Manchester Union Brewery and Alphabet Brewing Company have partnered to create a series of alternative Christmas markets, launching this weekend in the city centre.
The alternative markets, hosted by the two Manchester-bred breweries, will boast a huge variety of food, drink and assortments all based at the breweries’ home on North Western Street. From worldwide foods, clothing, make up, and ceramics, the new markets will showcase the best of creative culture from the city.
The markets will run each Saturday from 12 – 6pm in the run up to Christmas (27 November, 4 December, 11 December, and 18 December), with different indie traders on show each week, giving visitors the opportunity to buy the perfect gifts and treats this Christmas.
Local food and drink suppliers will be available with varying cuisine each week. Spotlight stalls include Witch King’s rum; specialising in fantasy bohemian fresh fruit rum liqueurs, Wallace and Son’s catering; family-run vendors providing street food with a fine dining twist, Rise Mcr; the renowned sourdough pizza pop up, and Heaven Bakery; the delicious treat bakers made for those with a sweet tooth.
The markets will also be home to vendors specialising in organic, handmade products. Some traders to be excited for include Bee Happy, a vegan-based home fragrance company, Vlysk Colours, repurposed hand painted glass homeware, Last Ember, generously hand-poured candles, and Talith Walker Designs, contemporary handmade embroidery art.
Both breweries will also open up the tap rooms for daytime drinkers, offering fresh lagers and beers brewed just meters away along with mulled ciders and christmas snacks.
The markets will run for four weeks and will promote the best of the city’s start-ups and creative entrepreneurs, with most traders being Manchester founded.
The full line up includes:
27th November:
Piilgrim, Wallace and sons catering, Elle Est, Hunt and Peck, Na-Be Ceramics, Anie Studio, Mimi’s Kitchen, Ellie Barker, iNostalgia , Birch Store.
4th December:
Bee Happy, Plstix, Wallace and sons catering, Foam In Cosmetics, Crystals by Ellie, Last, Ember, Hunt and Peck, Rise, Heaven Bakery, Witch Kings, Elle Est, Mimi’s Kitchen, iNostalgia.
11th December:
Pick-Art, Talith Walker, Wallace and sons catering, Grounded Rossendale, Greenhouse books, Elle Estt, Mimi’s Kitchen, iNostalgia.
18th December:
Beaches and Cream, Talith Walker, Last Ember, Vlysk Colours, Rise, Witch Kings, Grounded Rossendale, Clamp Down Records, HM Pasties, Nosh, Greenhouse books, Mimi’s Kitchen, Nuewick, Jive Prints, A Twist, MusMus, iNostalgia.
More details can be found on the breweries social pages: @mcrunionlager & @abctaproom
