Lees & Co (Brewers) Ltd is a brewery and pub company in Middleton, Greater Manchester, that has produced real ale since 1828.

[4] Also in 2018, the company announced a collaboration with physicist Brian Cox, an amber ale entitled Cosmic Brew.

[5] In 2018, the brewery converted the old boiler house on site into a microbrewery in order to create more experimental small barrelage productions.

Overseen by head brewer Michael Lees-Jones, the boilerhouse allows small batch productions of more unusual and niche beers.

Past productions have included a Vanilla White Stout, Chocolate Orange Mild and Strawberry Milkshake IPA.

The advent of motor travel allowed the brewery to acquire sites further afield, with the company gradually expanding its pub estate into wider Lancashire, Cheshire, North Wales and Yorkshire.

Willoughby's has grown by acquisition of wine merchants including Thomas Batey and Sons, Duttons of Chester, Scatchards of Liverpool, Yates Brothers of Bolton and Lakeland Vintners in Bowness.

In 2012 Willoughby's ceased to operate any retail premises but continues to supply many licensed leisure venues through direct delivery.