Cup North 2015 Manchester Review
Cup North 2015
Manchester
7-8 November 2015
Reviewed by Gail Dickson
Described as the ‘two day coffee party’ that is exactly what this was; for those who are coffee enthusiasts, connoisseurs or like me enjoys it, this was a great event to attend.
The venue was Victoria Warehouse which sits within the Trafford Park area approximately 2 miles outside the city centre of Manchester. The building is steeped in industrial history and has been brought back to life with a stunning renovation that does not compromise its past but breathes fresh life into it.
There was no parking directly outside so after a short drive along Chester Road we located a parking spot in the residential area of Salford Quays, this was not ideal as it was raining. We arrived early which was to our relief as on leaving Manchester United were playing at home and the traffic was awful!
We were greeted at the grounds by some friendly stewards who pointed us to the way in and to the welcome committee who were excellent. We were given a cloth shopping bag full of goodies which included an event programme, magazine and mints to avoid coffee breath which was a great idea. We then had lots to explore taking in the wonderful aroma which filled the air.
The event itself was spread across different sections of the floor with stalls filling the space, so plenty to see and get involved with. Coffee shop owners, baristas, manufacturers of roasting machines were all present, there was stall for hot chocolate and tea lovers too. We loved trying out different blends of coffee and went back to the ‘Union’ twice as their Lattes were amazing. Walking around made us hungry and there was a great selection of street food on the outside with stalls providing hot cooked mouth-watering delights.
Walking around we had some interesting conversations about coffee and tried out some of the coffee on offer, the people we spoke to were clearly professionals in their field. Everyone who was involved wanted to talk about their chosen produce which was really helpful to us and we learnt a lot more than expected around coffee and how it is made. There was cake and coffee pairing which was a must, with some delicious tasting sessions and lots more to get involved with including competitions on the day.
The highlight of the event was the Cup Tasters Championships and the participants had to identify the coffee from a selection and push forward the cup they had selected. At the end of the session the adjudicators lifted the cups with a dot on the bottom of the cup indicating a correct answer and a point awarded for each cup they got right. It was very exciting as the winner had a chance to go to Shanghai!!
This event is well worth the visit both for coffee enthusiasts and for those who just love to have a real brew. The ticket was £10 per person and part of the proceeds go to ‘The Gitesi Project’ helping those in the community of Rwanda in ensuring their part in the coffee process continues to be a success.
Cup North Manchester we will be visiting again!
Rating: 5/5 
For more information visit www.cupnorth.co.uk.
