Our Brewery, based in the heart of Manchester, has over 150 years of brewing history within its walls. We have seen quite a lot change since we started brewing back in 1849, to both the Brewery and the great city of Manchester.
We have been here so long we really do feel part of Manchester's history and hopefully its future. With well over 100 pubs in the city, we are part of its fabric.
From one mans dream to brew his beer in Manchester, to receiving International gold awards for brewing the best lagers in the World, to raising millions of pounds for charity, we are proud of our history and our part in a city's evolution.
From the birth of Joseph Holt in the early nineteenth century, the Brewery and the city have seen some
good times and some dark days. The timeline below highlights some notable dates.
Edward enjoyed the very rare honour of being elected Lord Mayor of the city two years in a row.
1914
Output of cask beer is 51,273 barrels
1920
Edward Holt made a CBE
In 1920, Edward Holt receives a CBE in the honours list and becomes Sir Edward Holt.
1926
Output of cask beer is 33,200 barrels
1928
Sir Edward Holt dies and his son the second Edward Holt takes control of The Brewery
1931
Population of Manchester grows to 766,311
1932
Christie and Holt Radium Institute Amalgamate
Christie and Holt Radium Institute amalgamate in 1932 to form the Christie Hospital in 1933
1933
The Holt Radium Institute opens at the new Christie Hospital honouring the families ongoing support
1934
The Central Library is built
Manchester Central Library is a circular library south of the Town Hall extension. Designed by E. Vincent Harris, the library was constructed between 1930 and 1934, but because of its traditional neoclassical architecture it is often mistakenly thought to be much older. At its opening, one critic wrote, "This is the sort of thing which persuades one to believe in the perennial applicability of the Classical canon". The form of the building, a columned portico attached to a rotunda domed structure, is loosely derived from the Pantheon, Rome.
1940
The Manchester blitz
1948
The world’s first stored programme computer is built at Manchester University
The Manchester Small-Scale Experimental Machine (SSEM), nicknamed Baby, was the world's first stored-program computer. The machine was not intended to be a practical computer but was instead designed as a testbed for the Williams tube, an early form of computer memory. Although considered "small and primitive" by the standards of its time, it was the first working machine to contain all of the elements essential to a modern electronic computer.
1951
Joseph Holt Ltd is floated
1955
The old Holt family home of The Woodthorpe opens as a Hotel
1958
The Munich air crash
1968
Sir Edward Holt dies and Peter Kershaw becomes Chairman
1974
Joseph Holt price list in October 1974
1976
The Arndale Centre opens
1977
Major work to enlarge The Brewery means a 50% increase in production
1982
The Hacienda opens
Before it was turned into a club, the Haçienda was a yacht builder's shop and warehouse before becoming a Bollywood cinema in the 1970s.
Originally conceived by Rob Gretton (New Orders manager), it was largely financed by Factory Records and New Order. Located on the corner of Whitworth Street West and Albion Street, the Hacienda was the venue for Madonna’s first UK performance. FAC 51 was its official designation in the Factory catalogue.
1983
Joseph Holt re-enters the Free Trade
1985
Richard Kershaw, son of Peter Kershaw becomes Managing Director
1986
Manchester GMEX opens
1989
Madchester reigns
Manchester becomes the center of the musical universe with the rise of The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, 808 State and The Inspiral Carpets.
1992
Metrolink starts running
1994
Joseph Holt is placed seventh in a list of the UK’s fastest growing public companies
1996
IRA bomb Manchester
1997
The Ape & Apple opens
This city center pub on John Dalton Street was opened by the football legend Denis Law. It remains one of our most successful pubs.
1999
Joseph Holt Brewery celebrates its 150th birthday
1999
Manchester United win a unique treble
1999
Joseph Holt Celebrate 150 Years
Joseph Holt celebrates 150th birthday with a Christie sesquicentennial appeal. This involved a number of events organised by the Joseph Holt Executives but the highlight of which was a lunch for 500 people in the Midland Hotel, at which Tim Wonacott kindly auctioned a number of excellent lots attended by many brewers. In total, we handed over a cheque on 11 May 2000 for £301,056 to the Christie.
