Inside Salford’s brew revolution: More than just a pint at Hideaway
Many enjoy a drink — few learn the craft. Tucked away on Kansas Avenue, Hideaway Brewing Co. is blending creativity, community and craft to offer locals more than just great beer.
I’ll admit — I’m guilty of walking past Hideaway Brewing Co. on South Langworthy Road, telling friends and colleagues, “We should go there sometime,” but never making the effort.
When I finally stepped inside the first thing that hit me was the smell of brewing — rich, yeasty, slightly sweet. Why had I waited so long?
Then the sight: beer bubbling beside the bar, kegs stacked neatly to one side, the space buzzing with quiet pride. It feels like a true microbrewery — compact, hand-built, and full of personality.
I’m welcomed by founder Dan Wright, who’s mid-chat with a pub quiz guest collecting a forgotten bag from the night before. It’s a friendly, familiar scene — casual but full of character.
Hideaway Brewing Co. began in 2020, born not of business plans but of necessity and passion. Dan was made redundant during the first Covid lockdown. What started as a garage hobby in Worsley became a serious endeavour. The brewery officially launched on 10 December 2020, joining nearby Marble Brewery, Pomona Island and Seven Brothers, making Weaste something of an unofficial brewery quarter for Salford.
“I like beer, that is where it began,” Dan smiled, “We began our journey in Worsley in 2020, when we set up the brewery in the garage with a small test pilot kit, and we went through a whole process of growth before we took the brewery (the building itself) on in 2022.
“We started with a small pilot kit,” Dan explains. “Then we took on this unit in 2022 and opened the doors in August 2023. Since then, we’ve just kept growing.”
That growth includes more than brewing — Dan’s creativity spills into every corner.
“I’ve got a very multifaceted personality. I love design, logos, recipes, concepts — all of it. Brewing gives me a space to explore that.”
But the business hasn’t come without struggle.
“Hospitality is on its knees,” he says frankly. “You don’t do this for money — you do it because you love it. But there are challenges. For example, posting a single case of beer — even just to Bolton — costs £11.50. It’s just not viable.”
So instead of chasing national sales, Dan has doubled down on community.
“We’re focusing locally. We’ve got some fans in Sheffield and we’re expanding into Lancashire, but really it’s about trust — delivering a beer, food and experience that improves in small ways every day.”
For Dan, the joy comes from connection: “When someone picks up a pint, takes a sip and smiles — that’s the best feeling in the world.”
That sense of connection is why Hideaway doesn’t call them customers. They’re fans.
“It’s like grassroots football. Everyone knows each other. Doesn’t matter if you come alone or with your family — there’s always someone to talk to.”
Dan’s philosophy of hospitality was shaped by his late father.
“My dad passed recently. He believed in welcoming people properly — treating them kindly, making their day even in the smallest way. That’s what this place is about. It’s never felt like a job.”
That belief is embedded in the walls — quite literally.
“Everything you see here was built by me,” Dan says, knocking proudly on the walls. “It was a shell when I found it. I built it with my hands — and with help from the community.”
He points around: “Eric put the lights up. My cousin built the kitchen. Anthony helped with painting. Andy and Cliff installed the CCTV... People want to be involved because they believe in it. This isn’t just my space — it’s everyone’s.”
The space reflects that. Sitting inside, it feels more like a mate’s place after school than a traditional bar. It’s a genuine ‘hideaway’ — a place to relax, recharge and connect.
“We want people to feel at home here,” Dan says. “Everyone knows my son, my wife. We greet people by name.”
As if to prove the point, a fan walks in carrying a bag of homebrew malts.
“That’s Mike — he came all the way from the other side of Manchester just to drop those off. I’d asked online if anyone had spares. That’s what our community is like.”
The brewery even hosted the Manchester Homebrew Club’s Christmas gathering — a nod to Dan’s belief in sharing knowledge and keeping the industry alive.
“We want people to support beer — not just our brewery, but the whole industry. People might say, ‘I like lager,’ but we want them to explore why. Try different lagers. Understand what makes each one unique — just like wine lovers do with a Viognier versus a Pinot Grigio.”
Hideaway gives Dan the freedom to create beers with distinct hop characteristics — helping drinkers build a beer palate just as they might with wine or coffee.
“It’s about discovery,” he says. “We want people to learn what they like and why. Even if they take that knowledge elsewhere, it’s a win for beer culture.”
But it’s not just about brewing — it’s also about belonging. The pandemic changed how people socialise. Hideaway aims to ease people back into shared spaces.
“There’s still a hangover from Covid,” Dan says. “So we try to offer reasons to stay — not just pop in on the way into town.”
“So, like last night, we had our quiz — it is a great way to come together and stay entertained — as well as our Hideaway Hoedowns, our line dancing night, but we keep thinking of these new ideas.
That means pub quizzes, line dancing nights — even food, served from their kitchen, Rusty’s, named after their mascot Rusty the Fox.
Rusty’s adds another layer of personality — and quality.
“I’ve always loved food,” Dan says, lifting the lid on a smoker filled with brisket and pork. “It’s something that brings joy. We want to serve good food that adds to the experience.”
Dan opens up the smoker to show me a wonderful, charred brisket and pork that will be pulled a part for the enjoyment of the customers. It really shows the passion and the efforts he has dedicated to his business as they continue to grow.
The goal isn’t to be the cheapest — it’s to offer value.
“People are struggling. We get that. But if we can offer real value — something people feel good spending on — we’ll survive,” says Dan.
As the menu grows, the events calendar expands, and the fanbase strengthens, Hideaway Brewing Co. is becoming impossible to overlook. Or perhaps, perfectly named — a place to hide away, just when you need it most.
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