Food & drink news ft. Aiden Byrne, 20 Stories, The Refuge Arms & more

This week’s food and drink round up includes the news that Aiden Byrne will leave  Living Ventures to run D&D’s new 20 Stories restaurant at No 1. Spinningfields from February 2018. There’s bargain £23 Michelin star menu at Fischer’s Baslow Hall in Derbyshire (until 30 Nov), various Magic Rock tap takeovers, a free film and food night at , a new mixologist for the Lowry, women brewers’ week at Crown and Kettle and much more.

News: Aiden Byrne to head up 20 Stories restaurant in Spinningfields
Aiden Byrne will leave Manchester House and the Living Ventures group to head up D&D’s new ambitious restaurant 20 Stories at the top of Allied London’s No. 1 Spinningfields building from February 2018. The new restaurant, run by the multi-national D&D group will seat 300, enjoy panoramic views of the city and, with Byrne on board, serve a menu of world class food and booze.
From Feb 2018, 20 Stories, No. 1 Spinningfields, Quay Street, Manchester, www.danddlondon.com

News: Manchester House mixologist moves to The Lowry hotel 
More ex-Manchester House staff setting up elsewhere with former head mixologist Stuart McLachlan is moving to The Lowry Hotel’s River Bar as manager. Just in time for Christmas his first task will be shaking up some festive treats such as rosemary and cranberry seasonal sangria and gingerbread and thyme tonics.
The River Bar at The Lowry Hotel, 50 Dearmans Place, Chapel Wharf, Salford, Manchester, M3 5LH, Tel: 0161 827 4000, www.thelowryhotel.com

Book tickets: Winter Wine Festival 2017 at Sale Waterside Arts Centre
Sale bar, Cork of the North, is holding a wine festival at Waterside Arts Centre. Stock up on Christmas presents for yourself and other people, with the opportunity to sample over 60 wines to help you decide. Tickets are £20, contact the Cork of the North shop on 0161 962 6263 to buy.
Wed 22 Nov, Waterside Arts Centre, Robert Bolt Theatre, Sale, Waterside M33 7ZF, 7.30pm, £20, www.facebook.com

Deal of the week: Michelin star lunch for £23 at Fischer’s Baslow Hall
Baslow Hall in Derbushire is currently serving if not the nearest then certainly the cheapest Michelin star lunch in the UK (we believe). At just £23 for two courses from head chef Rupert Rowley, it’s worth making the journey to the Peak District – but it’s only available until 30 Nov 2017. Take a look at the menu here. Booking essential, t&cs apply. From Friday 1 December, you can tuck into a two-course festive menu for £36.
Fischer’s Baslow Hall, Calver Road, Baslow, Bakewell DE45 1RR. Tel: 01246 583259. www.fischers-baslowhall.co.uk 

Free party: Magic Rock tap take over at Cafe Beermoth ft. Howlin’ Tacos 
Cult Huddersfield brewery Magic Rock is taking over 16 cask and keg lines at Café Beermoth this Friday (24 Nov). Bringing signature beers and some newer ones as well, the beer list won’t disappoint. Mexican street food outfit Howlin’ Tacos will be on hand to feed the masses, showcasing their breakfast taco for this event. Register your free ticket through the link below to join the party.
Fri 24 Nov, Café Beermoth, Brown Street, Manchester M2 1DA. Tel: 0161 835 2049, 5pm, www.eventbrite.co.uk

Win tickets: Meet the brewer pub crawl with Beer Adventures app
Stone Brewing Berlin is teaming up with new app Beer Adventures to offer fellow adventurers a beer taster tour around the Northern Quarter.  Read more and enter the competition in our full preview here.
Tue 5 Dec, from Port Street Beer House, 39-41 Port Street, Manchester M1 2EQ. Tel: 0161 237 9949, 7pm, £12, www.facebook.com

Book tickets: Hispi’s Charity Thanksgiving Feast
Hispi in Didsbury, crowd-funded sister restaurant to Chester’s acclaimed Sticky Walnut, celebrates Thanksgiving with a meal for Action Against Hunger this year. Read our full preview and see the menu here.
Thu 23 Nov, Hispi, 1C School Lane, West Didsbury, Manchester M20 6RD. Tel: 0161 445 3996, 7pm, £45, www.eventbrite.co.uk

Launch party: ‘The Art of the Brew’ at The Refuge Arms (at the Refuge) ft. Magic Rock, Thornbridge, music from John Ellis & more
There’s even more Magic Rock collabs to be found as they join forces with Thornbridge Brewery and The Refuge Arms with a special tap takeover at the Principal hotel on Thu 30 Nov with the help of sister bar Volta and Didsbury beer slingers The Epicurean. The two passionate breweries unveil their exclusive and highly anticipated new brew – Exaltation Session IPA 5.5% with music from John Ellis (who’s worked with everyone from The Cinematic Orchestra to Lily Allen).
Thu 30 Nov, Art of the Brew at The Refuge Arms, The Refuge Basement, Oxford Street, M60 7HA. 6pm, £5, www.eventbrite.co.uk

