Salford Rum open the city’s first rum garden under the railway arches
As well as hosting the brilliant-sounding rum garden, the new space will also be home to the company's first proper distillery and bar - giving fans of their Salford Docks-inspired spiced rums the chance to drink straight from the source.
Today, Salford Rum is a well-known brand in the city – but like many popular craft enterprises, it started from humble beginnings.
Founded by two lads from Leigh, today Salford Rum Company is stocked nationwide in supermarkets like Morrisons and Co-Op but it first began life as an idea conceived during a drunken night out.
Rugby-league-playing high school friends Tommy Gaughan and James Harrison were sat watching their wives sip from a list of gins as long as their arm when they had their very own ‘eureka’ moment.
Founders Tommy Gaughan and James Harrison run the business alongside their 9-5 day jobs / Image: Salford Rum Company
Based upon the logic that if there’s a market for craft gin, surely there might also be one for craft rum, the pair spent the following eight months researching everything they could about distilling their own concoctions whilst continuing to work their day jobs.
Drawing inspiration from the history of the local area and ingredients imported to the old Salford Docks, they went on to create two core expressions since launching in 2018: a golden Salford Spiced Rum and Salford Dark Spice.
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Now, they’ve revealed plans to open Greater Manchester’s very first rum garden as part of a new expansion into the railway archways on Viaduct Street.
The new distillery will be housed on Viaduct street in a former Martial Arts centre, with the rum garden on accompanying land under the railway line / Image: Google Maps
As well as hosting the brilliant-sounding rum garden, the new space will also be home to the company’s first proper distillery and bar – giving fans of their Salford Docks-inspired spiced rums the chance to drink straight from the source.
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Here, the pair plan to create some new small-batch expressions and unique blends using a shiny, new craft copper still which will be on display for all to see.
It’s exciting times for the duo, who continue to work their 9-5 jobs whilst running Salford Rum Company alongside using all the free hours they can find.
Speaking on the new opening plans Tommy Gaughan, one half of the duo responsible for launching Salford Rum, said: “The support we’ve had locally for Salford Rum is nothing short of incredible.
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“When looking for somewhere to take the brand to the next level, it was always going to be in Salford, and always going to be a place whereby our supporters can come and feel like they’re part of the Salford family.”
“We’ve got so many ideas and can’t wait to see the distillery space, bar and rum garden come to life over the next couple of months,” added James Harrison.
Salford Rum’s first expression Salford Spiced Rum is infused with vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and dried Caribbean fruits / Image: Salford Rum
With the opening date set for early 2022, we expect to see some enticing new additions added to their repertoire – which currently spans core expressions, as well as some special editions like their new Honey Rum, made with honey from local beekeepers.
Aptly named The Dirty Old Town Distillery after the song ‘Dirty Old Town’ which featured on The Pogues 1985 album Rum Sodomy & the Lash, the distillery will be located in Arch 33 on Viaduct Street, Salford.
All Brewers Fayre and Beefeater locations across the UK are closing down
Danny Jones
It looks to be the end for not one but two of Britain’s best-known and long-running restaurant franchises, as Brewers Fayre and Beefeaters will be closing down all of their locations.
Dating back to the mid-1970s, there will soon be none left anywhere in the country
The pair of recognisable chains, owned by parent company Whitbread PLC – who also own Premier Inn, hence why they usually come as a joint package – have nearly 200 sites across the UK, but they are already in the process of a wholesale shutdown.
News of the impending closures first began circulating back in April, but now the process is said to be fully underway, with multiple Greater Manchester names on the chopping block.
A real shame all brewers fayres are closing down. As a member they’ve sent me a last free main. So enjoying a mixed grill pic.twitter.com/EIHMZ7LCvv
— Daniel Turner⚽️ 🏟️ 1️⃣1️⃣5️⃣8️⃣ (@puffpuff65) August 4, 2026
With roughly 3,800 staff set to be made unemployed as part of the major restructuring by Whitbread, the job cuts will see approximately 12% of their workforce laid off from a total of around 30,000.
One local duo due to face the music is the soon-to-close Stable Gate in Denton and Wheatlea Park in Wigan – both of which are Brewers Fayre branches.
89 of the brand’s boozers have been given until early September (some dates may vary) to shut up shop and hold not just their last orders, but their final dinner service full stop.
The rest of the venues closing next month are Beefeater pubs, including the Heaton Park one in Crumpsall, The Quay House at Salford Quays, and the Whitgate Inn over Oldham way.
As for others nearby, Macclesfield’s Springwood Park is also set to close.
The older of the two British mainstays is Beefeater, which was founded by Whitbread back in 1974 when they opened their first pub, The Halfway House, down in Enfield.
Brewers debuted up North in ’79, with a maiden watering hole called The Farmers Arms in Preston, before going on to open several locations around Lancashire and eventually nationwide.
Most of you will likely have visited or at the very least passed one of those food and drink spots in your time, and while they may be more associated with hotels and service stations these days, they still served as regular haunts for plenty of people who will no doubt be gutted to see them go.
Speaking of services, another big name is expanding further into the North West.
Police order two Oldham brothels to close following reports of ‘suspicious activity’ by neighbours
Emily Sergeant
Two properties in Oldham have been ordered to close after being identified as brothels.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed that closure orders were granted by Tameside Magistrates’ Court at the end of last month following enforcement action by the Oldham neighbourhood policing teams working in collaboration with GMP’s legal team.
Officers received information from residents, councillors, and partner agencies regarding ‘suspicious activity’ linked to the addresses.
Some of the concerns included men arriving throughout the day and night, staying for short periods of time before leaving again, all causing significant distress to those living nearby – subsequently leading to police investigation.
First up, on Monday 27 July, neighbourhood officers attended an address on Balfour Street in relation to a concern for welfare, but upon entering the property, they identified a brothel operating at the address, and then, on the evening after (Tuesday 28 July), officers executed a Section 8 PACE warrant at an address on Miriam Street.
48-hour closure notices were authorised for both premises at first, but now following an application to the court, three-month closure orders have been granted.
It is now a criminal offence to enter or remain in either property during the period of the closure orders.
“These two premises had a significant impact on people living nearby, with men attending the addresses throughout the day and night and loitering outside neighbouring homes while waiting to enter,” commented Amie Whitehead, Neighbourhood Inspector for Oldham South & West at GMP.
“Residents told us this behaviour was causing considerable distress within the community and affecting their quality of life.
“We’ve responded to reports, worked with partners and gathered evidence to take enforcement action, and have now secured closure orders to prevent further criminality and protect the local community.
“I would like to thank residents who came forward with information, as community intelligence is vital in helping us identify and address this type of offending.”
Georgina Pellant -
13th September 2021 
