Category Archives: Hospitality

Cheshire, Chester, Food & Drink, Hospitality, News, Regional Food & Drink News

Hydes Reopens Popular Chester Pub Following Investment in Refurbishment

Hydes Brewery has relaunched popular Chester pub The Mount Inn in Boughton, with a new look following a full exterior and interior refurbishment.

Timed to be completed in time for the forthcoming summer of sport including the Euros and the Paris Olympics, the refurbishment of the popular local pub, acquired by Hydes in 2016, includes an extensive exterior redecoration to feature a tiered multi-level beer garden with new decking and a terrace overlooking the River Dee, complete with new garden furniture, benches, planters and garden features. The exterior makeover has more than doubled the previous capacity of the outside seating area.

Inside has seen a redecoration, completely new furniture, installation of state of the art TV screens including an 80” television plus toilets relocated to allow for a more spacious seating area which has increased the interior capacity of the pub by at least 30.

A refresh of the pub’s front exterior has also been carried out, further enhancing the establishment’s appeal.

Manager of The Mount Inn, James Gornall, who has over 20 years experience in the hospitality sector, has a full programme of live music and pub entertainment lined up now the refurbishment is complete including live music every Saturday and for the first time, barbecues during the summer.

Commented James: “I’ve been running The Mount Inn for around 16 months and I just love it. I love it even more now that Hydes delivered such a high quality refurbishment that has truly revitalised it. Many of the regular customers have been looking forward to the refurb and they’re over the moon with the new look and feel. The improvements are already paying off and we’re pulling in more and more customers every week. With our fantastic beer garden and terrace, I can’t wait for the weather to pick up so everyone can make the most of our hospitality and the surroundings.”

This latest refurbishment project forms part of an ongoing multi-million investment programme across the Hydes’ estate over the next few years. Hydes committed over £10m to refurbishments of pubs across its estate over the past two years and it plans to add to that investment throughout the remainder of 2024.

Managing director of Hydes Brewery, Adam Mayers said: “The Mount Inn is a friendly, local pub, rich with character and typical of a Hydes pub of today. It’s a great pub to relax and enjoy a memorable pint whilst enjoying the views of the River Dee or Welsh mountains, or alternatively watching a match or listening to live music. The reopening has been timed to coincide before the busy summer season kicks in so customers can enjoy both the weather and some of the big sporting events taking place.

“We’re delighted to see The Mount Inn revitalised with an inviting new look and feel, but still retaining its distinct sense of heritage, which is important to us and all of our customers. Offering the best in fine ales, world lagers, great wines and a warm welcome combined with weekly live entertainment and all the live sporting action, there’s even more reasons to visit The Mount Inn now.

“Hydes remains fully committed to all of the pubs across its estate and this refurb is the latest in our ongoing programme of planned redesigns and refurbishments. Providing our customers with a quality, memorable experience is a key consideration and we know they won’t be disappointed.”

Hydes, with its brewery in Media City, Salford, was formed in 1863 and supplies beers to wholesalers, pub companies and other brewers throughout the UK and a pub retailing estate of nearly 50 pubs across the North West of England and North Wales.

Hospitality

UK Airline Customers Increasingly Prefer Digital Customer Services

Digital channels have become the average airline customer’s preferred means of dealing with customer service. In a survey of over 4,800 travellers, email channels and app-based services were among the top ways travellers preferred to deal with airline concerns.

And it isn’t just the younger demographics who use digital services, as most people have started leaning toward tech-based services in the past four years. 70% of those surveyed even noted that their airline interactions have changed since 2020. With a distinct shift in customer preferences, airlines must adjust accordingly to match the digital demand.

The digitalisation of UK airlines

In the United Kingdom, airlines are vamping up their digital channels to meet the demands of modern consumers. Bookings and customer support are primarily directed to online platforms, with emails, mobile apps, social media, and websites providing various avenues for users. The leading portal for most is still the website, which allows people to access dedicated services exclusive to the brand linked to other platforms.

