Jw Lees

Record sales of £94.3m reported by JW Lees

04-Apr-2024 By Shwetali Sapte

JW Lees has achieved record sales of £94.3m in the year to March 2024, according to managing director William Lees-Jones.

JW Lees reports record turnover of £88m

22-Dec-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Manchester-based brewer JW Lees has reported record turnover for the year to 31 March 2023 with revenue at £88m (up £13m (16%) on the previous year).

New Year 2024

Industry hopes and fears: Part one

20-Dec-2023 By Ed Bedington

With 2024 looming, we spoke to a number of leading industry figures to get their thoughts on what the year ahead will hold.

JW Lees takes over ex-Marston's site

26-Jun-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Manchester-based operator and brewer JW Lees has announced the completion of its purchase of the Pointing Dog pub from Marston’s.

JW Lees plans to plough £6m into estate

08-Jul-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Family brewer and pub group JW Lees has announced it is looking to invest £6m into 24 of the pubs in its existing portfolio.

Coronavirus Recovery: 'We have not yet got to a point where we are close to paying off the losses'

13-Sep-2021 By Michelle Perrett

Trading has been mixed but operators are unlikely to know the full extent of the reopening until next April, William Lees-Jones, managing director of JW Lees Brewery has predicted.

Jobs round-up

Board changes at JW Lees, Former Liberation MD launches consultancy, bar staff vaccines

31-Mar-2021 By Stuart Stone

Two family members have stepped down from roles at north west-based brewer and pub operator JW Lees, while the former managing director of Channel Island-based Liberation Group, Christine Oxford, has launched an independent support service for businesses.

Sector demands reopening date from Gov as sales fell by half in 2020

10-Feb-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Trade leaders and industry body the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) have pleaded for a clear date and plan for when and how pubs can reopen.

Millions of pounds lost in unpaid rent

22-Jan-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

At least £90m worth of rent has gone unpaid to pub companies due to the coronavirus pandemic over the past year.

MA's Review of the week

Government’s ‘nanny knows best’ attitude based on no evidence

23-Oct-2020 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington spoke to JW Lees MD, William Lees-Jones, to discuss the big issues from the news this week.

JW Lees continues its north-west expansion

01-Apr-2019 By Emily Hawkins

Manchester-based brewery JW Lees has continued its expansion in the north-west with the acquisition of a Cheshire coaching inn to its portfolio.

Professor Brian Cox beer signals bigger brewing focus for JW Lees

25-Sep-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

Brewer and pub operator JW Lees will refocus on its brewing business, and has ambitions to push out 13 new beers a year from its microbrewery, with Professor Cox’s Cosmic Brew signalling the move.

JW Lees to strengthen range with three new beers

30-Oct-2017 By James Beeson

Sixth generation family brewer JW Lees has announced three new beers, a series of collaborations with Manchester brewers and a rebrand of its core range.

JW Lees 'hungry' for acquisitions in the north-west

03-Oct-2017 By Michelle Perrett

JW Lees, the brewer and pub operator, has reported record turnover of £67.7m for the year to 31 March 2017 and said it is hungry for acquisitions in the north-west.

Property

December's done deals

04-Jan-2017 By Liam Coleman

An additional pub for the JW Lees estate and an iconic community pub are among the biggest and best pub deals in December.

Manchester’s breweries old and new join forces

07-Apr-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Old and new brewers JW Lees and Cloudwater Brew Co have come together for the first time to create a new beer for Manchester Beer Week later this spring.

Technology

Interactive 'history of beer' timeline launched by JW Lees

01-Mar-2016 By James Evison

Manchester brewer has launched The History of Beer – an interactive timeline depicting the story of beer.

The National Living Wage will lead to more pub closures

09-Oct-2015 By William Lees-Jones

When George Osborne announced the introduction of the National Living Wage in July he surprised everybody. It came out of the blue and was a shameless political coup from a recently-elected government aimed at scoring points over other political parties.

Pete Brown: Sexism turns industry ugly

14-Jan-2015 By Pete Brown

It’s time to speak out against antiquated and offensive views says Pete Brown.

Why sexist beer marketing isn't just "banter"

13-Nov-2014 By Robyn Black

“Is banter now dead?”“It’s just a bit of a bar room giggle.”“Taking ourselves far too seriously. Sad”

Roy Ellis joins JW Lees board as adviser

30-Sep-2014 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Roy Ellis, founder and ex-chief executive of Inventive Leisure, is to join the management board of JW Lees, the Manchester-based brewer and pub operator, as an external adviser, as the company accelerates its growth plans.

Former JW Lees manager charged for £350,000 fraud

03-Jul-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The former manager of a JW Lees pub has been charged with fraud after the brewer found that over £350,000 had gone missing from one of its West Yorkshire pubs.

Statutory Code: JW Lees claims mandatory free of tie option would be 'disastrous'

20-Dec-2013 By John Harrington

The introduction of a mandatory guest beer option for pub tenants could be “disastrous” and “endanger the viability” of mid-sized brewers while reducing choice behind the bar, JW Lees has told the Government.

The Big Interview: William Lees-Jones, JW Lees

25-Oct-2013 By Phil Mellows

JW Lees is poised for growth thanks to developing the best bits of tradition and not being afraid to close failing pubs, managing director William Lees-Jones tells Phil Mellows. Free pies have helped, too.

