One of Manchester’s biggest and best-loved food and drink events is making its big comeback this week, celebrating all things beer right across the city.
Indy Man Beer Con (or IMBC)’s cornerstone event is the beer festival at the historic Victoria Baths, where the old Edwardian swimming pool is filled with bunting and bars.
IMBC was founded by Jonny Heyes of Common & Co fame back in 2012, and now brings together more than 60 brilliant breweries, including Bristol’s Lost and Found and Cheltenham’s Deya.
But the celebrating won’t be confined to Victoria Baths, with a city-wide IMBC Fringe festival also taking over other venues around Manchester.
Takeovers, events and collaborations will seep into bars right through until Sunday evening.
ADVERTISEMENT
IMBC will be back at Victoria Baths. Credit: Jody Hartley
One of the big ones will be Runaway to Kampus, with Runaway Brewery Tap Room upping sticks and moving into the Bungalow at Kampus for the whole weekend.
The building-on-stilts at the canal-side neighbourhood will host the four-day residency, in conjunction with Nell’s Pizza and other friends of the brewery.
ADVERTISEMENT
There’ll be fresh beer on tap plus a full selection of bottles (including a few rarities from the cellar).
Elsewhere, the award-winning Salford brewery will land at Chorlton’s beloved The Beagle all weekend, taking over the taps with keg and cask offerings.
IMBC will be back at Victoria Baths. Credit: Jody HartleyIMBC will be back at Victoria Baths. Credit: Jody Hartley
On Saturday and Sunday, the Drop Project Den will pitch up at Common with a six-tap takeover and a Shifty special pizza from Nell’s.
ADVERTISEMENT
London’s Drop Project are known for creating fresh, premium beers that push creative boundaries.
Back at IMBC at Victoria Baths, there’ll be tasting areas, snug bars in the Turkish Baths, street food and – obviously – plenty of beer.
Traders on site will include Bundobust, Siop Shop, Tikka Chance on Me, Great North Pie, Dim Sum Su, Wholesome Junkies, Honest Crust, and Triple B.
Ticket-holders for the main event are advised to download theIMBC app, which will act as a total guide to all the beers on offer and where to find them, and will also send out alerts for pop-ups and more surprises.
Tickets get you access to the festival and a festival class, with tokens inside priced at £25 for 10 or £2.70 each, with each token entitling you to one third of beer at any Indy Man bar.
ADVERTISEMENT
It’s a completely cashless event, and you’re encouraged to take your own vessel for water as, to minimise waste, there won’t be bottles on sale.
New smash burger joint launched by Almost Famous founders appears to shut for good
Daisy Jackson
A new smash burger joint opened by the team who originally founded the legendary Almost Famous appears to have closed after only eight months.
Super Awesome Deluxe, on Thomas Street, hasn’t been open since last week and has turned off deliveries online.
Super Awesome Deluxe launched in the Northern Quarter last October, serving up just three signature burgers (the Super, the Awesome, and the Deluxe).
It was a new takeaway brand from the same group who were, at the time, behind Almost Famous, one of Manchester’s most popular burger joints.
While Almost Famous was famed for its towers of patties and sauces and toppings, Super Awesome Deluxe opted for simpler smash burgers with crispy-edged patties.
Shortly after the launch of the new project, Almost Famous announced the shock closure of all of its sites (it was later bought out and reopened by D2, though some restaurants did close for good).
Super Awesome Deluxe continued to operate after the loss of Almost Famous, along with the ‘hidden’ cocktail bar beneath it, Ego Death.
Manchester burger joint Super Awesome Deluxe. Credit: The Manc GroupManchester burger joint Super Awesome Deluxe. Credit: The Manc Group
Beloved Stockport bar Bask is rebranding as Greater Manchester’s latest Irish bar
Danny Jones
Yes, one of the names synonymous with Stockport’s resurgent hospitality scene, Bask, is set to rebrand into yet another Irish bar following a flurry of openings across Greater Manchester.
The lively bar, breakfast and pub grub spot, also known for live music nights, matchday pints for Stockport County and various other events, has had a bit of a turbulent period over the past few months or so, but remains a much-loved local venue.
Bask were forced to issue a statement following an arrest back in February, and one of the founding members behind the venture also stepped away in August 2024.
Looking to close that door firmly behind them, the team – now headed up by native DJ and producer Jon Fitz (John Fitzpatricks) – are set to launch the all-new Fitzpatricks “very soon.”
Fitz (a Stopfordian by birth) announced the latest iteration of the unit located just next to Stockport train station on social media late last month, writing: “It’s been a long time coming, and we’ve poured our hearts into this one — we’re aiming to open very very soon…”
Detailing a distinct Irish-American theme, influenced by the “friendly bars of Boston to the lively streets of New York City, Fizpatricks brings that gritty charm and warm hospitality across the pond, fusing Irish roots with American spirit.
Fans of Bask’s roots in entertainment will also be glad to hear that lineups of live music will remain “every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday — with the best of Irish, American and Country music.”
With co-creator Benji Taylor, who ultimately stepped away last year, having brought his music industry background to the business model, live entertainment has also been a big selling point of the bar and, thankfully, will remain so.
Bask Makes Way for a New Look
After 3 unforgettable years of cocktails, creativity, and community, it’s time for a bold new chapter. Bask, the bar that brought Stockport a unique blend of nightlife and culture, is evolving.
In terms of food, Fitzpatricks will be delivering everything from classic American comfort food to “healthy gym options” as part of their new bar and grill approach, along with a proper Sunday roast menu.
Perhaps most notably, much like Taylor’s influence over the course of his tenure, the new-look venue is set to further immerse itself in the local sports experience, promising plenty of cold pints for the punters heading to the match at Edgeley Park, as well as an exciting brand new ‘360 multi-screen experience’ and more.
Fitzpatricks even looks set to embark on an official partnership with Stockport County ahead of the 2025/26 League One season – a big coup, indeed.
Bask may be over, but there’ll always be the memories. In fact, we wagered it was the best night in Stockport, so here’s hoping Fitzpatricks can follow in its footsteps. We can’t wait to see what comes next and can’t wait to split another G or two.
Daisy Jackson -
30th September 2022 