Exclusive beer launch: Goose Island stout at Bundobust 
Outside of London, the Bundobusts of Leeds and Manchester are the only venues to get their hands on a couple of cases of the rare original barrel-aged beer from Goose Island, Bourbon County Stout. Bundobust has created an accompanying dessert to go with it: head down to taste the trio for two people comprising a bottle of the Goose Island stout alongside a chocolate chilli brownie from local bakery Blawd, a Northern Bloc cinnamon and Belgian biscuit ice cream, and a Bundobust gulab jamun. With only 30 available per restaurant, be hasty to avoid missing out.
Fri 24 Nov, Bundobust Manchester, 61 Piccadilly, Manchester, M1 2AG, Tel: 0161 359 6757, 6pm, www.facebook.com

Free food & film screening: KinoFilm Festival presents an Italian short film night with food at Instituto Cervantes
As part of the city’s Kinofilm Festival 2017, the Spanish language speaking school is hosting an Italian film screening at the Campfield Market venue. There will be five shorts shown with the theme of ‘moments of truth and conflict, rituals and revenants, and the language of stones, all with a distinctly Italian flavour.’ After the compiled running time of around an hour, film goers are invited to stay and quaff a glass of Italian wine and a tasting of chilled pasta salads prepared with Garofalo, the pasta synonymous with Italian film. Register your free ticket via the link below.
Fri 24 Nov, Instituto Cervantes, 326-330 Deansgate, Campfield Avenue Arcade, M3 4FN, 7pm, www.eventbrite.co.uk

Book tickets: Winter BeerFest 2017 at Stalybridge Buffet Bar
The annual beer festival returns to iconic Victorian station venue Stalybridge Buffet Bar. Dating back to 1885, it is home to open fires, a marble bar and an impressive array of railway paraphernalia to peruse. Just a ten-minute journey on the train, the bar is situated on the platform you alight from Manchester. Over the three day festival, there will be live music during the evenings, street food on hand, and a huge range of bottled, cask and keg beer to sup. With local and visiting breweries represented, have a look at the full beer line-up via the link below.
Fri 24-Sun 26 Nov, Stalybridge Buffet Bar, Platform 4, Stalybridge Railway Station, Rassbottom Street, SK15 1RF, Tel: 0161 303 0007, Fri-Sat: 12pm-midnight & Sun 12-11pm, FREE entry,www.beerhouses.co.uk

From Friday: Beardless Beer Week at Crown and Kettle
In collaboration with Harrogate-based beer collective Women on Tap, Crown and Kettle is hosting a week of events celebrating women working in the beer industry. The pub will be serving bottles, cask and keg beer brewed by women during the week, plus there are some special events to head down for. This Saturday, the award-winning renowned beer expert Melissa Cole will be making an appearance whilst her beer created alongside Beer Nouveau and Neptune is served from the taps. Women on Tap organiser Rachel Auty will also be holding a ‘women and beer’ discussion panel on Monday at 7pm. All details can be found via the link below.
Fri 24 Nov-Thu 30 Nov, Crown and Kettle, 2 Oldham Road, Manchester, M4 5FE, Tel: 0161 235 0978, www.facebook.com

Boozy Christmas pop-up at Selfridges ft. Alphabet Brewing Co & a gin tasting
Selfridges is opening up a Christmas pop-up pub with different dates to sample beer or gin. On two consecutive Wednesdays (29 Nov & 6 Dec), the focus will be on beer with Alphabet Brewing Company bringing six different styles for guests to sample whilst being guided through them by an expert, and munching on complimentary pub snacks. The two-hour gin tasting will take place on Tue 5 Dec, with the history of gin being explored, plus matched canapes will be served to suit each gin. More information and tickets available via the link below.
Selfridges & Co, Menswear on 1, Exchange Square, Manchester, M3 1BD, Tel: 0800 123400, Weds 29 Nov & 6 Dec, beer event, £15: www.eventbrite.co.uk
Tue 5 Dec, gin event, £25: www.eventbrite.co.uk

IN SHORT
Documentary screening: The Manchester screening of documentary on Britain’s dying pub trade Ripping Out The Bar takes place at Beer Nouveau on Sun.
Sun 26 Nov, Beer Nouveau, 75 North Western Street, Manchester, M12 6DY, 3pm, www.facebook.com