Mystery surrounds unopened can of beer found in Greater Manchester pub roof after 30 years

Owners of a Greater Manchester pub have been left scratching their heads after an unopened can of beer from more than 30 years ago was found it the pub's roof. The can of Joseph Holt bitter was found in the ceiling of the Starkey Arms during a major refurbishment of the premises.

What has compounded the mystery is that beer makers Joseph Holt stopped producing their bitter in a can over three decades ago. It's now only available in draft or on sale in mini kegs.

However rather than bin the tin of beer, it has been preserved as a piece of history and is now in a display cabinet behind the bar of the Heywood pub on Manchester Road.

Marc Broady, estates manager for Joseph Holt which owns the Starkey Arms commented: “We just couldn't work out how a can of bitter got up there in the ceiling above the bar.

"If it had been opened we could have dismissed it as litter - the result of a bygone builder having a crafty drink. But the fact that it was unopened is a mystery.

"And since we last brewed bitter in cans over 30 years ago, it's quite a relic from our past.”

The Starkey Arms, which was bought by Joseph Holt in 1994, has just undergone a £250,000 full renovation both inside and out.

The refurbishment includes opening up the bar and lounge into one open plan area. And along with the beer can, to commemorate its long history, black and white pictures of the pub are now hung on the walls.

An illuminated Joseph Holt sign - the only one in the estate - has also been erected outside the pub.

Joseph Holt bitter has been made to the same recipe since the brewery was first established by weaver's son, Joseph Holt in 1849.

The 175-year-old brewery, which runs 127 pubs across the North West, has remained in the same family for six