When Paul Heaton — former frontman of The Housemartins and The Beautiful South — marked his 60th birthday by putting money behind the bar of several pubs across the UK, one of his chosen spots was very close to home: The Orion in Withington.
For the South Manchester native, it was a heartfelt tribute to the kind of community pub that shaped his life: warm, unpretentious, and full of character.
Now the much loved pub — popular with both locals and the ever-changing student crowd — has re-opened following a £300,000 facelift.
Owned by family brewers Joseph Holt, the Orion has undergone a sympathetic revamp designed to preserve its unique appeal. The makeover retains the pub’s famously warm and unpretentious atmosphere, but with some welcome updates.
The renovation blends the traditional and the contemporary. It includes heritage colour schemes, retro wallpaper, timber parquet flooring, and improved lighting throughout.
New additions such as upgraded toilets, indoor and outdoor TVs with full Sky Sports, and refreshed signage featuring old-style lettering on the original glass, give the space a renewed energy while honouring its roots.
“Reviewers have previously described the Orion as ‘Withington at its finest, with students and locals supping pints side by side’,” said Denis Maddocks, estates executive at Joseph Holt.
“We were determined to refresh the pub while preserving the character and warmth that make it special.”
