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.
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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Simon Wood announces gutting closure of Manchester restaurant after seven years
Danny Jones
Celebrity chef and Manchester local Simon Wood has announced that his self-titled WOOD Restaurant has sadly closed its doors.
The Oldham-born chef-owner who won MasterChef back in 2015, revealed the unfortunate news on Wednesday, 2 October, confirming that the First Street site will be closing immediately. Truly gutting.
Wood has remained one of Greater Manchester’s most-renowned chefs for the past decade, not to mention a huge advocate for supporting the hospitality industry, especially post-Covid and during the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Sharing an emotional post on Instagram, he wrote: “It is with much regret that I have to inform you that I must close the doors here at WOOD for good, with immediate effect.”
“We have had 7 years as part of the Manchester city dining scene and I’m very proud of what the team and I have achieved”, the 48-year-old continued.
“Sadly with COVID rent arrears now being demanded by our landlord and an increasingly difficult marketplace, energy increases, ingredient costs and soon-to-be spiralling business rates we just cannot make this work.”
“I’d like to thank everyone for your support and patronage over the years. Thank you, Simon.”
It was only at the start of the week that Wood shared a frustrated post about a group of no-show customers over the weekend that failed to even pre-warn that they would no longer be attending one of his most exclusive and costly experiences.
We’re starting to lose count of how many local businesses are unfortunately struggling in the face of the rising business rates and energy bills that all independents are facing at the minute.
It was only last month that we saw Almous Famous had to call it a day with their Withington location and beloved sandwich spot Micky’s sadly suffer the same fate. Even cult favourite Cafe Marhaba looks to have gone up for sale. So tough to swallow.
We’re genuinely gutted for everyone involved with the brand. All the best, Si – we know you’ll be back stronger than ever one of these days.
Featured Images — The Manc Group
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No trams to run through major Manchester city centre station this weekend
Emily Sergeant
Arguably Manchester city centre’s most important tram stop is set to be out of action this weekend, with no services running through it.
In what is another part of Transport for Greater Manchester‘s (TfGM) ongoing programme of works intended to “maintain and improve” the Metrolink system and ensure tram journeys in Greater Manchester remain “safe, reliable, and accessible”, it’s been confirmed that no trams will run through Cornbrook this weekend.
Due to this, there will be a change to operating patterns across the majority of the Metrolink network on both Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 October.
As is often the case in instances like these, disruption to passengers is expected.
On Saturday and Sunday [5 and 6 October], no trams will operate through Cornbrook.
There will be a change to operating patterns and replacement bus services will be in operation.
On Saturday (5 October), the tram service pattern will change to Altrincham – Old Trafford, Bury – Ashton-under-Lyne, East Didsbury – Firswood, Etihad Campus – Bury (peak time only) / Victoria (after peak only), Manchester Airport – Firswood, Rochdale Town Centre – Deansgate-Castlefield (via Exchange Square), and The Trafford Centre – Wharfside.
Similarly, on Sunday (6 October), the only difference to the above service pattern is that the Etihad Campus tram will only run to Victoria, not Bury.
Services will operate every 12 minutes, except for on the Eccles line, where no trams will run at all.
TfGM is also warning that there may be changes to the first and last tram times during these works, but, in bid to help people still get to their destinations, three bus replacement services will operate from Firswood to Victoria, Old Trafford to Piccadilly, and Eccles to Piccadilly.
No trams will run through major Manchester city centre station Cornbrook this weekend / Credit: TfGM
The Old Trafford to Piccadilly bus service will run through Wharfside, while the Eccles to Piccadilly will travel via MediaCity.
“These works are a vitally important part of maintaining a safe and reliable network for all our customers,” explained
Ian Davies, who is TfGM’s Interim Network Director for Metrolink, said these works are “a vitally important part” of maintaining the Metrolink, and that work has been scheduled by TfGM to “minimise disruption to passengers and residents as much as possible”.