Joseph Holt to celebrate 175 years with festival

The business will throw open its doors to the public on 20 and 21 September as part of the festival that is being held to celebrate the company’s 175th anniversary with brewery tours for the first time that will offer a bird’s eye view into the famous workings of Joseph Holt.

Visitors will also be able to enjoy a full range of Joseph Holt’s beers – which include Joseph Holt Bitter 4% ABV, Joseph Holt IPA 3.8% ABV and Two Hoots golden ale 4.2% ABV – as well as a broad selection of ales and lagers from different breweries across the UK.

Loyal customers

There will be food available too along with local DJs and live entertainment.

Andrew Kershaw of Joseph Holt, who is the sixth-generation family member to work for the company, said: “This is the first time we have held a beer festival on our premises and held public tours around the brewery.

“With so much history tied up with the site of the brewery, it was the obvious place to hold the festival and so celebrate Joseph Holt’s rich history and our 175th anniversary.”

Appeal to all

He continued: “Our customers are very loyal and feel huge affection for the brewery and the beers we make. So, we wanted to offer a unique opportunity to open the brewery gates and allow visitors to see at first hand the magic of beer-making and how it all works.

“However, we also hope the beer festival will appeal to everyone – not just seasoned beer aficionados – as it promises to be such a feel-good event and a lovely way to enjoy a late summer outing.”

The company, which now runs 127 pubs across the north-west, was founded in 1849 by weaver’s son Joseph Holt. He began brewing beer at Oak Street in Manchester and then the Ducie Bridge Brewery on York Street (now Cheetham Hill Road). However, in 1860 Joseph Holt decided to take out a 999-year lease on a piece of land on Empire Street. The company still operates from the same site, which is where the festival will be held.