Manchester is packed full of some of the oldest pubs in the UK, and whilst there’s nothing we love more than a pint, a Guinness is even better. Luckily for us, there are plenty of amazing Irish pubs offering the black stuff, and one is The Shamrock in Ancoats – which has been officially given a new name.
As work now begins on a £1.8 million refurbishment of the one Manchester’s oldest pubs, The Shamrock, it will now be called ‘The Spinners Rest‘, after owners Joseph Holt invited locals to make the choice. The name was selected through a public vote and pays tribute to the mill workers who once lived and worked in the area.
The pub dates back to 1808 and has long been a local institution, being taken over by the family-run Joseph Holt brewery in 2019. Following delays due to the pandemic, the 176-year-old family business has now begun a major renovation of the building, which is expected to reopen early next year, marking its transformation from a traditional Irish pub into a fully-fledged Joseph Holt venue.
Richard Kershaw, CEO of Joseph Holt, said: “As a family business with deep roots in Manchester, our pubs are very much at the heart of the communities they serve. That’s why we invited the people who matter most – our customers – to help choose a name that reflects the pub’s new chapter.
“This is an exciting new chapter for The Shamrock. As it’s reborn as The Spinners Rest, we believe it will become a vibrant and welcoming hub for the Ancoats community – just as it always has been, but with a fresh look towards the future.”
The Shamrock has long been a gathering place for Manchester’s Irish and Italian communities, particularly during the early 20th century. However, the Ancoats neighbourhood has seen a dramatic transformation in recent years and is now a thriving hub of bars, restaurants, and modern city centre living.
Recognising this evolution, the Joseph Holt team felt it was time to give the much-loved pub a fresh identity that aligns with the area’s changing character. The extensive top-to-bottom refurbishment will preserve the building’s historic charm, especially as it sits within a designated conservation area. The project also includes an expansion of the site – which boasts one of the few beer gardens in the neighbourhood.
📍 The Spinners Rest, originally The Shamrock, is located at 17 Bengal St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6AQ.