Be(er) Here Now: Manchester Brewery Joseph Holt Celebrates Oasis Homecoming in Style
It’ll be a case of Be(er) Here Now as Joseph Holt gears up to celebrate the hotly anticipated Oasis homecoming gigs.
Joseph Holt owns several pubs either next to or within walking distance of Heaton Park, which is the centrepiece location for the UK leg of the Oasis reunion world tour. And it’s pulling out all the stops.
Fans can expect all-day parties at these pubs as well as free bucket hats (a nod to Liam Gallagher’s signature look), while quaffing a limited-edition lager – Hop and Roll Star – specially brewed by Joseph Holt to mark the historic shows.
Said Mark Norbury: “Liam and Noel Gallagher are among Manchester’s most famous sons. Given Joseph Holt`s longstanding connection to Heaton Park – and of course the city of Manchester, since we have been here for 175 years – we naturally wanted to enhance the festivities. Being located in the heart of the Heaton Park community, we want to provide a way for people to revel in the concert atmosphere – whether they have tickets or not.”
After a 16-year hiatus, the Gallagher brothers finally buried the hatchet, reformed Oasis, and announced a global tour – with five sell-out nights at Heaton Park in Manchester.
The Ostrich, The Woodthorpe, and The Welcome Inn in Prestwich – all Joseph Holt pubs – will host all-day celebrations on gig days. Opening early until late, there will be extra outdoor bars in their spacious beer gardens, nonstop “sounds of Manchester,” and plenty of bucket hats to go around. Fans without tickets will still be able to enjoy the music and the buzz – all within earshot of the Heaton Park stage.
Hop and Roll Star, a crisp, sessionable lager brewed to match the euphoria and nostalgia of the gigs, will also be available (as well as online).
Founded in 1849 by weaver’s son Joseph Holt, the brewery has stayed in the same family for six generations and now runs 127 pubs across the North West. Its ties to Heaton Park – and Manchester’s music culture – run deep.
As soon as Oasis made their bombshell reunion announcement in last August another local Joseph Holt pub, The Coach and Horses commissioned a striking monochrome mural of the brothers on the front of the building.
Landlady Sue Hawley brought in artist Scott Wilcock, known for his hyper-realistic style, to create the artwork. The mural has since become a pilgrimage point for Oasis fans from around the world – many posing beneath it in Liam’s trademark parka and floppy hat.
Added Mark: “When Liam and Noel go out on tour, there’s no place that will welcome them more warmly than Manchester – the band’s spiritual and actual home. Just as Oasis are synonymous with this city, so is Joseph Holt We’re thrilled Heaton Park, right in the heart of Holt territory, is the venue for their long-awaited homecoming. These Oasis gigs are historic moments, and we’re honoured to be part of them.”
Joseph Holt Event Details:
- The Woodthorpe – free entry
- The Welcome Inn – free entry
- The Ostrich – £5 entry (tickets available here)
