Camerons Brewery Expands the Head of Steam Brand With Manchester City Centre Debut

The North East brewer continues its national growth strategy with plans for its 16th Head of Steam venue, taking over a prime Northern Quarter site in Manchester City Centre

Camerons Brewery, one of the UK’s largest family-owned independent breweries, has announced plans to open a new Head of Steam venue in Manchester City Centre later this year, marking the 16th site for the craft beer brand and its first since the award-winning opening of Leeds Park Row in 2019. 

Located on the edge of the Northern Quarter in the former Cottonopolis and Lamb of Tartary site on Newton Street, the new 2,800 sq ft venue will have a capacity of 180 guests, with seating for 120, and will create 14 new jobs in the local area.

The opening forms part of Camerons’ ongoing strategy to grow the national footprint of its flagship Head of Steam craft beer brand while reflecting a strategic and sustainable approach to site investment.

Chris Soley, CEO of Camerons Brewery, said: “It’s fantastic that The Head of Steam and Camerons Brewery are back on the expansion trail. Following our successful refinance in 2024, we are delighted that The Head of Steam Manchester will be the first venue to open on this next stage of growth.”

The venue has been chosen for its central city location, with close proximity to Picadilly Station, and ability to support the brand’s distinctive design vision and guest experience. The venue will blend the building’s Grade II listed character with Head of Steam’s trademark industrial-meets-contemporary design, including exposed brickwork and a striking circular central bar.

Testament to the brand’s heritage and ethos of making craft beer accessible and enjoyable for all, the venue will feature 30 beer lines, 24 keg and 6 cask, complemented by a rotating range of cans and bottles from UK and international craft breweries. Additional guest experiences include augmented reality darts, live sports across six screens, and plans for an exciting food offering from a local operator.

Retail Director, David Scott added: “Manchester has been our number one target city for some time, and we are pleased to have finally found a venue that matches both our design vision and our demographic. At The Head of Steam, our exciting beer range and knowledgeable teams are at the very centre of what we do, so finding a site that allows for a central island bar and literally places the beer and the team at the heart of our guest experience is very exciting.”

Established in 1995 and acquired by Camerons Brewery in 2013, The Head of Steam is known for its inclusive, innovative approach to craft beer. The brand has already built a loyal following across its 15 venues in 13 cities, from Newcastle to Cardiff, including its popular Didsbury venue, which has been a firm favourite with South Manchester residents since opening in 2018.

- ENDS -

Notes to Editors:

Camerons Brewery website: https://cameronsbrewery.com

The Head of Steam website: https://www.theheadofsteam.co.uk

About The Head of Steam:

The Head of Steam is all about making craft beer accessible, relevant, and fun. 

Established in 1995, it is one of the UK’s original craft beer bars and a pioneer in the UK craft beer scene - 20 years ahead of the wider craft beer movement.

Part of Camerons Brewery, one of the UK’s largest family-owned independent breweries established in 1895, The Head of Steam currently operates 15 venues across the country, from Newcastle to Cardiff, including its popular Didsbury site in Manchester.

The brand is known for its inclusive, innovative approach to craft beer, offering an extensive range of keg, cask, bottled, and canned beers, alongside a considered selection of cocktails and spirits. 

Its venues combine industrial heritage and contemporary design, creating spaces that are perfect for after-work socialising, weekend catch-ups, and immersive craft beer experiences.

With knowledgeable teams, live sports and competitive games like augmented reality darts, The Head of Steam delivers an engaging, welcoming high street experience for a broad audience, from craft aficionados to casual visitors.

High-res images can be downloaded HERE

For more information and images or to arrange an interview, please contact

tom@scooppr.co.uk / 07738 649720

Third-party news items that are posted on the Guild website come from press releases and emails received by the Guild. These are posted as they have been received. Their publication on the Guild website is an informational service only and is neither an endorsement of the content, nor its sender, by the Guild. For enquiries, please use the contact details that can be found at the bottom of each post.