Good news for pirates and pina colada fans (who like getting caught in the rain), Greater Manchester is getting its very own rum garden. A first for the region.

The space, the brainchild of local spirits producer The Salford Rum Company, will be located in Arch 33 on Viaduct Street in Salford (not to be confused with the other Viaduct Street on the other side of Manchester city centre) and feature a distillery, bar and rum garden.

The support we’ve had locally for Salford Rum is nothing short of incredible. When looking for somewhere to take the brand to the next level, it was always going to be in Salford

The name of the spot will also channel Salford, with The Dirty Old Town Distillery being inspired by the song Dirty Old Town made famous by The Pogues on their iconic 1985 album Rum, Sodomy & The Lash. The song was written about Salford where its songwriter, the folk artist and labour activist Ewan MacColl grew up.

Work has already started on converting the arch into a fully functioning distillery and bar with the adjoining outdoor space under the railway line providing ample space for a designated outdoor rum garden.

The site will be a stone’s throw from The Lowry Hotel as well as the newly opened Black Friar gastropub and popular boozer/music venue The Eagle Inn.

An Artists Illustration Of The New Under Railway Arch Space At Salford Rums New Distillery Bar And Rum Garden In Salford — **An artist's mock-up of the new under arch space in Salford**

A new community space for Salford

The Salford Rum Company is heavily involved in its local community and it’s hoped the new location can provide a space for local creative talent to flourish. As well as being long-term partners of Salford Lads Club the spirits maker has supported local artists, most notably illustrator Dave Draws whose designs feature on many of the brand’s distinctive bottles.

The label on the bottles features a doodle by Dave inspired by a map of Salford from the 1900s in which he has highlighted notable landmarks.

An Artists Impression Of What Salford Rums New Distillery And Rum Garden In A Railway Arch In Greater Manchester Will Look Like — **The distillery and rum garden will benefit from a large arched window**

Swapping steel for copper

The new venue will also provide the chance for further spirits innovation. The space will be the home of a craft copper still allowing for the continued production of existing Salford rums as well as the opportunity for further innovation, especially in the case of small-batch distilling.

Recent additions to the Salford line-up have included a Honey Rum which sold out in seconds earlier this year. The brand’s core expressions include a golden Salford Spiced Rum and Salford Dark Spice, both inspired by the history of the area when it was the third-largest port in the UK, overseeing imports of among other things, rum, spices and fruit.

Salford Rum Will Open A Distillery And Rum Garden On Viaduct Street — **Salford Rum's distillery and beer garden may be popular with bearded men, an artist imagines**

In the spirit of friendship

Salford Rum Company originally was set up by two friends, James and Tommy, who took inspiration from the rise of luxury craft gin and wanted to channel the local area’s history whilst bringing premium rum to people’s attention.

The announcement follows similar successful moves across the city to breathe life into the city’s railway arches including Three Little Words and 53two theatre on Watson Street and Alphabet Brewery and Manchester Union Brewery on North Western Street.

Two Expressions Of Salford Rum Next To A Houseplant In Manchester With Labels Designed By Dave Draws — **Dave Draws designs the labels on Salford Rum's iconic bottles**

Tommy Gaughan, one half of the duo responsible for launching Salford Rum, said:

“The support we’ve had locally for Salford Rum is nothing short of incredible. When looking for somewhere to take the brand to the next level, it was always going to be in Salford, and always going to be a place whereby our supporters can come and feel like they’re part of the Salford family.”

James Harrison, who founded the brand with Tommy said:

“It’s been quite a ride and our first step into hospitality feels surreal. It’s time for us to grow in Greater Manchester’s vibrant drinks scene and for the brand to have somewhere to develop and – of course – serve awesome drinks. We’ve got so many ideas and can’t wait to see the distillery space, bar and rum garden come to life over the next couple of months.”

Salford Rum Company's distillery will open in early 2022.