Websites also encourage travel by capitalising on the modern desire for simplicity. People ache for adventure but don’t want the hassle of figuring out all the aspects of the trip beforehand. Data from Somo even shows that 77% of British travellers are willing to pay more if the online booking process is more straightforward. This is why point-to-point airlines also offer low-price flight and hotel packages. It makes the whole process smoother and gets more out of every pound.

easyJet is particularly known for its cheap flight tickets, with a focus on its Fare Finder feature. This allows users to input the point of departure and the destination of choice, with the system automatically filtering various flights to prioritise the most affordable legitimate options. The Fare Finder can be accessed globally, so users don’t need a VPN to compare flight prices for different destinations.

This feature leans toward the trend of catering to airline customers who want value for their money while seeking more convenient ways to find such deals. On top of that, flyers can look at timetables of flights that can inform their route, with built-in guides that allow users to input location, time, trips, budget, and popular activities like family-friendly events, music festivals, solo adventures, and the like.

The modern traveller and technology

Most people accept that tech is a massive part of life, influencing customer mindset and culture, which is something carriers should consider. People between 18 and 87 spend about 8.6 hours a day using technology. As such, members of the older and younger demographic have a more excellent grasp of digital channels. These habits come with renewed expectations of the services they can receive on said channels and the speed at which these services are delivered.

Case in point, much of the preference for digital channels comes from the simple fact that people are much less patient now. Research on British holidaymakers has found that it only takes a flight delay of 64 minutes to upset most travellers. The same data has revealed that 84% of people would be more understanding if airlines were more transparent with issues causing delays.

Ryanair’s TikTok persona acknowledges and works with this mental shift to great success. The budget airline adopted a very cheeky brand voice on social media, garnering much attention and gaining a lot of goodwill with netizens. Their approach even influenced public perception, almost washing over some complaints floating through the internet.

Using humour or taking on a positive tone is ideal for airlines connecting with travellers online to diffuse tension, as most people seek out tech-based resources that allow them to get their issues addressed as quickly as possible. At the very least, social media and live chats should provide the comfort of communication and potential solutions that holidaymakers are seeking. With the new attitudes that dictate UK airline customers today, airline carriers must adapt to move forward.

Hospitality, HR, News

New HR managers’ research on attractiveness of hospitality professions released in Sommet Education Foundation launch

Sommet Education, a leading worldwide player in hospitality education boasting a community of 10,000 students and 60,000 influential alumni worldwide, has launched its Foundation, a significant milestone aimed at supporting employment challenges within the hospitality sector.

The Foundation will concentrate on tackling the sector’s employment challenges by focusing on two levers of action: offering scholarships for hospitality education to talented individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, and advocating for careers and professions in hospitality.

 

Empowering individuals from underserved communities to pursue rewarding careers in hospitality

The launch comes at a pivotal moment for the industry, with the travel and tourism sector projected to provide employment for 449 million people worldwide by 2034, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). By then, 12.2% of the global workforce will be powering this vibrant sector. Despite these promising figures, many destinations and hospitality employers continue to face recruitment challenges.

Drawing on Sommet Education’s long-standing commitment to developing hospitality talent, the Sommet Education Foundation will leverage its global network of hospitality schools (Glion Institute of Higher Education, Les Roches, École Ducasse, Invictus, and Indian School of Hospitality) to train and open doors to careers in this industry for individuals from diverse and socially disadvantaged backgrounds.

The Sommet Education Foundation will identify talents supported by a network of social partners, including UN agencies, governmental entities and NGOs. Talents will be selected in alignment with the framework of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal number 4, focusing on inclusive education. Funding and support will be provided to educate and empower, particularly youth from impoverished backgrounds and women, while also creating lifelong learning opportunities and ensuring talents are gainfully employed within the sector.

 

Sommet Education Foundation patronage

“Joining the hospitality industry is more than a job guarantee; it is a promise of a rewarding and fulfilling career nurtured by human encounters, passion, cultural exchanges, and experiences,” said Anouck Weiss, Executive Vice-President at Sommet Education Foundation. “By offering scholarships leading to employment opportunities, we aim at offering life-changing opportunities to a new generation of talents and empowering them with the necessary skills to join the thriving hospitality industry.”

