of the London taken out of it. Whatever that means.

12 comments:

Bailey said...

"A London-based craft beer company..."

My guess would the Craft Beer Company.

We were only pondering the other day whether they might break out of the South East some time soon.

Tandleman said...

I think the food led concept would be a bit of a departure for them?

Reading the Manchester Confidential piece, it seems real, proper food will be at the heart of it too.

Cooking Lager said...

It ain't craft unless it involves a collab with a beer blogger.

As the norths answer to Mark Dredge, is it you?

Tandleman said...

No but it could be Dredgie's mob Camden?

Anonymous said...

"The North's answer to Mark Dredge"! Love it!

Coxy said...

DO they like London types up norf, when I worked for Whitbread in the early 90's I remember going to The Fat Cat in Sheffield who had re badged London Pride as "Old Bollox" or something similar as they told me , locals would not drink it if they knew what it really was, particularly where from??

StringersBeer said...

... so, anyone going to trademark "Manchester"?

Anonymous said...

I saw an short interview a while back with the CEO of the Craft Beer Co. and they mentioned Northward expansion plans, with Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield on the radar, so my money would be on them as well.

Anonymous said...

...ah, here you go, just remembered I gave it a mention at the time: http://gmcr.alenewsnet.com/2013/04/22/could-the-craft-beer-co-be-coming-to-manchester/

Tim said...

I can't wait for your CAMRA branch to award this new venue Pub of the year!

Tandleman said...

You'll have along wait then. It isn't in our area.

poshe said...
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