Left to right at the Ape and Apple presentation are: Gerald Hayes (Royal Society of Chemistry historical group), Prof David Garner, Dr Diana Leitch, Dr Frank Mair (chair of RSC Manchester section), Dr Marloes Peeters (MMU), Dr James Sumner (University of Manchester), and Richard Kershaw (chief executive, Joseph Holt Brewery)
The Joseph Holt Brewery has been honoured with civic plaque presentations for two of its pubs: the Crown Hotel, Horwich, and Ape and Apple, Manchester.
The Crown Hotel, established in 1886, has been a pub at the heart of the community and witnessed many world events. It has been awarded its civic plaque by the Horwich Town Council as recognition for the pub’s 231-year tenure and its contribution to the local community.
The Crown has won many awards in recent years, including Horwich in Bloom six times. It has been recognised for its quality ales in The Good Beer Guide for 18 consecutive years.
Pub managers, Gary and Beverley Parker, who have been running the pub for 19 years, were thrilled to hear the pub was being honoured.
Horwich town mayor, James Bullock, mayoress, Dorothy Bullock, and members of the town council marked the installation of the new plaque, along with Gary and Beverley and the pub’s area manager, Dave Bone.
The Royal Society of Chemistry created a new blue plaque this year commemorating one of Manchester’s famous sons, John Dalton. His scientific findings in the early 19th century revolutionised modern chemical thought, influenced an important branch of anatomy and pioneered understanding of the weather. The John Dalton commemorative plaque has been installed on one of Joseph Holt’s city centre pubs, the Ape and Apple.
David Garner, president of the Royal Society of Chemistry from 2008 to 2010, who unveiled the plaque, said: “I thoroughly enjoyed my return to Manchester, especially as this was to pay tribute to the great scientist John Dalton, and unveil an RSC National Chemical Landmark plaque celebrating the 250th anniversary of his birth. This plaque is now available for the public to view on the street named after him.”
Joseph Holt chief executive, Richard Kershaw, said: “There’s something rather appropriate about the fact that my great-great grandfather, Joseph Holt, walked the streets of Manchester at the same time as John Dalton.
“What better way, therefore, to celebrate 250 years since the birth of John Dalton than to have a plaque honouring him on the outside of a Joseph Holt city centre pub.”