The Foundation can already count on Accor as a Founding Patron. The hospitality group has already committed to promoting talent development, fostering social equality, and bolstering economic growth through a first dedicated initiative in India. Steven Daines, Chief Talent & Culture Officer at Accor, said: “As a leading hospitality group, investing in people’s talent is a key priority. Hospitality is a sector that transcends territories and borders. This implies open-mindedness and connection to others. I am proud to be in a sector that promotes cross-border work experiences and multicultural environments”.

Echoing his views, Anne-Sophie Beraud, SVP Diversity & Inclusion & Social Care at Accor, added: “The success of our employees must not be determined by diplomas, origins or nationalities. We want to guarantee each of our talents the opportunity to reach their full potential by preventing inequalities and discrimination.”

Promoting hospitality professions: survey shows strong sector attractiveness and employer voluntarism to attract and retain new talents

 

To inform the Foundation’s roadmap and strategic direction, the Sommet Education Foundation engaged OpinionWay, a pioneering market research institute, to conduct a comprehensive European survey to identify the key factors that attract and retain talents in the hospitality industry. 1,300 young professionals and hospitality HR managers across Europe were interviewed, along with 20 key industry leaders (below) encompassing the broader spectrum of the sector, including hotels, restaurants, travel, tourism, independent, medium-sized and large hotel groups, and high-end retail.

Alain Ducasse, Chef and Founder, École Ducasse

Carole Pourchet, Director General, Majorian

Christelle Grisoni, CEO, Bertrand Hospitality

Christian Catiello, Manager Director Organization, Alpitour World

Christopher Jones, Director General, Brioche Dorée

Cyril Baron, General Manager, Caviar House & Prunier

Eric Frechon, Chef, Meilleur Ouvrier de France

Isabelle de Bardies, Director General – CEO Division, Angelina

Jade Frommer, Co-Founder and CEO, Ephemera

Katrin Melle, Regional Vice President DEI & Talent EAME, Hyatt

Laurent Kleitman, Group Chief Executive Officer, Mandarin Oriental

Maribel Rodriguez, Senior Vice-President, WTTC

Marion Amacker, Associate Director, Morgan Philipps Executive Search

Natalia Bayona, Executive Director, UN Tourism

Nathalie Seiler Hayez, Managing Director, Swiss Deluxe Hotels

Philippe Héry, Managing Director, Hippopotamus

Pierre-Olivier Aguinalin, Chief HR Officer, Hublot (until February 2024)

Sabine Masseglia, Managing Director, St Barts Tourism

Steven Daines, Chief Talent & Culture Officer, Accor

Tigrane Seydoux, Co-Founder, Big Mamma

The research found that the service sector holds considerable appeal for 85% of young professionals across Europe. Three-quarters of young European professionals would be ready to join high-end hotels, restaurants and retail shops, praising the career opportunities, especially internationally, and the people-to-people connections. The survey confirms the overall challenge of the sector throughout Europe, with 59% of HR managers facing employment challenges. 78% state that Generation Z (18 to 28 years old) brings specific challenges around identification, recruitment and loyalty.

 

Hospitality’s unique promise fuels optimism in the sector

Professionals within the sector are resolutely convinced of the depth and appeal of their respective fields, the survey found, with an overwhelming 86% expressing confidence in the sector’s allure. Moreover, they exhibit unwavering faith in their ability to sustain employee commitment, rating it at an impressive 7.5 out of 10.

This sector offers pathways for individuals to advance socially and professionally, regardless of their educational background. It stands out as one of the few industries where individuals can achieve rapid success and take on greater responsibilities over time, effectively climbing the social ladder. This unique promise of upward mobility makes it particularly appealing to many. Furthermore, employers place a premium on motivation, soft skills and service-oriented personalities, prioritising these qualities over formal diplomas and are ready to invest in their talents. The overwhelming majority – 93% of HR managers – emphasise the centrality of training in fostering talent excellence, development and long-term loyalty.

On this subject, Laurent Kleitman, Group Chief Executive at Mandarin Oriental, shared: “Architects design the buildings of tomorrow. I would like people coming out of hospitality schools to be able to design the experience of tomorrow.”

