Pints of Boddies are back at the pumps in pubs across the region from todayThe first pint of Boddingtons was pulled in Manchester city centre today fresh from its brewery reboot(Image: JW Lees)

The legendary Cream of Manchester is back – with the first pint of the rebooted Boddingtons Cask ale pulled in the city centre this morning.

The first cask-conditioned pint of Boddingtons commercially available for 13 years was officially pulled by William Lees-Jones, Managing Director of JW Lees, at the Founder’s Hall in Manchester on Friday.

It marks the start of a much-anticipated revival of the Manchester brand that became known as the Cream of Manchester with a high profile advertising campaign in the 1990s, with famous northern lines like “By ‘Eck it’s gorgeous” becoming synonymous with the beer.

The new Boddies launch followed a secret preview for beer writers and CAMRA officials at JW Lees Brewery in Middleton Junction two days ago on Wednesday afternoon.

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Loyal fans and new drinkers alike will now be able to raise a “proper pint of Boddingtons”, not only right in the city where its story began, but in its rightful place on cask amid the big comeback.

The first pint pulled in Manchester on Friday at the Founder’s Hall on Albert Square(Image: JW Lees)

Thanks to a new partnership between Budweiser Brewing Group and Manchester’s own JW Lees, the city’s oldest brewer, Boddingtons Cask Ale will once again be hand-pulled in pubs across the region.

Brewed and distributed under licence by JW Lees, the revival puts the focus on cask beer; served fresh from the cellar, naturally conditioned, and “hand-pulled to perfection”.

The brewery’s aim is to put “Boddingtons back where it belongs: in the hands of beer lovers”, especially across its heartland of the North West but also nationally across the UK.

Founder’s Hall on Albert Square has become the flagship pub to lead the relaunch, alongside a number of premium freehold pubs across the North-West.

Early champions of the brand who will be pouring this weekend in Manchester include Stables Tavern, Corbiere’s, Sams Chop House, The Circus Tavern, Oxford Road Tap, Piccadilly Tap and Victoria Tap.

Pints of Boddies are back(Image: JW Lees)

First brewed in 1778, Boddington’s became more than just a beer – it became part of Manchester’s soul and a symbol of Northern pride.

From those iconic adverts to its famous creamy head, the pint left its mark far beyond the bar. Though it disappeared from cask pumps in 2012, its legacy endured.

Now, the homecoming brings Boddington’s back to cask, brewed in the North West using traditional methods and a new 4.0% ABV recipe, with bosses saying it is “designed to capture everything drinkers loved about the original while giving it a fresh twist for today”.

William Lees-Jones from JW Lees raises his pint glass(Image: JW Lees)

William Lees-Jones, Managing Director of JW Lees, pulled that first pint in Manchester on Friday and said: “When I joined JW Lees in 1994, Boddingtons was ‘The Cream of Manchester’ and we were in awe of their position in leading the cask beer revolution.

“We’re proud to bring it back home, starting with Founder’s Hall, and we’re planning to restore Boddington’s as one of the UK’s leading premium cask beers, particularly here in the North West.”

Brian Perkins, President of AB InBev Western Europe, added: “We are excited to relaunch Boddington’s Cask Ale in partnership with JW Lees, combining one of the UK’s most iconic beer brands with one of its most respected brewers. Founder’s Hall will be the first step, and we see real growth potential as more venues come on board.”

JW Lees employs over 1,600 people and operates 49 managed pubs, inns and hotels, alongside 87 pubs run by partners.

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