LOCALS INVITED TO RECHRISTEN ONE OF MANCHESTER’S OLDEST PUBS: THE SHAMROCK WILL NOW BE KNOWN AS THE SPINNER’S REST

One of Manchester’s oldest pubs, The Shamrock, has been given a new name after owners Joseph Holt invited locals to make the choice. As work now begins on a £1.8 million refurbishment of the Ancoats watering hole, it will now be called The Spinner’s Rest.

The name was selected through a public vote and pays tribute to the mill workers who once lived and worked in the area.

The pub dates to 1808 and has long been a local institution. It was taken over by the family-run Joseph Holt brewery in 2019.

Following delays due to the pandemic, the 176-year-old family business has now begun a major renovation of the building. The pub is expected to reopen early next year, marking its transformation from a traditional Irish pub into a fully-fledged Joseph Holt venue.

Said Richard Kershaw, CEO of Joseph Holt: “As a family business with deep roots in Manchester, our pubs are very much at the heart of the communities they serve. That’s why we invited the people who matter most – our customers – to help choose a name that reflects the pub’s new chapter.”

The Shamrock has long been a gathering place for Manchester’s Irish and Italian communities, particularly during the early 20th century. However, the Ancoats neighbourhood has seen a dramatic transformation in recent years and is now a thriving hub of bars, restaurants, and modern city-centre living.

Recognising this evolution, the Joseph Holt team felt it was time to give the much-loved pub a fresh identity that aligns with the area’s changing character.

The extensive top-to-bottom refurbishment will preserve the building’s historic charm, especially as it sits within a designated conservation area. The project also includes an expansion of the site – which boasts one of the few beer gardens in the neighbourhood.

Added Richard Kershaw: “This is an exciting new chapter for The Shamrock. As it’s reborn as The Spinner’s Rest, we believe it will become a vibrant and welcoming hub for the Ancoats community – just as it always has been, but with a fresh look towards the future.”