The Dockyard pub in MediaCity has closed its doors – but change is brewing

After 13 years of serving up pints and personality on the Salford Quays, The Dockyard at MediaCity has called last orders. The beloved pub, known for its stripped-back decor, rotating ales, and buzzing quiz nights, shut its doors on Wednesday, 5 June, but not without a proper send-off and a cryptic hint about what’s to come.

In an Instagram post on 30 May, the team wrote: “Next Wednesday, we’ll be pulling our final pints and closing our doors for the last time. To every single one of you who’s walked through our doors over the last 13 years, thank you. You’ve not just been customers, you’ve been part of the Dockyard family. From after work drinks to weekend catch ups, we’ve loved being your local, and it’s been an honour to serve this amazing community.”

They invited regulars to a final celebration with discounted draughts and a live set from Honey I Shrunk The Band, signing off with a tease: “P.S. We’ve heard something exciting is coming soon… so watch this space.”

That “something exciting” is now confirmed: the site is set to reopen as The Salmon of Knowledge MediaCity, a modern Irish bar concept from the very same team behind The Dockyard. There’s no change of ownership, just a fresh look and a bold new direction led by hospitality veteran Steven Pilling.

A bartender, who asked to remain anonymous, let slip what’s coming next: “I probably shouldn’t be telling anyone this, but, yes, that’s right. We’re reopening as The Salmon of Knowledge MediaCity.”

Pilling is no stranger to MediaCity. He previously launched Damson, one of the area’s first restaurants, which brought fine dining to the Quays before closing in 2016. The site is now home to a Prezzo. In recent years, Pilling has pivoted toward pub-led ventures and found success with two other Salmon of Knowledge locations in Didsbury and the Northern Quarter, both praised for their lively atmosphere, strong food and drink offer, and unmistakable Irish character.

“We’re building on what works,” said Pilling. “People want quality drinks, good atmosphere, and a bit of character, that’s what The Salmon of Knowledge is all about. It’s a modern Irish bar with proper hospitality at its core.”

The rebrand is well timed. Guinness, long a staple of Irish pubs, is enjoying a major resurgence in the UK, especially among younger drinkers and on social media. In many city pubs, Guinness is now the best-selling pint, and Pilling’s venues are already known for serving a top-notch pour.

The Dockyard’s run may have ended, but the space it created – welcoming, relaxed, and always buzzing – will live on in its next incarnation. And with the same owners at the helm, The Salmon of Knowledge MediaCity looks set to be less a goodbye and more a reinvention of a local favourite.