Manchester institution The Britons Protection 'needs your help' as future of 210-year-old pub hangs in balance

Bosses of a historic Manchester pub have appealed for the public's help as they face a battle to retain control. Licensee Alan Hudd and developer Mark West have run The Britons Protection for the last decade and attracted crowds of whisky and ale lovers.

The 210-year-old boozer stocks more than 360 whiskeys and changes its offering of local real ales on a regular basis. But Heineken-ran Star Pubs & Bars, which owns the Grade II-listed building, wants to add the city centre pub to it's "managed house portfolio" when the lease expires.

Currently, the Brits can stock all its own products - including the huge array of whiskeys from around the world - paying Star pubs rent for the building. However, new lease terms could mean that it would only be able to buy its products from Heineken suppliers, and Mr Hudd claims this would render the pub unrecognisable.

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Speaking to the M.E.N, he said: “The BP is known for having 360 whiskeys, it’s one of our biggest draws and what people come to the BP for. If I have to buy all my whiskey through Heineken, there are about 15 on their books.

"They’re not going to start working with the local wholesalers I use, or the wholesalers in Scotland I use. Imagine walking into the pub, and not seeing all those whiskeys there?

“I can’t see Heineken opening accounts and working with all these people for the sake of one unit. So the whiskey USP will disappear. With cask beer, Heineken don’t work with local breweries, because they’re a massive chain.

“So again, you’ll walk in and there won’t be local beer, because they’re not going to start working with local breweries for the sake of one