About Us

This is what the Wigan branch of CAMRA wrote about us: -

Thursday, 3rd August 2006 became a momentous day for Ian and Donna at The Anvil in Wigan…..after months of hard work, patience, and lots of red tape, beer from their very own Allgates Brewery began to flow at their pub in Dorning Street, Wigan. As such, Allgates became the third Wigan brewery following on from Mayflower and Rosebridge.

Test Brew #1 (3.8%) was a light, hoppy and crispy bitter that went down well with the locals. Their second beer wasn’t far behind and was named ‘Napoleons Retreat’. Those of you with advancing years and long memories may recall the Mike Harding poem from which this beer derived its name – “Napoleon’s Retreat from Wigan”. For those with an even longer memory may recall the storyline in which Napoleon didn’t venture past the ‘gates of Wigan’. So alas, Napoleon probably never made it to The Anvil.

‘Napoleons Retreat’ (3.9%) was a mixture of 3 types of malt together with 3 varieties of hop. A complicated brew that struck another chord with the locals. It made its appearance in The Anvil at 5pm on Monday, 7th August and 72 pints later, the barrel was sold out by 11pm that same evening.

Test Brew #2 (3.8%) quickly followed in Napoleon’s footsteps and was available on tap the following day. This was a light citrus beer that gained popularity with the locals, which assured another quick sell-out.

Other brews are already in the pipeline (literally). ‘Bright Blade’ is a mellow 4.0% bitter with some hints of grapefruit. Other planned brews include beers with hints of coriander and another with hints of lemon & ginger.

John Woodhead is the head brewer behind these masterful brews. The brewery is housed in a listed building overlooking the parish church gardens in the centre of Wigan. Despite it’s ancient surroundings, the brewery is a high-tech modern operation consisting of a brand new 5-barrel plant, which is capable of producing 35 barrels per week.

A bar has been installed in the brewery with wonderful views over the parish church gardens. A great place to sample the Allgates brews. Brewery trips for up to 30 people are expected to commence in September 2006 and are likely to include the traditional Wigan supper of ‘pies and peas’.

The Allgate beers are rapidly gaining popularity and have already featured at The Crown in Worthington ; the Ship and Mitre in Liverpool ; the Bridge Bier Huis in Burnley ; the Crescent at Salford and the Smithfield Hotel in Manchester. During August, Allgate beers will also be making an appearance at the Black Horse Beer Festival in Darwen and the Sutton Oak Beer Festival in St Helens.

The initial brews are to be named after historical Wigan connections. These include :-

‘Bright Blade’ was the nickname of King Oswald (latterly to become St Oswald) who was slain at the Battle of Maserfelth, reputedly near Ashton-in-Makerfield

‘Young Pretender’ to celebrate the visit of Bonnie Prince Charlie to Wigan in 1745. For the history buffs, he actually lodged on Hallgate for a while after losing the Battle of Derby.

’50 Marks’ - the value (per year) of the benefice for Wigan Borough in 1291, shortly after the town received the royal charter in 1246.

The brewing process is now in full flow at Allgates Brewery, who are keen to engage with free houses across the region that may be interested in stocking their beers.

With thanks to Wigan CAMRA - http://www.wigancamra.org.uk

Why Allgates?

Why the name All Gates?? - Well- what do you call a brewery in Wigan??
We wanted something linked to the history of Wigan- and one aspect of Wigan’s history is still in evidence all around the town, and links it to the surrounding areas.

The suffix ‘gata’ derives from the Old Norse, meaning a road. Three roads linked Roman Wigan (Coccium) with other settlements. So Standishgate was the road to Standish!. The road that led to Manchester is now known as Millgate- because it passed the rector’s watermill on the River Douglas. Wallgate linked Wigan to Wilderspool, the name referring to the town well, situated in front of the present Post Office- and within about 50 meters of AllGates Brewery!! (no- we haven’t found the well yet!!)

Other ‘Gates’ include Hallgate (linking the Parish Church with Wigan Hall) and Stairgate which it is assumed linked Millgate to the now diverted River Douglas via a series of steps!. Mesnesgate became Hope Street, and Turfgate now consists solely of the footbridge over the railway near Wigan North-Western station. Bishopsgate, Churchgate and Marketgate are relatively more recent addtions to the ‘Gates of Wigan’

Whats all this got to do with a brewery??? - well the Gates of Wigan link the town centre to its surrrounding areas. We hope that AllGates Brewry will similarly link the town centre of Wigan with its surroundings, as our fine ales find their way into local pubs, and that AllGates Brewery will become part of Wigan’s history- just as the gates of Wigan have!! - Convincing or what??

The Gates of Wigan have a long and detailed history, but also feature in Mike Harding’s poem-

‘Napolean’s Retreat from Wigan’
So they traipsed through t' slush round slag heaps,
And up by t' canal and by t' pier
Till they come to a door-mat in t' snow sayin' "BOG OFF"
And Boney said "Ey up lads we're there!!"

But the gates of Wigan were bolted tight,
Said Boney, "Ooo what a pest"
And he had another chew of his fingernails,
And stuck his hand up his vest.

There he stood at the gates of Wigan,
Frozen tears ran in lumps down his chin
And he kicked on t' front door with his wellies in temper,
And shouted "Come on then lerrus in!!! "

But there on the front door of Wigan,
A notice he read wi' a groan
"WE HEARD AS 'OW YOU WERE COMIN',
SO WE FLITTED, THERE'S NO ONE AT 'OME."

Boney he were right blazin',
But Wigan were blazin' also
'Cos Lord Mayor 'ad left chip pan on t' gas ring,
And Wigan were all aglow.

With thanks to Mike Harding for his permission to include this extract from his poem, the full version of which can be viewed at http://www.mikeharding.co.uk/articles/napoleon.html