Beer has been brewed at Strangeways for 226 years

Union officials and real ale buffs say the event is a sad day for the city and for drinkers.

Brewers Interbrew announced its closure plans in September 2004.

The Transport and General Workers Union waged a high profile campaign to save the brewery, but admitted defeat last week blaming management intransigence.

Interbrew say the beer still has a future although the majority of production work will be moving to Lancashire, Scotland and Wales.

But Mike Thompson T&G convenor at the site said: "Boddingtons has been brewed here for 226 years. Manchester will be a different place after today's last brew."

Nearly 60 jobs will be lost as brewing is ended at a site which has its own wells.