Career Development, Careers, Hospitality

Alternative Career Paths for Former Hotel Managers

Managers working in the hospitality sector understand that in today’s economic climate, the job doesn’t just involve late nights and busy weekends, it’s also about getting more people through the door and balancing the books. With a growing number of hotel managers wanting to take their skills in a new direction, Mike Smith, Director at Stocktake UK discusses the opportunities a stocktaking franchise offers to hospitality professionals seeking an alternative career path.

The ups and downs of hospitality

The last few years have been exceptionally challenging for UK hotels. Brexit led to a shortage of workers, income dried up during the pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis has impacted bookings and high inflation has made it far harder to maintain profitability.

Demand for Stocktakers

Faced with higher costs and fewer visitors, it has become increasingly important for hotel owners across the sector to improve inventory management so they can eliminate waste and increase sales margins. This need has led to a growing number of hotels, large and small, seeking the services of professional stocktakers.

Indeed, many now find this an indispensable service, as it provides managers with the means to keep check on their stock levels, make informed purchases and eradicate over and understocking. Essentially, it enables them to fulfil customer demand in the most cost-efficient way.

From Hotel Manager to Stocktaking Franchisee

With the steadily rising demand for stocktaking services, becoming a stocktaking franchisee enables former hotel managers to start their own business in an area that offers both stability and growth while being fully supported by the parent company. Stocktake UK’s franchise programme offers hotel managers an alternative way to utilise their existing skills and experience while remaining in a familiar sector. Potential earnings are promising too, with the average franchisee making around £50K a year and top partners accruing in excess of £125K.

For many hotel managers, the main attraction of a stocktaking franchise is the lifestyle change it offers. Instead of the inconvenience of long days and unsociable hours, franchisees have far greater flexibility when it comes to organising their working days and, indeed, the days they work. This brings the promise of a better work-life balance and more time to spend on what they enjoy.

Getting started as a stocktaking franchisee

For hotel managers considering a stocktaking franchise, joining Stocktake UK’s national network of professional stock auditors means being supported from day one. Franchisees need no previous stocktaking experience, as they receive full training in everything from business management to using specialist stocktaking software. Additionally, all equipment is provided and continuous support, together with regular leads, are provided from the head office.

With over 25 years’ experience, Stocktake UK is a leading provider of professional stocktaking services to hotels and the hospitality industry at large. We have an extensive client portfolio that includes everything from independent clubs and restaurants to regional pub chains and distinguished hotel groups.

For more information, visit Stocktake UK.

Events, Hospitality, News, South West England News

Meet & Potato collaborate with Butlin’s to offer the perfect corporate events package for organisations

Liverpool, 18th April  2024, live events and communications agency Meet & Potato in collaboration with Butlin’s put on The Greatest Show in Town for Poundland. Meet & Potato brought their creativity, technical production, and audio-visual expertise to Butlin’s, Bognor Regis for Poundland’s annual internal event for 1200+ colleagues that is designed to bring to life the brand strategy ahead of the peak trading season. Butlin’s provided the perfect venue, all accommodation, catering and a dedicated event team.

 

Poundland is a long-term client of Meet & Potato, and the brand is always looking to improve on the colleague event experience. In 2023, The Greatest Show in Town, inspired by The Greatest Showman movie, was a huge success, complete with a Big Top and a popup Poundland concept store for break-out sessions.  Meet & Potato produced supporting video presentations for Poundland’s leadership team, including a Channel 4 ‘Gogglebox’ style review of stores and customer feedback featuring the senior management team on the sofa in their pyjamas. Butlin’s provided the perfect backdrop with onsite catering, numerous venues, a fun fair, and accommodation, enabling the whole team to stay onsite and fully immerse themselves in the event experience.

The plenary was hosted in Studio 36–a highly versatile conference venue with state-of-the-art AV facilities–which was transformed with drapes depicting bespoke Circus Characters. Studio 36 also hosted the Gala Dinner–with the Butlin’s dedicated events team facilitating the quick turnaround from theatre to gala set up in under 1 hour and 40 minutes. This was the first time Studio 36 was used for a gala dinner, and the first time a gala dinner of more than 1,000 was hosted outside the Skyline Pavilion. One top priority event element was a space to build a Poundland store on site. The resort’s Reds venue was where the store was built. This was part of the breakout sessions where the delegates could walk around the new concept store for Poundland. Early access to the venue was arranged pre-event so the team could start building and ensuring everything was in working order ready for the delegates to see the new store in all its glory.

