Local brewers Seven Bro7hers and gin distillery Four Sis4ers are set to merge to form one big Salfordian alcohol outfit. You love to see it.
With Seven Bros already being a household name, operating out of four locations in Manchester alone, not to mention more and more sites opening up across the country and their beloved beers stocked in ASDA, Morrisons, Co-op, Booths and soon Aldi too, the brand just keeps getting bigger.
Now, the next step in that development will see the McAvoy brothers link up with their real-life sisters and their aptly named company, FOUR SIS4ERS Distillery, to form one big happy family business.
While many aware of the two companies’ connection always wondered whether it would happen, this link-up will finally put all 11 McAvoy siblings under one commercial roof, allowing customers and consumers access to a ‘one stop’ shop for craft beer, gin, rum and who knows what in the future.
The takeover will see a rebrand of the craft gin distillery aimed at bringing the portfolio in line with the brother’s lucrative core beers, targeting grocery buyers and convenience stores.
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Inspired by their father’s home-brewing legacy, the company was founded in 2014 by the seven McAvoy brothers themselves: Guy, Keith, Luke, Daniel, Nathan, Kit, and Greg.
Following their success, the McAvoy sisters Kerry Collins, Hayley Robinson, Kate Haslam, and Lucy White then decided they wanted in on the action and launched SIS4ERS Distillery back in 2018.
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With their own reputation growing exponentially, it seemed only natural to bring them on board. The merger will make SEVEN BRO7HERS BREWING CO the largest alcohol family in the industry. Try 55 direct relatives. Absolutely massive.
Credit: SEVEN BRO7HERSCredit: FOUR SIS4ERS
Keith McAvoy, CEO of Seven Bro7hers said: “Our sisters have built a brilliant portfolio of delicious, unique gins and rums unlike others in the marketplace. We believe with the right branding strategy and access to our fantastic network, we’ll be able to grow the business and get the products in front of new buyers.
“We are excited to be under one roof. Family is the foundation of our business, so it is fantastic to bring the sisters into our fold. Now you really can #jointhefamily, drink and serve the full family collection of amazing beers and spirits.”
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Lucy White of SIS4ERS DISTILLERY, said: “The merger feels like a natural progression for our business. The brothers have had great success taking the brewery from in-house webshop to store and we can’t wait to see where that wealth of experience takes the FOUR SIS4ERS brand.”
SEVEN BRO7HERS currently run successful beer houses in Middlewood Locks, MediaCityUK, Ancoats and, of course, their HQ, taproom and brewery in the heart of Salford.
Always looking to grow their portfolio — as exampled by the Four Sis4ers merger — they also opened their partnership bar at Manchester Airport‘s new T2 Departure Lounge in July 2020, before planting their first flag on the rest of the UK in May 2021 with their new Beerhouse in the heart of Liverpool.
Together with the help of their sisters, who have already seen their success not only in day-to-day sales but with hosting gin tours and tastings, as well as bookable event spaces, the sky is the limit for the McAvoy family.
Featured Image — SEVEN BRO7HERS/FOUR SIS4ERS DISTILLERY (via Instagram)
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Dispute over Manichester now ‘resolved’, say Mounfield family
Danny Jones
The family of the late, great Manchester musician, Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, have said that the drama surrounding the highly-anticipated tribute festival in his name, Manichester, has now thankfully been settled.
Now the focus can once again return to remembering him as best as possible.
Following plenty of talk about the project following his passing late last year, a live music festival honouring Mani was finally confirmed in March, and the reaction following the event’s announcement has been unsurprisingly phenomenal.
Well, at least for the most part, as there was also some confusion over whether or not Manichester was still a charitable effort as advertised, with son Gene Mounfield disputing claims online. Fortunately, it all seems to have been put to bed now.
On behalf of the boys, and as their legal guardian, I want to thank everyone for the kind messages and concern for their wellbeing. There was a misunderstanding regarding the upcoming Manichester tribute concert, but we’re pleased to share that everything has now been resolved. pic.twitter.com/j8jEMrFzsD
Being organised by Madchester.com and locally-founded fashion label, GIOGOI, the debut edition was said to have the total blessing of Mani’s family, including his brother, Greg Mounfield.
