JW Lees negotiating to open a 'Duttons' bar and restaurant in Number One Riverside

The unoccupied retail space on the ground floor of Number One Riverside

JW Lees, the family brewery company based in Middleton, is negotiating with Rochdale Council to open a 'Duttons' bar and restaurant in Number One Riverside.

In what would be a major boost for Rochdale town centre, the brewery has been approached to locate Duttons in the unoccupied retail space on the ground floor of the building.

A spokesperson for JW Lees said: “Following the success of Duttons in Chester and Manchester we are looking for fantastic new locations around the North West of England to grow the Duttons brand.

"Cheetham and Mortimer, the agents for One Riverside, have approached us to bring Duttons to Rochdale.”

Mark Widdup, Director of Economy and Environment at Rochdale Council, said: “The ground floor unit in Number One Riverside has fantastic potential.”

Duttons is very popular for wining and dining, its gourmet food offerings use fresh, seasonal produce, sourced locally whenever possible, on a menu that has a wide variety of choices, including vegetarian options, making it ideal for morning coffee, lunch, a post-work drink or a candle-lit evening meal.

Being part of the JW Lees family means patrons of Duttons can also enjoy the superb cask ales and beers for which JW Lees is renowned.

Founded in 1828 JW Lees is a sixth-generation family business which employs just over 1,000 people, 140 at the brewery and site at Middleton Junction and 865 in its 35 managed pubs, inns and hotels, as well as letting a further 142 tied pubs to self-employed tenants.