Manchester family brewery Joseph Holt has been doing the maths after another well-known local family came back to town.
It was the coming together of two legendary Manchester clans – one with over 175 years of brewing heritage, the other a pair of famously feuding siblings with 30-odd years of recording studio heritage.
As Liam and Noel Gallagher returned to their hometown for the much-anticipated Oasis reunion gigs in Heaton Park, nearby Joseph Holt pubs had their own reason to celebrate.
The ‘ring of three’ pubs in Prestwich and Whitefield, all embracing Oasis mania, pulled over 100,000 pints during the band’s residency. The Ostrich, The Welcome, and The Woodthorpe – all just a stone’s throw from Heaton Park – became the epicentre of unofficial Oasis-themed parties, drawing fans from across the globe.
In fact, The Woodthorpe and The Ostrich – located directly opposite the park – have now become recognised as unofficial Oasis landmarks by international fans.
“We had visitors flooding in from Spain, Italy, America – everywhere,” said Gaynor, manager of The Woodthorpe. “They just loved the vibe – from the music and BBQs to the electric atmosphere before the gigs kicked off. And they are now keeping up with us on social media too because they loved the pub so much. Not only for the Oasis parties but because of its history ,its grounds and the authentic Manchester atmosphere.”
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Each pub hosted all-day events on concert days, offering fans a chance to soak up the mood even if they hadn’t scored tickets. Free bucket hats – a nod to Liam’s signature look – were handed out, while Manchester anthems blasted long into the night, all within earshot of the main stage.
Even Radio 2’s Vernon Kay made a pre-show appearance, arriving at The Woodthorpe at 7.30am on the day of the first gig. “Unfortunately, we weren’t open yet so couldn’t offer him breakfast or a coffee – but he gave us a lovely shoutout on air. We were thrilled!”
Among the beers toasted during the Oasis homecoming, one in particular hit the right note: Hop and Roll Star, a limited-edition lager brewed specially for the occasion. The cans – featuring hand-drawn portraits of the Gallaghers and a typeface inspired by the classic Oasis logo – have become sought-after collector’s items and have been flying off the shelves online.
Joseph Holt has been brewing in Manchester since 1849, when it was founded by weaver’s son Joseph Holt. Six generations later, it remains a proud family-run business. A motif perhaps the now reunited Gallaghers may now follow..
“We were thrilled to see sales rocket during Oasis week,” added Niall McCloskey, area manager for Joseph Holt “But what really stood out was how our pubs became true community hubs. Locals, tourists – everyone felt the warmth of a Joseph Holt welcome. It was amazing to see two great Manchester family names come together for something so special.”
