The JW Lees pub opens this Wednesday, taking over the former Dutton’s site

JW Lees is opening a new bar and restaurant in a prime city centre location, opposite the town hall on Albert Square. 

The Founders Hall will join the family of Lees city centre pubs, including Gulliver’s, The Rembrandt, Rain Bar and Northern Quarter favourite the Millstone.

2024 02 19 Founders Hall 1
The dining area inside the bar Image: Confidenitals

A modern and comfortable beer hall with decent scran

Described on the website as ‘A temple to Manchester’s finest brewery’, the bar will pay homage to the founders with its very fitting name, celebrating almost 200 years of Manchester-based brewing. 

The venue will showcase a wide variety of signature cask ales and craft lagers that the brand is so well known and loved for, like Manchester Pale Ale and JW Lees Bitter, as well as four limited edition Boilerhouse beers. Boilerhouse Craft Pale will also have a permanent place on the bar, not to mention a vast range of spirits, cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages to choose from.

2024 02 19 Founders Hall Bar
The bar Image: Confidenitals

There’ll be hearty British food in abundance, too. It’s a ‘modern and comfortable beer hall with decent scran’ and menu dishes have been carefully selected to compliment the range of drinks available. Whether you’re popping in for a pint and some bar snacks to tide you over in the afternoon, or you’re joining friends for home-made pies and generous sides for dinner. Diners can also enjoy a quality roast on Sundays.

2024 02 19 Founders Hall Bar 2
Some of the drinks on draught Image: Confidenitals

The venue will also be available to hire for hosting birthday parties and other special occasions, with flexible seating and designated spaces for small groups. 

Founders Hall will open on Wednesday 21 February.

See our gallery of images from our sneak peek below. 

2-10 Albert Square, Manchester M2 6LW

2024 02 19 Founders Hall Jw Lees 10 2024 02 19 Founders Hall Jw Lees 6 2024 02 19 Founders Hall Jw Lees 7 2024 02 19 Founders Hall Jw Lees 8 2024 02 19 Founders Hall Jw Lees 3 2024 02 19 Founders Hall Jw Lees 4 2024 02 19 Founders Hall Jw Lees 5 2024 02 19 Founders Hall Jw Lees 2 2024 02 19 Founders Hall Bar 2024 02 19 Founders Hall 1

Get the latest news to your inbox

Get the latest food & drink news and exclusive offers by email by signing up to our mailing list. This is one of the ways that Confidentials remains free to our readers and by signing up you help support our high quality, impartial and knowledgable writers. Thank you!

Subscribe

Join our WhatsApp group

You can also get regular updates on news, exclusives and offers by joining the Manchester Confidential WhatsApp group.

Join the Manchester Confidential WhatsApp Group

Read next: Mum's the word: Best indie Mother's Day gifts in the North West

Read again: ‘A neat little find’: Turtley Wok, Stretford, reviewed