Manchester to host first ever International Brewing & Cider Festival - what we know so far

Manchester is set to host the first ever International Brewing & Cider Festival, showcasing the finest beers and ciders from around the world.

The two day, ticketed festival will take place at Depot Mayfield Manchester, offering a rare opportunity for the public to taste a vast range of local, national and international drinks, including award-winning beers and ciders from The International Brewing & Cider Awards.

The Festival is being organised by the world’s most historic international beer and cider competition, The International Brewing & Cider Awards, which will relocate to Manchester having been hosted at The National Brewery Centre in Burton-upon-Trent for the last decade.

Ruth Evans MBE, Director of the International Brewing & Cider Awards and organiser of the Festival, said: “We are thrilled that, 137 years into our history, we are hosting our first ever International Brewing & Cider Festival and bringing our world-renowned Awards to Manchester.

“The International Brewing & Cider Awards is the most historic international competition of its kind, and it is important that we innovate and expand, and our move to Manchester and the introduction of our Festival is part of that evolution.

“The city has a rich history in brewing and an up-and-coming cider scene making it a fitting location for our expansion. Our ethos has always been to support the brewing and cidermaking industry on a not-for-profit basis and celebrate the best beers and ciders from around the world, providing the recognition they truly deserve.

“The Festival provides a fantastic opportunity for us to celebrate the incredible talent of brewers and cidermakers and to share their passion with the public. The move to Manchester also allows us to forge valuable new partnerships with local organisations and community stakeholders, as well as extend the knowledge and appreciation of a win at the competition.

“We hope this festival becomes a tradition, opening to the public once our Awards concludes on the Friday – this is a hugely exciting time for us and we are very excited to be descending on Manchester in March.”

The biennial competition, known as the ‘Oscars’ of the brewing and cider world, will see industry professionals gather to celebrate the extraordinary and well-crafted beer and cider from all corners of the world.

For the first time in its 137-year history, the Awards will be accompanied by a public festival, and represents a significant milestone in the Awards’ commitment to promoting and supporting the brewing and cider industries.

Founded in 1886, The International Brewing & Cider Awards takes place every two years and has been the gold standard in rewarding the passion and craftsmanship of breweries and cidermakers across the world. The Awards are judged by a panel of worldwide judges, who are all practicing brewers and cider-makers and are revered within the brewing and cider world.

Tickets to the International Brewing & Cider Festival will be available for purchase from November on the official festival website. The public can now register their interest on its website and be the first to hear about ticket releases, along with Festival updates.

The festival will take place on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 March 2024