News & Features

Less than a week after closure of The Jackalope on Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton, the bar was reborn as Strange Brew.

At the helm of Strange Brew is David Williams, a beer fan with a history at various notable Manchester bars. Dave spent three years at Good Beer Guide listed Sandbar before moving over the road to Zecol's The Deaf Institute where he revitalised the beer range including introducing cask ale. He moved on from Deaf Institute having become frustrated with not having the freedom to expand his beery ambitions there. The journey took him to Chorlton where he spent a brief period at Dulcimer (itself establishing quite a reputation for craft beers) while looking for his own bar.

Strange Brew has maintained much the same layout as The Jackalope (not surprising given the rapid turnaround between the bars) but the bar counter has a more open feel with the pie warmer moved to the back bar and a new coffee machine introduced. The décor is now a welcoming cornflower blue in the front part with a more subdued dark purple in the rear. Opening Times was also pleased to see the Gents given a much needed makeover - they were not one of Jackalope's best points!

Dave has promised to maintain Jackalope's reputation both for it's beers and as a music venue with a number of gigs already booked in. When Opening Times called on a Monday evening, an Open Mic night was in full swing with an enthusiastic crowd both listening and participating in this regular event. There were four cask ales on the bar including Doc from First Chop Brewing Arm, Shindigger's new Black IPA, Under Current from Siren brewery and an excellent pale ale from Wale's Hopcraft Brewery called Santa Muerte. This range sets the scene for what to expect from the bar in future.

http://www.strangebrewbar.co.uk/

So what of The Jackalope's former team? As previously reported, Rob Loader how has his own specialist beer shop The Epicurean on Burton Road, West Didsbury. Their second Meet The Brewer event in conjucntion with neighbours Volta bar was held on 23rd June with Huddersfield's Summer Wine Brewery visiting. In a nice tie up, they also got teamed up with West Didsbury's own Reserve Wines to bring craft beer to the Summer Wine & Beer Festival held at Didsbury Rugby Club.

https://twitter.com/EpicureanThe

Meanwhile Lee Gorton is continuing The Jackalope's live music promotion with a series of roaming events, the first of which was a mini-festival held at Salford's First Chop Brewery. He is also continuing to host the weekly "Jackgammon" backgammon tournament which has relocated to the snug at The Beech Inn on Beech Road.

https://www.facebook.com/Thejackalopebar

Unfortunately, the Church Inn on Higher Cambridge Street in Hulme had a kitchen fire in early June.

Fortunately pub was open at time so the fire was put out before anyone was in danger.

Damage is mostly limited to kitchen (although redecoration has taken place due to smoke damage). The kitchen has been closed and is expected to reopen in mid to late July (subject to JW Lees sorting it out).

Since they can't serve food they're not opening Sundays at the moment.

The Stretford Sip Club, hidden away above Trading Places on Barton Road in Stretford, is going from strength to strength as locals slowly discover this new gem in their midst.

The bar now has it's own events room which it launched with a sold out whiskey tasting evening. The room can seat around 20 people and as well as the Sip Club's own events is available to hire. More tasting evenings are planned for the future and the bar now also has regular live music nights on Tuesdays and held it's first Sunday quiz night at the end of June.

They are now also opening selected lunchtimes (11 - 3pm) serving coffee & cakes alongside it's full range of beers and wines. Initially lunchtime opening may be variable - call ahead if planning a visit.

The bar is open 5pm - 11pm Tuesday to Sunday.

Two cask ales are now regularly available at all times with the emphasis very much on local breweries. They also have bottles of cider from Manchester's very own Moss Cider Project.

http://thesipclub.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/thesipclub/

https://twitter.com/thesipclub

The Brook in Brooklands (adjacent to the Metrolink station) has won JW Lees' Cask Pub Of The Year Award 2014.

Manager David Barlow was presented with his award at JW Lees annual Pub of the Year Awards evening at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester. He is delighted to have had his efforts to serve top quality real ales recognised by the family brewer.

Also in the Trafford and Hulme area, the Best Newcomer Award went to  Lisa Adamczyk from The Rain Bar, Manchester

Full list of winners can be seen at www.jwlees.co.uk/news/article/pub-of-the-year-awards