 

Poundland, MD, Austin Cooke, said: “Thank you! Another stellar event and nothing but positive feedback for Meet & Potato and Butlin’s. At Poundland one of our core business values is focusing on our people. We believe their experience at work is as important as our customers’ experience instore. The Greatest Show on Earth enabled all our 1260 delegates to fully immerse themselves in our brand and focus on success for the next year. Meet & Potato and Butlins is a great partnership for corporate events.”

 

National Sales Manager at Butlin’s Conference and Events, Dan Elliot said: “The Greatest Show in Town with Poundland blew my mind. Butlin’s Bognor Regis was such a good fit for this event for many reasons. Poundland and Meet & Potato did an incredible job using the whole resort to bring their event to life for 1200+ delegates on-site. By having exclusive hire of the venue, they were able to transform the space into what they needed for the event, even turning our Reds Venue into a Poundland shop for delegates to experience. We look forward to working with the Meet & Potato team on many more corporate events.”

 

Meet & Potato, CEO / Founder, Kelly said, “Working on Poundland’s Greatest Show In Town event was a blast, Butlins Bognor Regis was our obvious venue choice as the big tops were already there! However, as the event built up, we realised Butlins makes the perfect venue for internal corporate events at any of their three resorts as they have all the facilities a business needs to accommodate a large group of people and cater for their needs. The site also means employees don’t need to leave for accommodation or food, so they get a better-quality conference experience. Meet & Potato will support Butlins to diversify into corporate events by working alongside the Butlins’ Conference Team to support and produce high-quality presentations and immersive brand experiences”.

 

About Meet & Potato

Meet and Potato (M&P) create events and produce content to showcase their clients’ unique voice and vision. Whether it’s a conference, gala dinner or awards ceremony, a product launch or experiential brand roadshow, a creative presentation deck or full video production, M&P makes emotional connections between brands and their audiences with immersive experiences and stories designed to entertain, educate, and inspire. The agency works across all sectors with amazing clients such as Mercedes-Benz, Poundland, Holland & Barrett, Hotel Chocolat, Beauty Bay, Dunelm, Magnet and BASF.

For more information visit www.mandp.agency

 

About Butlin’s 

Butlin’s, the home of entertainment, is a market leader in family holidays, promising endless fun for all age groups with so much included in the price of a break. Alongside family breaks, there’s also Butlin’s Big Weekenders, exclusively for adults. With over 20 breaks to choose from including decade-themed parties to genre-specific music weekends and festivals, there’s an incredible variety of Big Weekenders running throughout the year. For unforgettable experiences Butlin’s also delivers memorable corporate events from board meetings and team-building days to product launches and themed gala dinners. With three beachside resorts across the UK in Bognor Regis (West Sussex), Minehead (Somerset) and Skegness (Lincolnshire), Butlin’s welcomes around 1.5 million guests per year.

For more information visit: https://www.butlins.com/

Awards, Hospitality

Two Popular Largo Leisure Holidays Parks Reach the Finals of the 2024 Scottish Hospitality Awards

Largo Leisure Holidays are proud and excited to announce that two of their holiday parks have been named as finalists in the 2024 Scottish Hospitality Awards.

Braidhaugh Holiday Park and recently acquired Campsie Glen Holiday Park have both made it to the final stages of the prestigious awards, which aim to highlight and reward the best of the hospitality industry in Scotland.

Braidhaugh Holiday Park which sits in a prime position on the banks of the River Earn in Crieff has made it to the finals in the Best Caravan Park category with sister park Scottish countryside gem, Campsie Glen in Fintry, named as a finalist in the Best Holiday Park category.

Largo Leisure Parks, Commercial Director, Rachel Mabbs said “We are absolutely thrilled to have two of our parks named as finalists in different categories in the Scottish Hospitality Awards 2024. The teams on park do an amazing job and this wouldn’t be possible without all their hard work. The awards are a fantastic way of recognising the work they do. We will keep our fingers crossed for a good result on the night.”

