One of Manchester’s most iconic pubs is calling on donations from punters to ensure it can re-open after lockdown. The Briton’s Protection has been serving drinkers for hundreds of years and has welcomed famous customers from Badly Drawn Boy to New York mayor Bill de Blasio over the years.
But like many pubs across the country, it now finds itself battling to survive the coronavirus lockdown. Owner Mark West says The Briton’s is not entitled to any government help, aside from the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, known as furlough.
As such, he is currently forking out thousands of pounds a month to keep his two city centre pubs - The Briton’s Protection and The City Arms, afloat. “We have furloughed staff but I have two live in managers,”