Woodthorpe Beer Festival taking place from 24 to 26 November

Historic Manchester brewery Joseph Holt will hold its first beer festival at the end of this month at The Woodthorpe Pub in Prestwich. 

The Woodthorpe Beer Festival will take place from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 November at the onetime family home of Sir Edward Holt, the son of the brewery's founder.

Joseph Holt was built on cask ale, and when it comes to cask ale the UK is a world leader in its production

The brewery, boasting over 120 pubs across the North West, has teamed up with other brewers of cask ale to offer visitors over 20 different cask ales to try over the weekend. 

It will also celebrate its 175th anniversary in the new year, and to commemorate this has launched a charity appeal in the hopes of raising £500,000 for The Christie Hospital and Holt Radium Institute, with proceeds from the festival going towards the fund. 

2023 11 07 Woodthorpe Beer Festival
The Woodthorpe Pub in Prestwich, which will host the festival Image: Joseph Holt

“Joseph Holt was built on cask ale, and when it comes to cask ale, the UK is a world leader in its production,” said Andrew Kershaw, an area manager with Joseph Holt and the sixth generation of the family to work for the brewery. 

“At Joseph Holt we are passionate about cask ale and have continued to brew it even when other pubs and brewers took it off the bar because of the attention to detail involved in crafting the product. That's why we thought it was so important to stage a joyful event to celebrate our rich history of real ale.

"Cask beer holds such a place of affection in the hearts of so many beer drinkers. But it's also becoming increasingly popular with new and younger drinkers. We hope, whether you're a newcomer to cask ale or have always enjoyed it, you'll come to the  festival to celebrate this unique part of our history."

2023 11 07 Woodthorpe Beer Festival Pint
One of the many pints on offer at the Woodthorpe Beer Festival Image: Joseph Holt

With local bands playing, traditional pub games on offer and talks from brewers as well as pies and bratwurst sausages available there's plenty of reasons to get down to the Woodthorpe Beer Festival and have yourself a pint or two. 

The Woodthorpe, Bury Old Rd, Prestwich, M25 0EG

If you liked this you may also like...

Draught Bovril & topless barmaids: Manchester pubs in 1975

‘Comforting and homely’: Annie’s, Old Bank Street, reviewed