To find out more about Largo Leisure and their six award winning parks , visit https://www.largoleisure.co.uk

Food & Drink, Hospitality, News

Landmark Northern Quarter pub and boutique hotel reopens after major refurbishment

Salford-based brewery and pub retailer Hydes has re-opened its award-winning pub and boutique hotel, The Abel Heywood, based in Manchester’s vibrant Northern Quarter, following a £200k refurbishment.

First opened as a pub by Hydes in 2015, The Abel Heywood closed last month for a full interior refurbishment and refresh. The improvements include the installation of new booth seating, a fresh new update of the existing Victorian-style decor, new external signage, lighting and an appealing full revamp of the bar areas.

The adjoined 15-room boutique hotel, which consistently has a 99% occupancy rate, remained open throughout the renovations and will receive a bespoke makeover during the next 12 months.

Hydes has committed £200k worth of investment to the refurbishment project. The investment is part of a wider multi-million-pound programme planned for other key sites in Hydes’ pub estate including The Boat House at Parkgate on the Wirral, The Nursery Inn at Heaton Norris, Stockport and The Mount Inn at Chester.

The Abel Heywood is the first pub in Hydes estate to benefit this year from the investment fund. Last year, Hydes committed over £4 million worth of investment in its estate and expects to double that figure this year.

General manager Alex Allan, who has run the Abel Heywood for the past 10 years, is excited for the future. He commented: “The investment is very welcome and should give the Abel Heywood a renewed lease of life. We’ve come through some very tough trading conditions in the past few years but we’ve remained an important part of the city centre’s social scene, helping to celebrate what Manchester has to offer.

“The Abel Heywood is now in a great position to build on the success and reputation it has worked so hard to achieve and maintain since we first acquired it a decade ago. We’re sure the improvements will help cement our status as a firm favourite in the Northern Quarter.”

Adam Mayers, managing director of Hydes commented: “The refurbishment and relaunch of the Abel Heywood is the first in a planned programme of investments in our pubs for this year. It’s a key venue for us in Manchester city centre and is a landmark pub and hotel which has provided a characterful hub for locals and visitors to the city for the past 10 years. Whether it’s Hydes’ range of quality ales, traditional, home-cooked food served every day or a contemporary hotel room for the night, the Abel Heywood has something to offer everybody who visits.

“Starting with The Abel Heywood, our ongoing investment programme highlights our commitment to our pub estate, customers and the communities we operate in. Investment in our pubs and our people remains a major focus for Hydes.”

Hydes, with its brewery in Media City, Salford, was formed in 1863 and supplies beers to wholesalers, pub companies and other brewers throughout the UK and a pub retailing estate of nearly 50 pubs across the North West of England and North Wales.

Hospitality, Manchester, Manchester News, News

General Manager at Landmark Manchester Pub Toasts a Decade of Success

The general manager of a landmark Manchester city centre pub and boutique hotel is marking a decade in the job.

Alex Allan, who was appointed as manager of the Abel Heywood in December 2014, has helped establish the Hydes brewery-owned pub as one of the star attractions of Manchester’s famous Northern Quarter and secure its reputation as one of the city centre’s firm favourite places to stay.

Salford-based Hydes appointed Alex to head up the team at The Abel Heywood after it originally acquired the premises in 2014 as an almost derelict, fire-damaged former textile warehouse and invested millions transforming it into the eye-catching landmark building that it is today. The Abel Heywood opened in the Northern Quarter in 2015.

Alex, who has worked for Hydes for 14 years having run a previous establishment in the city, was responsible for originally ‘scouting’ the rundown building on Turner Street and bringing it to the attention of the management team, who were looking for suitable pub premises to acquire and invest in.

The past decade has seen the Abel Heywood go from strength to strength, becoming one of the first premium dining pubs to provide boutique hotel accommodation in Manchester. Since opening, the city has witnessed the launch of more than 25 new hotels yet the Abel Heywood has held its position in Trip Advisor’s top 10 since day one, with 2,675 approved reviews, the most of any hotel in the current list.

