If Manchester is a beer-positive city, then the area around Piccadilly Station heading due south has become the epicentre of craft activities. So much so people are now taking walking tours of the various microbreweries that have sprung up in the area, and Sureshot Taproom is certainly punching up with the best. An intimate taproom bar behind a bright red door in a railway arch, think homegrown setup wearing the city’s attitude proudly on its sleeve, world class pints, cans and bottles all bearing the kind of eye-catching design touches you expect from this town. And a business that clearly understands the power of good branding.
In total, there are 10 taps served by 10 different tank beers at the Sureshot blue tile-backed bar, in addition to a host of draft cocktails, mead, spirits and wines. Every Friday, the choice changes up, with a focus on regular guest and collaborative brews to keep things fresh. Popular varieties are all amazingly named, emphasising the down to earth and wry-witted nature of the business. For example, Let’s Go Somewhere There’s Cheese, Let Me Tell You About My Mother, and Small Man’s Wetsuit. The list could go on, with pale ale, IPA, DDH and West Coast pales the areas of specialism here.
To accompany all those drinks check the Sureshot board for prices of locally sourced snacks, which switch regularly, alongside the rotating pop up food vendors, making this the kind of archway beneath a railway line you really can spend all day in. Or under. Especially given the packed events diary, with evenings dedicated to block parties, subject-specific workshops, and the usual quizzes. If running is your thing, get down every Wednesday for a run social with Untitled Running. The casual run club meet at Sureshot and run a route back to the taproom, where those taking part can enjoy a free pint for their hard work. Adding to all that, every Friday you can get £4 pints of pale ale or lager all day long – still Manchester’s best crafty happy hour. Oh, and bookings are not necessary.