Generation 5000
This June, we achieved a landmark moment in our history, brewing three special edition beers using Generation 5000 yeast – a key ingredient that’s been re-pitched 5000 times since 1967. JW Lees yeast is a special, unique ingredient that adds rare character and flavour to our beers that can’t be reproduced or replicated anywhere else.
The Family Brewery since 1828
The journey began in 1828 when our founder, retired cotton manufacturer, John Lees, decided to buy land at Middleton Junction and set up Greengate Brewery. Since then, we’ve stayed true to our roots and brew all our beers right here in Manchester. We continue to grow each year and to this day, we have over 140 pubs, inns & hotels across the North West of England and North Wales. We’re always on the lookout for new pubs to add to our estate and are keen to create the best pubs in the community.
Find Your Local
Looking for something more specific?
View our pubs, inns & hotels
Our Brewery
We put the brewery at the heart of our business and brew six cask ales as well as two lagers, five keg beers and six limited edition seasonal cask ales, which are available throughout different times of the year. We also have the sole UK distribution rights for Bohemia regent from Czech Republic. Willoughby’s is our wines & spirits company and we stock over 500 wines from all over the world.
The JW Lees shop is hosted and fulfilled by Best of British Beers
The Boilerhouse
The Boilerhouse is where we brew our small batch beers. It’s a place to foster a spirit of innovation that has always run deep within our DNA. We’re on a mission to explore distinctive, challenging new beers – brewing them with integrity in just the right amounts – with nearly two centuries of brewing heritage behind us.
Seasonal Offer
SUMMER BREAKS from £62.50 pp per night
Book a relaxing break this Spring time in one of our cosy inns and hotels. Enjoy the best of the North West and North Wales by the beach or making the most of the country air as the weather starts to brighten up. Our inns and hotels offer the prefect retreats for a break away and include a generous dinner allowance, giving you the chance to unwind after a busy day, with good food and hospitality, followed by a comfortable nights sleep and a hearty breakfast.
Business that lives, breathes & thrives
Because pubs aren’t JUST another business. They’re about keeping friends in touch, uniting families and providing a place for communities to grow – doing something that actually matters. As a JW Lees Pub Partner, you’ll have the freedom to run your own business and the rewards that come with that, but you’ll also be doing something you love every single day.