Runaway Brewery makes move to Stockport

Manchester craft brewers, Runaway Brewery, have announced a move to Stockport town centre in 2023 and will open a pop-up tap room at their new site in December.

The new premises at Crossley House on Astley Street will house a new brewery with dedicated tap room and bottle shop from early next year. To celebrate their upcoming move and introduce themselves to the town, the brewery will be running a pop-up Tap Room at their new premises on Astley Street in the lead up to Christmas. Brewery friends Honest Crust Sourdough Pizza are bringing their wood fired pizza oven to join in the celebrations.

After supporting the hugely successful Art Battle in September 2022, which attracted around 1,000 visitors to central Stockport, Runaway Brewery’s brew-tap style, festive weekenders will open every Thursday to Saturday between 1st and 17th of December. The bar will serve a range of freshly brewed Runaway beers, including seasonal specials, as well as offer tours of the new building, courtyard beer garden and offer an insight into the brewery’s plans for the future.

Runaway’s move follows a year of planning, design and refurbishment between themselves and landlord Orbit Developments with the brewery entering into a 20 year lease at Crossley House, a former sheet metal works, on Astley Street. The move is part of their long term plan to invest in both the brewery and their wider community.

Rhys Owen, Leasing Director at Orbit commented:

“After a few close calls it feels like this one was meant to be. Bringing a local independent brewer, of the scale of Runaway to the centre of Stockport is a huge coup for the town. Bringing a new life and a new chapter to this historic building is a massively exciting project at a hugely pivotal time for our town centre.

“Working with Mark and the team had been a pleasure and to see the passion they have for their trade, their craft and their produce was a credit to them. Showcasing how independent businesses of all kinds are driving the desire to live and work in Stockport town centre shows how towns have to change and offer something more personal.”

Runaway Brewery’s founder, Mark Welsby says:

“We’re all really excited by our move to Stockport and to be shifting Runaway’s focus a little. We hope our move from the inner-city will allow us a bit more time to explore the things that inspire us and our beer. We’re  really looking forward to engaging with a new community here in Stockport – especially opportunities to collaborate with other indie food and drink producers!”

With the news that Robinson’s will be leaving their historic town centre brewery after nearly 200 years, Mark added:

“I’m hopeful that our move can help retain the tradition of brewing in the heart of the town, albeit on a much smaller scale. But we also want to create something contemporary, relevant, and valuable at the same time, keeping one eye on the future of Stockport too.”

He says the team at Runaway Brewery are inspired by the positive impact that other small, independent businesses are having as part of Stockport’s ongoing resurgence, saying:

“It feels like a fantastic opportunity for us to offer something new in the town and hopefully, like those who are already here, we can have a positive influence on what comes next!”