A toast to all the family

Local brewery JW Lees has been served up an award for its family roots.

Bosses were delighted to win the honour for Family Business Of The Year at the 2009 EN Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards at The Palace Hotel in Manchester.

JW Lees is one of 27 family-owned independent breweries left in the UK, and the only one to have a family member as head brewer.

The company has been around for 181 years brewing beer at its Greengate Brewery in Middleton for its 173-strong pub estate.

Managing director William Lees-Jones said: “This award means a lot to us.

“JW Lees has been a family business since we started in 1828.

“We have no intention of ever selling out, and plan to remain an independent family brewer for another 180 years — at least!”

The award comes after JW Lees signed a five-year deal with ITV earlier this year to produce “Coronation Street” premium ale.

The 4.2% draught cask ale is widely available in the JW Lees pub estate across the North West, and the plan is for it to be available all over the UK in time for the world famous soap’s 50th anniversary next year.

Corrie beer is also available in 500ml glass bottles in Tesco, Asda and Booths supermarkets across the region.