Iron Maiden’s frontman gave fans quite a surprise this weekend after he finished a sell-out gig in Manchester, only to turn up at a Stockport brewery and start pouring pints from behind the bar.
Following the band’s sold-out show at Manchester’s AO Arena, heavy metal star Bruce Dickinson made the journey over to Stockport brewery Robinson’s to celebrate his other passion: beer.
Turning up on Saturday afternoon, he surprised 100 hardcore Iron Maiden fans with a hand-pulled pint of Trooper – his band’s internationally renowned beer, named after the Iron Maiden hit of the same name.
Images show Dickinson getting stuck in as he poured off pints of the amber-coloured cask ale to a cheering crowd, many of whom had flown in from around the world to be there.
Image: John McMurtrie
Image: John McMurtrie
Fans were overwhelmed with the opportunity to enjoy a pint pulled by their idol, and one couple from Italy even got engaged at the event.
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On receiving their pint, one fan said rapturously: “I don’t want to drink this ever, it’s too special.”
Whilst a group of Trooper fans who had travelled to Manchester from Mexico said it was “of the best days of their lives.”
Marco, who’d travelled to the event from Naples with his girlfriend, went all out thought and cemented the momentous occasion with a marriage proposal.
When chatting to afterwards, he said “I will remember this day for the rest of my life”.
Image: John McMurtrie
The surprise party took place to celebrate 10 years of the iconic collaboration, marking the sale of over 33 million pints of Trooper in over fifty countries around the globe.
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Speaking after the event, Bruce said: “It’s always great to be in Manchester and what a fantastic reception our fans gave us here!
“It was extra special to be at the brewery to enjoy a pint or two of Trooper with our competition winners. Cheers everyone!”
The event took place during Iron Maiden’s The Future Past Tour which is underway until October and involves almost 40 performances throughout Europe and North America
Featured image – John McMurtrie
Eats
Joe & The Juice to open even MORE locations in Manchester city centre
Daisy Jackson
Joe & The Juice is set to launch yet more juice bars and coffee shops in Manchester city centre.
The viral brand used to have a spot in town within the former Debenhams building, but vanished from Greater Manchester when the department store folded.
But its comeback has been remarkable since reopening in town last year, with the number of Joe & The Juice locations now at an all-time high.
And there are even more on the way…
Bright pink hoardings have appeared on a corner unit on Princess Street, right off St Peter’s Square, teasing a new Joe & The Juice cafe in the city centre.
The unit has been empty for at least 10 years, despite being in such a prime part of the city centre.
Plans were also revealed last year for the Danish-based brand to open within the reopened Sunlight House on Quay Street.
Joe & The Juice is coming to St Peter’s Square in ManchesterJoe & The Juice on Cross Street
The new additions will bring the number of Joe & The Juices in Greater Manchester to five, adding to their existing portfolio of Cross Street, Manchester Airport T2, and the Trafford Centre.
The brand is known for its signature menu of juices, smoothies, health shots, coffees and matchas, plus its viral Scandi-inspired sandwiches like the Tunacado.
With more than 300 juice bars and coffee shops around the world, Joe & The Juice’s pink branding has become a familiar site globally since its launch in 2002.
An exact opening date for the new St Peter’s Square Joe & The Juice hasn’t been revealed yet, but the signs promise it’s ‘coming soon’.
Inside the new Manchester food hall opening in a Grade II-listed building
Daisy Jackson
The operators behind a brand-new food hall in Manchester city centre have shared a glimpse inside.
Work is underway to transform the Grade II-listed Ducie Street Warehouse into an enormous food hall concept, with 11 kitchens plus an outdoor terrace, mini cinema, tequila bar, and game rooms.
When it opens this summer, Manchester Street Food will also have a self-service beer tap wall and two stages, as well as a 75-cover private hire space.
Ducie Street Warehouse closed late last year to make room for the building’s new chapter, as the team behind Edinburgh Street Food (ESF) take the reins.
In new images shared today, original features like the arched brick ceilings and terracotta tiled floors will be retained, but the space will have plenty of colour added in the form of murals, painted pillars, and neons.
ESF is looking to expand right across the UK over the next five years, kicking off here in Manchester on the edges of the Northern Quarter.
The 15,000 sq ft internal space, just a stone’s throw from Manchester Piccadilly, will have space for 450 people inside plus another 180 on the south-facing terrace outside.
The games room at Manchester Street FoodThe 32-seat cinemaInside Manchester Street Food
A winter garden will host breakfast service, while guest traders will take over the terrace to keep the offering fresh.
The existing 32-seat mini cinema in the building will be retained in the new plans for Manchester Street Food.
Manchester Street Food is expected to generate 180 employee opportunities.
Ben MacMillan, ESF Managing Director, said: “Manchester has always been a city with incredible energy, creativity and a love of food, so bringing our concept here in this stunning venue is a natural and exciting next step.
“We want to create a space brought to life by local artists which celebrates the city’s culture and provides line up independent traders and brewers a city centre platform to shine.
“We’ve seen how much people embraced the spirit of ESF in Edinburgh and we know Manchester, with its energy and hunger for innovation will take it to another level. We’re incredibly excited about making the city our second home.”
Georgina Pellant -
3rd July 2023 