After 10 years as an iconic destination in the Northern Quarter, the Abel Heywood is about to receive a £200k makeover. The pub closed on 25th February for a full interior refurbishment including new booth seating, modernisation of all existing Victorian-style decor, new external signage, lighting, and a revitalisation of the bar areas. It re-opens to the public on 9th March. 

The on-site boutique hotel which consistently has a 99% occupancy rate, will remain open throughout the renovations, with plans to refurbish the hotel at a later date. 

Housekeeper, Jackie Gardner, has also been at the Abel Heywood since the day it opened, further adding to the overall appeal of the characterful 15 room boutique hotel.

Alex Allan said: “I’ve put my heart and soul into The Abel Heywood and loved every single minute of the journey so far. I’ve navigated some challenging periods such as Covid and the subsequent lockdowns, plus the ongoing cost of living crisis, but it remains a hugely popular venue for drinkers in the city centre alongside day trippers and visitors to Manchester who want somewhere quirky yet cool to stay overnight.  

“I’m immensely proud that the Abel Heywood has become such an integral part of what the Northern Quarter is all about. It’s great for the local economy and brings in lots of business to this part of the city. Hydes have been great to work with throughout, backing me and the team to give the Abel Heywood an unmistakable identity all of its own, yet it’s still very much a Hydes pub with quality ales and food available every day. We’re very much looking forward to the makeover to give it the subtle refinements and modernisation that it deserves.”

The Abel Heywood is no stranger to life in the limelight. It was used as a pub backdrop in the hit nineties BBC television series ‘Cutting It’, has appeared on numerous programmes since and counts celebrities such as Christopher Eccleston, Shaun Ryder, Dave Spikey and the Courteeners amongst its list of famous patrons. The upstairs bar is occasionally used as a green room for nearby filming productions and has welcomed stars including Alison Steadman and Robson Green.  

Managing director of Hydes Brewery, Adam Mayers said: “Alex is a first-rate manager and has done an outstanding job at The Abel Heywood. His energy and commitment is second to none, and we completely support his vision and direction. The passionate and committed team will ensure continued success when it reopens post-refurbishment.”

The refurbishment of the Abel Heywood is part of an ongoing multi-million-pound investment programme across the Hydes’ estate. Over the last few years, Hydes has invested over £10m in pubs across its estate including its first acquisition in five years, and it intends to continue this investment throughout 2024.

Adam Mayers continued: “We’re happy for such an iconic building to receive a major refresh, yet fully retain all the character and history it is renowned for, which is very important to us and our customers. And in the capable hands of Alex and his outstanding team, we look forward to the Abel Heywood re-opening its doors and continuing to be one of the most well-loved and talked about destination pubs in the city centre.”

Hydes, with its brewery in Media City, Salford, was formed in 1863 and supplies beers to wholesalers, pub companies and other brewers throughout the UK and a pub retailing estate of nearly 50 pubs across the North West of England and North Wales.

Food & Drink, Hospitality, News, North of England, North Wales

Hydes Brewery To Invest Millions In Its Pub Estate Throughout The Year

Salford-based brewer and pub retailer Hydes has committed to a multi-million, seven-figure investment programme across its pub estate throughout the remainder of 2024.

The family-owned independent business, which marked its 160th anniversary last year, will begin the investment programme with a refurbishment of its award-winning pub and boutique hotel, The Abel Heywood, based in Manchester’s vibrant Northern Quarter.

Acquired by Hydes in 2015, The Abel Heywood will close on 25th February for a full interior refurbishment including new booth seating, modernisation of existing Victorian-style decor, new external signage, lighting and a revitalisation of the bar areas.

Hydes is committing £200k investment to the project and will re-open the characterful pub to customers on 9th March. The on-site boutique hotel, which is popular with visitors to Manchester, has a 99% occupancy rate and will remain open throughout the renovations.

The investment forms part of a wider multi-million-pound programme planned for other key sites in Hydes’ portfolio including significant investments at The Boat House at Parkgate on the Wirral, The Nursery Inn at Heaton Norris, Stockport and The Mount Inn at Chester. The investment total will run into seven figures for the year including smaller-scale refurbishments at a number of additional Hydes pubs.

