The Briton's Protection is a historic, Grade II listed public house in Manchester, England.[1] Various dates are given for its establishment; the pub's own website says 1806, although its bicentenary was not celebrated until 2011.[2] It was listed in Pigot and Dean's New Directory of Manchester & Salford for 1821 and 1822.[2]
| The Briton's Protection | |
|---|---|
 The pub in 2008, as a Tetley's house | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Public house |
| Address | 50 Great Bridgewater Street |
| Town or city | Manchester |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 53°28′30″N 2°14′50″W / 53.474977°N 2.247279°W |
| Designations | |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Official name | The Britons Protection Public House |
| Designated | 16 March 1990 |
| Reference no. | 1292050 |
The pub's name recalls its use as an army recruiting venue, as do a set of murals inside the pub.[3]
The Peterloo Massacre happened nearby, and there are unconfirmed reports that some of the injured were brought into the pub and laid out on the bar to be treated.[4]
The brick building, with a slate roof, was granted Grade II listed status, offering protection from unauthorised alteration or demolition, in 1990.[1] The largely intact 1930s interior has six public rooms.[1] Other notable architectural features include a terrazzo-tiled corridor floor, moulded ceiling, original 1930s urinals and the serving hatch through which people in the two rear rooms are served beer from the front bar.[5]
As well as serving real ale, it is known for offering over 360 whiskies.[6]
For many years, the pub was operated as a Tetley house,[2] then by Punch Taverns, before being taken over in 2014 by an independent operator and refurbished.[7] The pub was voted Best Pub in Manchester in the Pride of Manchester Awards in both 2008–2009 and 2009–2010.[6] It is on the Campaign for Real Ale's National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors.[5]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b c Historic England. "The Britons Protection Public House (Grade II) (1292050)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
- ^ a b c "The Briton's Protection". Manchester History. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
- ^ Smith, Mike (8 November 2012). "The origins of Manchester pub names". Cheshire Life. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
- ^ Slater, Chris (16 August 2022). "Peterloo campaigners hold protest at Britons Protection pub saying new skyscraper next to it would 'trample on our history'". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
- ^ a b Brandwood, Geoff (2013). Britain's Best Real Heritage Pubs. CAMRA Books. p. 99. ISBN 978-1-85249-304-2.
- ^ a b "The Briton's Protection Manchester". Manchester Bars. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
- ^ Blackett, L'Oreal. "City Arms Takes Over Britons Protection". Manchester Confidential. Retrieved 4 December 2015.