Food & Drink

Joseph Holt pubs are offering punters the chance to have a boozer named after them

The challenge on it's own sounds pretty fun in general, to be honest.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 9th July 2024

Manc brewery and pub chain, Joseph Holt, are offering punters the chance to have a nearby boozer named after themselves, and if you’re pretending that wouldn’t be mint then you’re lying.

The idea of having a pub named after you is usually reserved for legendary local heroes and important figures throughout history, but this is your one chance to rub shoulders with people worthy of having a watering hole christened with their title.

This special promotion has been created to help mark Joseph Holt‘s 175th-anniversary celebrations, with the business going from strength to strength over six different generations.

Today, the chain now reaches across Greater Manchester and beyond, with a total of 127 locations in the North West.

the old monkey pub manchester
joseph holt pubs in manchester
Two Joseph Holt pubs in Manchester city centre (Credit: The Manc Group/Joseph Holt)

So, what’s the catch? Well, the renaming won’t last forever; the winner of this unique little competition will have a pub share their namesake for two whole weeks if they complete a simple but admittedly extensive challenge.

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As part of a series of commemorative events, the brewery has released 16 individual beer mats, with each one offering a nugget of information about the history of Joseph Holt and the timeline of its 175-year journey as well as featuring a QR code.

The full range of beer mats will be available at all of Joseph Holt’s 127 pubs across the North West, but only those who collect all 16 of them will be entered into a draw where the winner will then have a pub of their choice named after them for two weeks.

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Credit: Joseph Holt

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After the success of their £1.75 pint offer as part of the anniversary, we can already see this going down a storm too.

The competition to collect all 16 beer mats runs until Thursday, 31 October and once you’ve collected them all, you need to take a picture of the full set and email it to [email protected] to prove you’ve completed the full sweep.

You can find the full T&Cs HERE.

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They’re not the only pub chain doing some pretty cool promotions in the region at the minute either…

Pub group launches ‘bottomless crunch’ menu where you can eat unlimited crisps

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — The Manc Group/Joseph Holt (via Instagram)

Food & Drink

A huge festival dedicated to tequila and mezcal is coming to Manchester this month

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson A tequila and mezcal festival is heading on Manchester. Credit: Suplied

Manchester’s first-ever Mezcal and Tequila Festival is taking place this month, filling Manchester Cathedral with tastings, masterclasses, cocktails and street food. 

The massive event will see the Grade I-listed building transformed into an agave spirits tasting floor, featuring more than 100 varieties of premium tequilas and mezcals from some of Mexico’s best producers including El Jimador, Ojo de Tigre, El Sueno, Los Arcos, Del Maguey, Cazcabel, Komos, Nixta, Tapatio, El Tequileno, Tiempo and many more.

Festival-goers will be able to gain exclusive insights into the craftsmanship behind these spirits, sampling (responsibly, of course) from dozens of stands. 

All samples, plus a limited-edition clay tasting copita, will be included in the ticket price – there’s no token system here and no extra charges for samples. 

The new Mexican-inspired drinks festival only debuted in Glasgow back in Spring 2023 but it unsurprisingly went down an absolute storm – after all, what’s not to like a big festival full of booze?

Bartenders will stir up cocktails at the bespoke cocktail bar while the crowds are kept fed by delicious street food, including Mexican-inspired Taco Or Don’t, previously featured at the British Streetfood Awards. 

And it’d be remiss of you to leave the festival empty-handed when you can take a taste of Mexico home from the exclusive bottle shop provided by Drinkmonger on site (with discount tokens included in the ticket price). 

A tequila and mezcal festival is heading on Manchester. Credit: Supplied
A tequila and mezcal festival is heading on Manchester. Credit: Supplied
A tequila and mezcal festival is heading on Manchester. Credit: Supplied

Colin Campbell, one of Copita’s co-founders said: “We’re really excited to be bringing Copita to Manchester. It’s gone down brilliantly in Glasgow the last two years so we felt now was the right time to take it on the road and we couldn’t think of a better place than Manchester to head to next! 

“It’s a really easy-going event with a great atmosphere, lots of local street food, shopping and music, so whether you’re an aficionado or a casual sipper we’re confident you’ll have a great time.”

The Copita Mezcal and Tequila Festival will be at Manchester Cathedral on Saturday 14 September. 

Tickets cost £35 and you can get yours here. 

Sessions last three and a half hours and will take place from 12.30pm to 4pm, and 5.15pm to 8.45pm.

Read more: Lina Stores – Italian deli restaurant serving homemade pasta and more is heading to Manchester

Featured image: Supplied

Food & Drink

Lina Stores – Italian deli restaurant serving homemade pasta and more is heading to Manchester

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

Lina Stores is set to open its very first restaurant in Manchester early next year, taking its beloved mix of handmade pasta and deli food outside of London for the first time.

80 years after opening for the first time in Soho, Lina Stores is heading north to open a 150-cover restaurant.

Blending coffee shop, delicatessen, restaurant, and bar, the new space will be styled in traditional Lina Stores shades of pastel green hues, warm timber woods, and terrazzo and timber flooring.

You’ll find bespoke marble tables, original vintage Bentwood chairs, dark green booth seating and opaline globe lighting inspired by the original Brewer Street delicatessen.

Diners will be spoilt with an Italian-inspired breakfast menu, featuring dishes like truffle scrambled eggs with toasted sourdough, Greek yoghurt with Italian Macedonia fruit salad, and a selection of breakfast panini.

At lunchtimes and dinner there’ll be antipasti such as ricotta and herb gnudi fritti with Calabrian chilli marmellata, and tuna crudo with capers, pink peppercorn and salsa verde.

Lina Stores Manchester will have the brand’s beloved pasta dishes, such as the 30-egg yolk taglioni with black truffle, and lamb sausage ragu pappardelle, plus new options like lemon sole and potato raviolo.

For secondi (because this is Italy darling, you can have two mains!) there are dishes like chicken Milanese and Luganega fennel sausage.

And for dessert, it’s set to be a feast of Sicilian cannolo (filled with ricotta, pistachio and chocolate) and tiramisu.

Lina Stores - Italian deli restaurant serving homemade pasta and more is heading to Manchester
Lina Stores – Italian deli restaurant serving homemade pasta and more is heading to Manchester. Credit: Rebecca Hope

In the open-plan delicatessen, you’ll be able to grab filling salads, freshly-made panini, and delicate cakes and pastries.

Shelves will be stocked with Lina Stores Collection pantry essentials, from olive oil to traditional biscotti.

And just next to that will be Bar Lina, serving classic and modern Italian cocktails for aperitivo hour until late at night.

Expect favourites like the bloody martini, Rinomata americano, and the basilico with gin, vermouth, basil and lemon.

The bar will have a versatile wine list from all corners of Italy, including the brand’s own signature collection.

Lina Stores Manchester will be located on Quay Street in the recently-refurbished Quoin building, right opposite the Opera House theatre.

Masha Rener, Head Chef of Lina Stores, said: “We’re extremely excited to be opening in Manchester this spring.

“The city feels like a natural home for us considering the area’s rich history, vibrant culinary scene and lively nightlife, and look forward to sharing our passion of great Italian food and produce with the Manchester community.

“Quay Street is the perfect location for us to do so, sitting right in the trifecta of Spinningfields, St John Street and St Peter’s Square.”

Lina Stores Manchester will open in spring 2025.

Read more

Featured image: Supplied

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