Joseph Holt Ltd. / Derby Brewery

Joseph Holt Ltd. / Derby Brewery

There is no doubt that Joseph Holt's Brewery is rather a special place in a modern world where most beer is brewed in huge industrial complexes. There are few family breweries left in Britain today, most having been swallowed up by the giants of the industry. Joseph Holt is one that has survived, and prospered. The brewery stands just off the Cheetham Hill Road, which used to be the only road from Manchester to Bury, a few hundred yards to the north of Manchester's Victoria Station. Historically most of the licensed houses were away to the northwest, in Salford and beyond to Eccles and Swinton, to the North in Broughton and Prestwich, or in Manchester itself. But today the Holt's name has spread further round the area, to towns such as Warrington, St Helens and Southport bringing a total of 130 holts pubs.