Award-winning city centre pub and boutique hotel, The Abel Heywood, is toasting 10 years of success.

Based in Manchester’s vibrant Northern Quarter, the Abel Heywood first opened its doors in December 2014 following the acquisition of the building by Salford-based brewery and pub retailer Hydes.

Experienced general manager Alex Allan has run the Abel Heywood since it opened. Hydes appointed Alex to manage The Abel Heywood after it originally acquired the premises as an almost derelict, fire-damaged former textile warehouse and invested millions transforming it into the eye-catching landmark building that it is today.

Alex, who has worked for Hydes for 14 years having run a previous establishment in the city, was responsible for originally ‘scouting’ the rundown building on Turner Street and bringing it to the attention of the Hydes management team, who were looking for suitable pub premises to acquire and invest in.

The past decade has seen the Abel Heywood go from strength to strength, becoming one of the first city centre pubs to offer boutique hotel accommodation in Manchester.

The Abel Heywood was the first pub in Hydes’ estate to benefit from Hydes’ multi-million investment fund in 2024, undergoing a £200k refurbishment in February. Over the past two years Hydes has committed over £10 million worth of investment into refurbishing pubs across its estate.

The refurbishment included the installation of new booth seating, a fresh new update of the existing Victorian-style decor, new external signage, lighting and a full revamp of the bar areas.

The adjoined 15-room boutique hotel, which consistently has a 99% occupancy rate, will undergo a makeover in January.

General manager Alex Allan, commented: “I’m immensely proud of everything we’ve achieved over the past ten years here at The Abel Heywood and looking forward to building on this decade of success. We’ve come through some very challenging trading conditions in that time and have exciting plans in the pipeline. We continue to be a key part of the city centre’s vibrant cultural and social scene, showcasing what Manchester has to offer.

“The substantial investment made earlier this year by Hydes has really paid off and we’ve had a fantastic year attracting customers old and new through a packed programme of events, a wide range of quality ales, traditional home cooked food served daily and impeccable service from a dedicated team.”

Named after the 19th century mayor of Manchester, The Abel Heywood is no stranger to life in the limelight. It was used as a pub backdrop in the hit nineties BBC television series ‘Cutting It’, has appeared on numerous programmes since and counts celebrities such as Christopher Eccleston, Shaun Ryder, Dave Spikey and the Courteeners amongst its list of famous patrons. The upstairs bar is occasionally used as a green room for nearby filming productions and has welcomed actors including Alison Steadman and Robson Green.

Adam Mayers, managing director of Hydes, commented: “The Abel Heywood is in a strong position to build on the success and reputation it has worked so hard to achieve since we first acquired it a decade ago. In that time, it has firmly established itself as a landmark pub and hotel in the Northern Quarter becoming a characterful hub for locals and visitors to the city for the past 10 years.”

Hydes, with its brewery in Media City, Salford, was formed in 1863 and supplies beers to wholesalers, pub companies and other brewers throughout the UK and a pub retailing estate of 40 pubs across the North West of England and North Wales.