The future of one of Manchester’s oldest pubs has been secured, following a long-running legal battle with brewing giant, Heineken.

The Briton’s Protection, which is one of only three surviving city centre buildings to have stood near the site of the Peterloo Massacre, has been locked in a legal dispute over its application for a new tenancy. This follows a decision by Punch – a subsidiary of Heineken – not to renew the tenant’s lease in 2021.

The two sides have now come to a ‘positive resolution’, ending the legal battle and securing the future of the iconic pub. Pannone Corporate acted on behalf of BP Leisure Limited, owned by Frank Walsh and Mark West, providing litigation support to the pub’s owners in its bid to renew the pub’s lease.

Pannone’s Real Estate Litigation team was led by partner, Gemma Staples, with support from Jack Taylor (solicitor) and Jiho Yu (paralegal).

Gemma Staples commented: “The Briton’s Protection is a Manchester institution, with genuine historical status. BP Leisure has worked tirelessly over the last three years to secure the pub’s future. Pannone is delighted to have worked alongside them to reach an amicable agreement with Punch.

Mark West added: “This is very much a David and Goliath moment for the Manchester pub and demonstrates the value that institutions such as The Briton’s Protection bring to the regional leisure and hospitality scene.”