Category Archives: North-West England

News, North Wales, North-West England

Hydes introduce new beer ranges for 2024

North west based brewer Hydes has unveiled its new product range for 2024.

The 18-strong range includes six ‘Vintage’ cask ales as part of its bi-monthly offering and 12 seasonal ales.

The Vintage range comprises historic bottled brews recreated from the original Hydes Anvil range from the late 1800s and early to mid-1900s. The range sees the return of Anvil Brand Brown Stout (4.1% ABV), Anvil Brand Pale Ale (4.0% ABV), Anvil Brand Light Ale (3.9% ABV), Anvil Best (4.8%), Oatmeal Stout (4.5% ABV) and Nut Brown Ale (3.8% ABV).

Previously all part of a bottled range dating back between 1895 to 1941 this is the first time the range has been re-introduced on cask. Hydes has also recreated the original bottle designs featuring the Hydes Queens Brewery branding to feature on the bar pump clips and beer mats.

The seasonal range includes a range of 12 ales themed around classic British TV shows including Bulls Eye, Dad’s Army, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, Phoenix Nights, Fawlty Towers and Only Fools and Horses.

The first themed ales to be introduced are Bulls Hydes, a 4.2% ABV premium bitter, available throughout January and Flying Circus, a 4.5% ABV dark ale, for February.

 

Hydes managing director, Adam Mayers said: “We’re very proud to introduce our 2024 range which combines our rich brewing heritage in the North West through our Vintage range with an innovative, contemporary range of a dozen ales playfully themed around British TV classics.

“The reintroduction for the first time of some of Hydes’ bottled beers from the early days of the brewery’s origins up to and including the war years is an exciting addition to the existing core range and we can’t wait for drinkers to sample these brews, all based on the original recipes, for the first time in over 100 years in some cases. Anvil Best was first introduced as a bottled bitter in 1924 so it’s great to see it make a historic return exactly a century later for today’s drinkers to enjoy fresh from the cask.”

 

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 over 40 pubs across the North West of England and North Wales.

To find out more about Hydes Brewery visit https://www.hydesbrewery.com/.

Mental Health, News, North-West England

New Chester Centre to Help Those Impacted by Suicide

Written by Emily Owens

A NEW centre run by a suicide prevention charity has opened in Chester.

The Martin Gallier Project, which already has a base on the Wirral, is now offering support on St Werburgh Street, opposite the city’s cathedral.

The charity will provide support for anyone over the age of 16 who is in a suicidal crisis or who has suffered in the past.

Family members who are worried a loved may be in a suicidal crisis can also get support, as can those left bereaved by suicide.

There is no criteria or waiting list for help. Instead, the centre offers a drop-in service within a non-clinical, safe environment that provides immediate aid to anyone who needs it.

Commenting on the opening, Jessica Gallier, the chief executive of the charity, said: “We are overwhelmed by the level of support we have received from the local community in Chester.

“We are so proud of the work we have done for families on Wirral and beyond. And we are eager to establish a warm and welcoming space here in the city.”

The service relies on funding from the National Lottery and other donations, but has already gained support from Chester businesses including Hickory’s Smokehouse and We Love Good Times which will help the charity to progress the new Chester facility. Artezzan and Cheshire Freemasons are also corporate supporters, while the Steve Morgan Foundation and Garfield Weston provide grants.

Jessica set up the charity after the loss of her father, Martin Gallier, in 2017. She established it to tackle areas she found to be lacking during his journey with mental illness and suicide.

The MGP works closely with local schools and organisations to promote its campaigns..

Services they provide will include delivering age-appropriate talks to school children, running support groups, hosting annual conferences and organising training workshops and courses to help as many people as possible about suicide.

Visits have already been made to secondary schools including Wirral Grammar School for Boys and Caldy Grammar, which gave very positive feedback and described the talks as ‘accessible’, ‘engaging’ and ‘pupil focused’.

The opening of the centre is much-needed.  The North West has the fourth highest regional suicide rate in England – there are 12.9 suicide deaths per every 100,000 people. MGP aims to change this with their values to prevent suicide, break down stigmas surrounding it and support families.

 

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The Chester base is currently open three days a week from 9:30am until 4:30pm on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. But anyone in the North West of England can access either the Chester or Wirral base outside these hours. All referrals are picked up within 24 hours regardless of the day of the week. To get in contact call: 01516440294. And to find out more information about the charity and its services here.

 

Food & Drink, Hospitality, News, North-West England

Hydes prepares to open new Wirral premium dining pub

A leading North West brewery and pub retailer is putting the finishing touches to its newest premium pub and dining destination outlet. Signage has been installed at The Harry Beswick in Heswall, on the Wirral, and new recruits are undergoing onsite training as the £3.6M new pub restaurant prepares to open its doors to the public in a few weeks.

The opening of The Harry Beswick has created 55 full and part-time jobs in the Heswall area, ranging from management and front of house team to chefs, bar supervisors and cleaning staff. 

Roy Wilson was appointed as general manager during the renovation of the building, which had been unoccupied for almost a decade, following the closure of Heswall police station in 2014. Roy has a decade of experience with Hydes at some of its most successful premium dining pubs, having previously managed The Hornsmill in Helsby, near Chester for over five years and The Jolly Thresher in Lymm.

Salford-based Hydes brewery acquired the landmark building on Telegraph Road last year. The project has seen the conversion of the town’s former police station into a premium dining and drinking establishment which Hydes named in honour of the original architect of the building.

Born in Chester in 1856, Harry Beswick was county architect for Chester from 1895 until 1926, responsible for designing over 40 buildings including numerous police stations and school buildings.

The £1.3million acquisition is Hydes’ first property acquisition in over five years. Over the past few months, the historic building which dates back to 1911 has been transformed, with Hydes investing over £2.3million in its restoration and refurbishment. 

A recruitment drive in the local area resulted in hundreds of applications for available roles at the pub. Employees are currently undergoing a comprehensive training programme which includes a site visit to Hydes brewery in Salford. 

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. Hydes currently operates one other establishment on the Wirral, the Boat House in nearby Neston.

Managing director of Hydes, Adam Mayers, said: “We’re very excited about the opening of The Harry Beswick. The building looks breathtaking, retaining a great deal of heritage and character from its former life. We have also assembled an experienced and very talented team to ensure that the opening is a resounding success.  

“This considerable investment is part of an ongoing programme of planned investments, redesigns and refurbishments. Providing our customers with a quality, memorable experience is a top priority, and we’re delighted to be opening such a stunning venue in Heswall.”

General manager Roy Wilson added: “We have worked hard to make sure The Harry Beswick will deliver a great experience for customers with a quality, contemporary new design scheme and feel combined with a premium dining and drinking experience and Hydes’ standards of customer service. There’s a real buzz about the opening. We can’t wait to welcome everyone and see them enjoy what we’ve created here.”

The acquisition forms part of an ongoing multi-million investment programme across the Hydes’ estate over the next few years. Last year, Hydes committed over £4.5m to refurbishments of pubs and it intends to increase that investment this year and next.