Last year Hydes committed over £4 million worth of investment in its estate. The Jolly Thresher in Lymm and The John Millington in Cheadle Hulme both underwent extensive refurbishments. Further investments were made at various other sites including The Sam Brooks in Sale, The Golden Lion in Rossett and Alfreds in Macclesfield.

In October 2022, Hydes completed its first freehold acquisition since 2015, purchasing the former police station in Heswall. Named after the architect of the original building, The Harry Beswick, cost over £3.6m and opened its doors as Hydes’ newest premium pub and dining venue in November 2023.

Adam Mayers, managing director of Hydes commented: “The Abel Heywood is a key venue and kicks off a series of investments that will see us continuing to commit to the ongoing refurbishments of all pubs in our estate. This follows significant investment programmes for the previous two years, resulting in the revitalisation of multiple sites. The Abel Heywood, with its adjoined 15 room boutique hotel, is a firm favourite in the city’s Northern Quarter and this investment will enable it to build on the success and reputation it has established since we first acquired it nearly a decade ago.

“Starting with The Abel Heywood, our ongoing investment in the estate not only highlights the commitment to delivering exceptional customer experience, products and services but also underpins the integral role in the communities it serves. Investment in our pubs and our people is top priority at Hydes and this will continue throughout the coming year, strengthening our offering and enhancing the overall experience for all our customers and guests.”

Hydes operates nearly 50 pubs ranging from Lancaster in the North to Stoke-on Trent in the Midlands and across to North Wales including a wide selection of premium dining destination outlets and traditional community pubs.

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Pictured: The Abel Heywood pub and boutique hotel, Manchester

Environment, Food & Drink, Hospitality, Sustainability

Hydes Brewery Introduces New Environmental Measures Across Its Entire Operation

Salford-based brewer and pub retailer Hydes has announced a raft of new environmental initiatives which will be introduced across the business throughout the year.

The family-owned independent brewery which celebrated its 160th anniversary last year, has introduced numerous initiatives across different areas of the business from the brewery and head office throughout its pub estate.

 

At the brewery in Salford, new environmental measures include the installation of state of the art inverter drives which control the speed of the motors during the constant brewing process to improve energy savings. A steam generator has also been installed which, although only used when required such as particularly busy production periods, uses far less energy than other power sources.

The brewery has also been fully lagged with insulation material to maximise energy efficiency, LED movement sensor lights installed throughout and voltage optimisers added to use electricity at 230v allowing significant energy savings to be made.

 

Further additions to the brewery operation include plant automation reducing inefficiencies and downtime, EV charge points and all dray vehicles are fully solar panel battery powered. Initiatives to be implemented throughout the year include the harvesting of rainwater inside the brewery for cask washing use and investment in an energy-efficient heat pump in the brewery for heating and cooling of the office space.

 

Across the pub estate, a number of Hydes’ pubs have installed LED sensor lighting and EV charging stations. A biomass boiler has been installed at the Stamford Bridge in Chester with the intention of introducing similar energy-efficient boilers to more Hydes pubs.

Pubs across the estate have also committed to recycling cooking oil in kitchens and cutting wastage.

 

Adam Mayers, Managing Director of Hydes, commented: “We are focussed on driving energy efficiency improvements with the brewery, production areas and across all sites. We are acutely aware that our brewery and pubs have a significant impact on communities and the environment, therefore we must work sustainably and responsibly to ensure we can safeguard the future of our business and protect the planet.

“To help conserve energy a sustainability steering group has been created and meets regularly to review all energy efficiency and environmental practices. As well as making significant operational changes it’s also about making smaller, long-term changes to the way our business runs. We continue to fit LED bulbs every time one is replaced and on all refurbishments. We also ensure energy is regularly monitored so targets can be set and achieved. Voltage optimisation and cellar compartmentalisation has also been incorporated at several sites with additional rollout planned for more pubs.”

 

Hydes, with its brewery in Media City, was formed in 1863 and supplies beers to wholesalers, pub companies and other brewers throughout the UK and a pub retailing estate of nearly 50 pubs across the North West of England and North Wales.

Hydes operates nearly 50 pubs ranging from Lancaster in the North to Stoke-on Trent in the Midlands and across to North Wales including a wide selection of premium dining destination outlets and traditional community pubs.