I started humble Stockport brewery on my own - now we're ready to mark anniversary in style

A Stockport brewery is set to celebrate a decade of brewing with its first-ever beer festival.

Runaway Brewery will open up their taproom on Astley Street from May 30 to June 2. After beginning the brewing business alone in 2014, founder Mark Welsbey is amazed by how far his business has come.

“Our little brewery started with very humble beginnings, so the fact we’re still here is amazing to me,” he said. “Yes we’ve worked hard, but we’ve also been incredibly lucky over the years – it’s been a real privilege to work with so many brilliant people. It only feels right for us to take a moment to step back, take stock and celebrate what we’ve achieved together.”

The first day of celebrations will include a special preview of new beers to celebrate 10 years of brewing while the next two days will showcase Runaway’s most popular beers alongside craft beers from guest brewery, Manchester’s Beermoth. 

The beer festival will expand to more than 30 taps, pouring beers across three bars throughout the venue. Inside, the taproom bar will present a range of beers from the present, past and future of the brewery, with a few rarely seen Runaway classics, gravity pours, new beers and birthday specials.

Their first floor loft bar will host a specially curated selection of UK, European and world beers from friends Café Beermoth on draught and in bottle, with the addition of the pop-up garden bar which will showcase seasonal session beers from keg and cask, all served in the surrounds of the brewery courtyard. 

Local businesses and friends are also pitching in. Food will be provided by sourdough pizzeria, Honest Crust, alongside other local vendors.

Mark said: “We want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has supported us over the last 10 years – both within the hospitality industry and of course the beer drinking community - we really wouldn’t still be here without them. We hope the festival goes some way to sharing our gratitude with everyone – and make for a memorable weekend with great friends and delicious beer of course.”