Manchester-based PR and social media agency, Down at the Social (DATS), has been appointed by family-run brewery, JW Lees to handle its ongoing PR activity.
Founded in 1828 in Middleton by John Lees, JW Lees has been family-run for 7 generations. The brewery has expanded over the years, now home to a portfolio of 138 pubs and pub partners located from Manchester to Wales, and is Manchester’s oldest, predating closest surviving rival Joseph Holt by 21 years.
In 2025, JW Lees deepened its Manchester roots by becoming the brewer of the revived Boddingtons Cask, which hadn’t been brewed in the city for over 13 years. The launch has been a huge success, with fans proudly celebrating the ale coming back to its Manchester home.
The partnership will see DATS carry out the brand’s PR activity for both JW Lees and Boddingtons Cask, including press office activity, reactive commentary and activations. The agency has already succeeded in delivering two press outputs within the past few weeks including the St. Patrick’s Day for JW Lees Stout campaign and the Boddingtons X The Black Friar partnership.
This is not the first time Down at the Social has delivered results for the brewer, as the agency previously helped to launch Boddington’s Cask in 2025. The relaunch generated outstanding results, with a PR reach of over 120 million and 32 pieces of national and regional coverage.
William Lees-Jones, managing director of JW Lees said: “We couldn’t be happier to be working alongside Down at the Social again. Our long-standing relationship with the team means they truly understand our brand and we trust them to tell our story.”
Daisy Whitehouse, MD at DATS, added: “We have always loved working with brands which are embedded into the history of Manchester, and JW Lees is no exception. We loved working with their team previously and we can’t wait to be back delivering top-tier results for them throughout the year.”
DATS is a PR-first communications agency that helps newsworthy brands grow through a blend of PR, organic social, digital strategy, influencer programmes, and content. It works with a number notable brands across multiple industries and sectors, and DATS’ current client list also includes Chopstix Noodle Bars, Myioni, Bridgewater Home Care, and Supersmith.