Mancs for the memories

15-Oct-2013 By Pete Brown

How JW Lees got innovative and turned to a group of cool, anorak-clad dancers to help promote Manchester Pale Ale.

JW Lees launches Manchester Pale Ale

18-Apr-2013 By Robyn Black

Manchester brewery JW Lees is launching a new beer, which it hopes will do for the brewery what London Pride has done for Fuller’s.

Lees acquires Blue Moon pub

10-Aug-2011 By John Harrington

Manchester-based brewer and pub operator JW Lees has bought the freehold of a West Yorkshire pub from Blue Moon Pub Company, the firm run by former...

JW Lees wins live-in manager appeal

29-Jul-2011 By Gurjit Degun

Manchester brewery JW Lees has won a landmark employment tribunal case over paying live-in managers for their off-duty time, which could have been a...

Millstone is top JW Lees tenanted pub

15-Jun-2011 By Adam Pescod

A Manchester licensee has credited "good standards" after he was named Tenant of the Year at JW Lees' Pub of the Year awards on 7 June. Gerard Ford,...

Soul-searching and surveys can have their advantages

14-Mar-2011 By Hamish Champ

Hats off to JW Lees. Many operators poll their tenants to find out what they think of them, but few have been prepared to publish the results with as...

JW Lees launches 10-point tenants' pledge

08-Mar-2011 By Ewan Turney

JW Lees has launched a 10-point pledge to help bolster its relationship with its tenants and bring about a "cultural shift" at the company. An...

JW Lees introduces 10-point tenants' pledge

08-Mar-2011 By Hamish Champ

JW Lees, the Manchester-based brewer, has created a 10-point pledge to its tenants after a survey highlighted several areas for improvement. The...

Simon Cross joins JW Lees board

25-Nov-2010 By Ewan Turney

JW Lees has promoted Simon Cross to the board as finance director — the first non-family director in 30 years. Cross joined JW Lees as director of...

JW Lees buys two ex-Mercury pubs

24-May-2010 By Ewan Turney

North West brewer and pub operator JW Lees has acquired two ex-Mercury Inns pubs out of administration. JW Lees bought the freeholds of the Red Lion...

Coronation Street Ale joins soap's celebrations

10-Feb-2010 By Sonya Hook

Coronation Street fans will be celebrating 50 years of the show this year with a Coronation Street Ale from Manchester-brewer JW Lees, a pie from...

Marston's and JW Lees delay price rises

04-Feb-2010 By The PMA Team

Two more tenanted pub companies have pledged to help licensees by keeping a lid on price rises. Marston's tenanted division boss Alistair Darby...

JW Lees freezes prices

28-Jan-2010 By John Harrington

Manchester brewer JW Lees plans to freeze the wholesale and retail price of its beers during 2010. The brewer said it would be "cynical" to raise...

JW Lees to roll out value carvery concept

20-Jul-2009 By Tony Halstead

The brewer is looking to roll out more if its new Cask & Carvery concepts after successful trials at two pubs.

Hosts 'kept in dark' as Punch sells pubs

04-Jun-2009 By Gemma McKenna

Two licensees have accused Punch of selling their pubs "behind their backs" to regional brewers while they were busy still bidding for the freeholds....

Coronation Street ale rollout

07-May-2009 By Robyn Lewis

Manchester brewer JW Lees is set to launch its Coronation Street Ale in bottles from 1 June this year. The company signed a five-year deal with ITV...

JW Lees buys 10 pubs from Punch Taverns

06-May-2009 By Hamish Champ

Manchester brewer and pub operator JW Lees has bought 10 freehold pubs from Punch Taverns, the largest single acquisition by the group for more than...

Job changes at JW Lees

29-May-2008

JW Lees has unveiled key changes to its management board. Simon Cross has become director of finance and Chris Connolly has been appointed director...

JW Lees: "We're serious about growth

28-May-2008

JW Lees claims a series of management changes show it is "serious about growth when most companies are cutting costs". Simon Cross is taking over as...

JW Lees unveils management board shake-up

27-May-2008

JW Lees has announced a number of changes to its management board today

Sutcliffe sparks hike controversy

10-Apr-2008 By John Harrington john.harrington@william-reed.co.u

MA interview hits national headlines The damaging impact of alcohol-duty hikes on pubs has been thrust into the media spotlight after controversial...

Careers Focus: On course to run a pub

25-Mar-2008

Now everyone, from barperson to chef, has the chance to run their own pub - thanks to Manchester brewer JW Lees's new Superstars programme.Any...

Delivering a good deal

20-Mar-2008

Middleton-based JW Lees is always on the lookout for quality pubs to add to its estate, says Tony Halstead Twelve months ago William Lees-Jones was...

JW Lees unveils new seasonal cask range

31-Jan-2008

JW Lees is launching three new cask beers and has revealed plans to introduce a full range of seasonal and special occasion beers for the first time,...

JW Lees launches three new brews

28-Jan-2008

Manchester brewer has launched three new cask beers and announced plans for a range of seasonal brews

William Lees-Jones

10-Jan-2008

William Lees-Jones, managing director, JW Lees Corporate goal for the year? To still be here this time next year, believing that JW Lees is a great...