Popular brewer will keep contract to supply Blackburn's two main venues

King George’s Hall

Manchester independent brewer J W Lees has kept the contract to supply booze to Blackburn with Darwen Council’s two main entertainment venues.

The drinks firm based in Middleton at the end of the M66 will provide alcoholic and soft drinks and other bar products and services to the authority. The new three-year contract covers Blackburn’s King George’s Hall and Darwen Library Theatre.

J W Lees prices to the council will be fixed for 12 months and then linked to the retail price index measure of inflation. The family-run company, known to drinkers as ‘John Willie,’ produces a wide range of cask and pressurised ales at its Greengate Brewery and owns Willoughby’s wine merchants.

It held the previous contract.

In a decision notice the council’s operations director Martin Eden said: “The current contract expires on March 1 and therefore the council needed to undertake a tendering exercise. Four suppliers submitted their pricing via an electronic reverse auction.

“J W Lees Ltd finished in first place. The proposed contract period is for three years with the option to extend for a further 12 months.

“The principal purpose of the contract is to identify the ‘best fit’ supplier of all types of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The successful supplier will play a proactive partnership role in the development of a comprehensive catering service delivery to the wide range of user groups utilising the licensed catering venues of Blackburn with Darwen Council.

“The licensed premises owned and operated by the council constitute a varied commercial portfolio offering a mix of entertainment, conferencing, and catering delivery unique to the North-West of England. King George’s Hall has several commercial elements, which combine effectively to promote its position as the cultural and leisure centre of Blackburn.

“Serviced by four bars, the Main Hall can seat 1,800 and 2,300 standing for a theatre/concert event. Events vary from soul nights; cabaret nights; trade fairs; opera and classical concerts through to rock, pop and comedy.

“The Windsor Suite is a popular function and live performance venue (licensed for 750). Serviced by two bars, the Windsor Suite provides an ideal function facility for events like the nationally famous Northern Soul Nights and touring bands.

“Darwen Library Theatre is a community theatre that can seat 210 people. It has one bar for the general public and hosts a variety of events from rock and pop to afternoon variety shows and comedy nights. The cost is within existing budgets.”

A council spokeswoman declined to give the value of the contract on grounds of ‘commercial sensitivity’.