Manchester's legendary pub The Britons Protection is set for major change after long-running legal battle

One of Greater Manchester's oldest pubs is set for a major change. The current licensee will be handing the running of the legendary boozer back to the landlord Star Pubs - a subsidiary of brewing giant Heineken - this week.

From January 8, Star Pubs, which already owns owns the Britons Protection building, will take back control of the pub from the current licensee, it has been confirmed. The pub will also be closed until January 16 for 'infrastructure' upgrades.

A spokesperson for Star Pubs said: "This short closure will allow us to make infrastructure upgrades, such as installing wi-fi cabling and tills, as well as enable us to carry out renovations to the upholstery, flooring and toilets and redecorate the function and meeting room spaces. We'll also be undertaking sustainability works to improve the energy efficiency of the building.

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"These improvements will be in keeping with the look and feel of the pub and maintain its historic status."

The pub, which is said to have served as a refuge for the injured during the Peterloo Massacre and was used as an army recruitment centre during the Napoleonic Wars, is part of the the city's rich historical tapestry and its future has been the source of a long-running legal battle between its current licensees and the brewery.

Last year, it was reported that those in charge of the day-to-day running of the pub, licensee Mark West and Allan Hudd, were set to appear in court as part of a hearing to consider its application for a new tenancy. It came after Star Pubs chose not to renew Mark and Allan's lease in 2022, sparking fears over the future of the pub.

The pub has operated as a