Welcome to Mayfield. Home to Manchester’s newest food market: Grub Food Fair! Set in the impressive, resurgent Mayfield depot, a short walk from Piccadilly, Grub’s arrived in style.

We went down for the opening and, this being Manchester, the heavens opened causing a few, minor teething problems but absolutely nothing a Manc spirit, some brilliant food and a cold beer weren’t going to sort out

Fortunately, Grub’s providing just that: an ever-changing rotation of six independent street food traders set up in shipping containers that’ve been spruced up and set up around the site, and a bar selling exclusively northern craft beers, as well as a few choice wines, spirits and soft drinks. 

The site’s still a work in progress, and you can see there’s the skeleton of further extensions to come (think Copenhagen’s Paper Island, but with a colourful, Mancunian stomp to it and you’re somewhere close) but the atmosphere’s relaxed and there’s plenty of seating, most of which is under the protection of a canopy (because we all know it’ll rain again). 

I’ve got a lot of time for Grub. They’ve always championed independent traders and have put good food in my mouth at more events than I care to remember. That, and, it’s about time this end of Manchester had a decent food market destination. I mean, there’s plenty of great food markets in Greater Manchester, but I think there’s been a food market shaped hole around here: a place you can go and spend a few hours with friends, discover new local traders and enjoy decent craft beers, and that’s what Grub’s about. 

The ‘grub’

The fact that the traders’ list is ever-changing is enough to keep us coming back and everything we had was fresh, and really good quality.

Wallace & Sons

Serving a variety of fresh filled bao buns with your choice of pork, salt cod, katsu chicken, or battered cauli. Fluffy, sticky, and delicious!

SMAK

Serving meaty flame grilled Polish sausages and a variety of Polish dumplings. Yes, to this!

Mac Daddies

Gourmet Mac and Cheese. We had the four cheese macaroni with streaky, smokey bacon, hot jalapeños, topped with crispy bacon bits and fresh jalapeños on top. Heavenly and moreish as hell.

Manchester Doughnut Co.

Pillows of joy, filled with everything from Cereal Milk to White Chocolate and Summer Berries. The chocolate and salted caramel caused an arm wrestle for the last bite. Fresh and filled to bursting. Enjoy them quick before they’re all gone!

We didn’t get around to Whats Your Beef and The Ottomen, but they’ll be back, and so will we!

The beer

Grub’s no stranger to decent beer, having previously been resident in Alphabet’s tap house (now putting on their own events), and the bar at Mayfield is keeping it local and serving beer exclusively from northern breweries including: Marble Beers, Alphabet Brewing Company, Northern Monk and Runaway Brewery, to name but a few.

Pictured above (right) is the Mayfield Pale Ale 4%, that’s been brewed by Runaway exclusively for Mayfield. It’s a fresh, easy drinker that’s been brewed to complement the vast range of street food on offer and it does exactly that.

Fancy visiting Grub? Check Grub’s website (below) for monthly updates on the traders.

So, if it’s street food and a good time you’re craving get yourself down to Grub at Mayfield.

Open every Friday and Saturday. Entry’s free and all are welcome.
http://www.grubmcr.com