It was also said that the funds raised by the show would be going to the legendary Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassists’ twins, George and Gene, but the latter recently argued that “nothing” was going to either him or his brother and that the news was “dropped” the plans just a fortnight prior.
Gene also said that “if it was a charity gig it would be at Co-op [Live] or Heaton Park, and it would be done by SJM [Concerts]”: a Manchester-based promoters and events company.
All of this was also wrapped up in ever more paper talk and sensationalism, as some were reporting that Noel and Liam Gallagher, as well as other members of Oasis, would be surprising fans as the still yet to be revealed ‘major headliner’.
These rumours have since been quashed, as has whatever miscommunication caused the misunderstanding between the parties concerned, and we are now back to simply looking forward to seeing an already stacked lineup here in the city centre this May.
Damon Minchella of Ocean Colour Scene (a fellow bassist who also tours with Richard Ashcroft) is helping organise and will also be performing on the night itself. As for the surviving Mounfields, they went on to add in an accompanying Instagram post: “We would also like to express our gratitude to PH.
“It means a great deal to all of us that so many people loved Mani enough to give their time and energy to honour his memory in this way. We are genuinely touched by the support.
“It has been an incredibly difficult few years for the boys and for our whole family. We hope this event will bring some much‑needed joy and create new, positive memories for everyone who cared about him.
“With love and thanks – The Family”
It goes without saying that we can’t wait for this city and Greater Manchester as a whole to honour a Manc icon and are looking forward to another year celebrating the thing that never fails to bring us all together: music.
Featured Images — livepict.com (via Wikimedia Commons)/Publicity pictures (supplied)
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Rochdale is bidding to become the UK’s first-ever Town of Culture in 2028
Emily Sergeant
Rochdale has announced its intention to bid to become UK Town of Culture 2028.
Entering into the national competition launched by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), following on from the success of the already-existing City of Culture award, the Greater Manchester town is hoping to be the first-ever town to claim the title.
The Town of Culture competition invites towns across the UK to showcase their cultural story and develop ambitious programmes that celebrate local heritage, creativity, and communities.
The winning town receives a £3 million grant from the Government to deliver a major year-long cultural programme in 2028 designed to boost civic pride, attract visitors, and provide everyone with the opportunity to participate in cultural activities.
Rochdale’s bid is being led by Rochdale Borough Council and Rochdale Development Agency, alongside cultural groups, education providers, and community organisations.
The bid will build on the town’s history as the birthplace of the Co-operative movement, and a centre of political reform, collective action and working-class cultural innovation.
A town of national and international significance, whose people and ideas have shaped the social, democratic and cultural life of the UK and beyond, Rochdale Council says the town’s story is ‘distinctive’ and as highly relevant today as it ever has been, and this is a driving force behind its Town of Culture 2028 bid.
Not just historically, but over recent years too, the town has made a significant contribution to the UK’s popular culture, producing internationally recognised musicians, artists, writers, and performers.
Local leaders say the bid to become the UK’s first ever Town of Culture underlines Rochdale’s ambition after just completing a ‘hugely successful’ year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture for 2025.
Rochdale is bidding to become the UK’s first-ever Town of Culture / Credit: The Manc Group | Rochdale Council
“We have a strong foundation for a bold and future focused UK Town of Culture programme and an incredible story to tell,” commented Cllr Neil Emmott, who is the Leader of Rochdale Borough Council.
“We’ll be developing a fabulous programme of new events and activities as well as amplifying our existing offer and recently transformed town hall square and centre.
“As we have already seen during our year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture, we have an established infrastructure of creative partners ready to go, who have already expressed their support for our bid, providing significant capacity and scale to deliver a UK town of culture programme in 2028 that would leave a permanent cultural legacy.
“We have exciting and varied attractions and iconic venues that have seen significant investment, an array of creative talent and we’re very well connected.
“This bid will allow us to share this in new ways and invite others to experience it.”
Danny Jones -
12th January 2023 
