New craft beer pub from the people behind The Gas Lamp coming to Manchester city centre

Pomona Island Brew Co is an award-winning microbrewery born in Salford and has been serving their craft beer in the taproom at Escape To Freight Island since Christmas 2020.

Today the Pomona Island team announced they’ve set their sights on something a bit different as they embark on a new venture with a ship full of beer. A brand new pub called ‘North Westward Ho’ to open ‘in early-to-mid 2023’, serving ‘all our latest releases and guests from the best craft breweries around.’

Taking over part of the former Chaophraya site on Chapel Walks and Pall Mall – right above Sam’s Chop House – Pomona are renovating the beautiful building in a move they feel will bring ‘something special’ to the area.

“Many of the Pomona team have worked in hospitality for years,” says North Westward Ho spokesperson, “and two of the directors set up The Gas Lamp on Bridge Street, so it’s natural that they return to their first love.”

The name ‘North Westward Ho’ comes from the legendary old pub ship that was moored at Pomona Docks in the 70s. The Pomona Island version ‘will be firmly on dry land’.

They added: “We want the space to feel like a pub, not a bar and we want all the good things that come with that. Pub spaces are for anyone, places where people come to commune, we need a bit of that right now. We want it to feel inclusive. This will be a sort of a taproom for the brewery, but that on its own doesn’t really interest us. We like a venue with its own identity, where everyone’s welcome and catered for. This won’t just be a beer bar, it will have an incredible selection of drinks. It won’t just look like a bar, it will have that feel of a proper boozer. Something that will, hopefully, be around for years.”

Pomona Island beers will still be available behind the bar at Freight Island.