Beloved Manchester pub The Britons Protection is under threat – here’s how you can help

One of the oldest pubs in Manchester, The Britons Protection was established in 1811 - but now its future could be at risk

Written by Louise Rhind-Tutt
Last updated 1 week ago
City of Manchester, Featured, Food & Drink, History

Landlord Allan Hudd and owner Mark West have put 10 years of passion into maintaining what Great British pub The Britions Protection is all about.

One of the oldest pubs in Manchester, The Britons Protection was established in 1811.

Situated on the corner of Great Bridgewater Street, the pub holds a unique place in Manchester’s landscape and has become a must-visit for its specialist whisky collection, boasting over 300 bottles.

This includes their unique offering of specially selected single barrel Jack Daniels, as well eight rotating locally sourced cask ales on draught.

Deceptively small, this extremely traditional and popular pub has a snug and lounge to the back of the pub as well as a large beer garden and function room.

It is one of Manchester’s most loved pubs and was a finalist for Most-Loved Pub 2023 in the I Love Manchester Awards.

Gofundme legal costs

But now, the future of the pub is under threat – and landlord Allan Hudd has launched a GoFundMe page to help fund legal costs to protect this piece of Mancunian history.

The pub is currently locked in a legal battle with Heineken Brewery.

The outcome of the court hearing in June will determine if the current tenants can continue running the pub and what drinks it will serve.

One of the most characterful pubs in the city, and one of the most historic in Manchester, it’s unbelievable that a brewery would want it to lose its incredible and unique charm.

The looming threat to Britons Protection is not just a loss for its patrons but a blow to Manchester’s heritage, a stark reminder of the relentless march of gentrification and needless drive for modernisation.

The pub is a vital part of Manchester’s rich history and must be protected, having already weathered years of change.

The team at The Britons Protection have now launched a crowdfunded bid to raise £5,000 to defend its heritage.

You can find out more about that by clicking here

History of the Britons Protection

Britons Protection, one of the city’s oldest pubs, has an incredible history.

It stood near the site of the Peterloo Massacre, with unconfirmed reports that some of the injured were brought into the pub and laid out on the bar to be treated.

It was also used as an army recruitment centre during the Napoleonic Wars and hosts many of Manchester’s cultural societies, including the Manchester Civic Society, the Manchester Whiskey Society, and the Central Manchester Branch of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale).

Writing on the GoFundMe page, Allan Hudd said: “We’re facing a serious threat. At a time when community pubs are fading away and Pubcos are using loopholes to reclaim independent pubs from hardworking owners, the Britons Protection stands at risk.

“For over 200 years, it has been a proud icon of Manchester, drawing whisky enthusiasts from around the globe and serving as a cultural landmark for the city. However, it now confronts a significant challenge to its existence.

“After successfully managing the Britons Protection for a decade and persevering through the challenges of Covid-19 to preserve a Manchester institution, the current owners and landlord received devastating news from the building owners, Star Pubs & Bars (a part of Heineken UK).

“They have chosen not to renew the lease and instead plan to bring the pub back under their management.

“This is not only distressing for the owners but also for the local customers, as the unique offerings that have made the Britons a must-visit destination in Manchester may soon be replaced with a generic selection lacking any distinctive appeal.

“The Britons boasts one of the UK’s finest whisky collections and even features its own annually sourced Manchester Cask Jack Daniel’s, which is highly sought after by collectors.

“The team also collaborates with local cask ale suppliers to ensure a diverse selection available on the 8 traditional hand pulls each week. Unfortunately, Star Pubs lacks the diverse portfolio necessary to sustain what makes the Britons so special.

“We’re now compelled to take Star to court in a battle to preserve what we’ve built and prevent it from becoming just another nondescript unit among 130+ forgettable sites. The expenses are already mounting, and we’re committed to seeing this through to the end. Any assistance in our fight to save our beloved pub would be immensely appreciated.

“Please help us safeguard our Pub.”

The pub has organised a peaceful protest outside of the Heineken Brewery scheduled for May 1st.

You can find out more about that by clicking here

Writing on their Facebook page they said: “We are calling on all our customers and anyone else who may have visited Britons Protection over its 200-year history to join us in a peaceful public rally against Heineken UK.

“Our aim is to save our pub from being taken over and transformed into something unrecognisable.

“We will be manning the line from 10 am to demonstrate to the big brewery what the heart of a small pub can achieve.

“Please help us save this Manchester institution.

“After the rally, all attendees will be welcomed back to the pub to enjoy a complimentary non-Heineken beer on us.”

If you love The Britons Protection, please consider supporting them through this difficult time.

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