The Future

Ancoats Guitars: Five Years In

March 2026 marks the fifth birthday of Ancoats Guitars - and it’s amazing to look back and see how far we’ve come. It’s been a long, often difficult journey, and there have been moments when I almost gave up. But I’m so glad I didn’t, because this past year has been our best on record.

A huge part of that success has come from the introduction of our Stage guitars and the launch of our brand-new website with the online builder. These have both made it easier than ever for players to discover, design, and order their perfect instrument - and the response has been incredible.

Reaching five years feels like a real milestone, and it’s given me time to think about what’s next for Ancoats Guitars. We’re proud of what we’ve built so far, but we’re even more excited about what’s still to come.

Looking Ahead

For us to keep growing, we need a few key things - the most important being additional funding. With that, we can invest in a bigger, better-equipped workshop and upgrade our tooling to match the standard of guitars we want to produce.

Alongside this, we’re aiming to reintroduce our fully UK-made custom guitars - something we simply can’t do right now with our limited space and inadequate CNC setup. It’s been a goal of mine for a long time, but one that requires the right environment to do it properly. We also plan to increase the number of in-stock guitars available to buy immediately, giving players more choice and helping us maintain steady production year-round. We are also finally going to get round to making some basses!

I’ve been deliberately cautious about growth over the past four years, making sure we build a strong foundation before expanding. But now feels like the right time to take the next step. 

Funding the Next Steps

The big question now is: how do we get the extra funds to make all this happen?

There are a few routes we could take. The first - and probably the most exciting - is launching a crowdfunder. We’ve got some great ideas for this, including special deals on custom guitars, exclusive merch, and unique experience days such as guitar setup workshops or even a full design and build your own guitar course from scratch. It would be a fun and rewarding way to raise the funds while giving something meaningful back to our supporters.

Another option is to take out a loan, although that obviously comes with its downsides and risks. The third possibility is to find an investor who believes in what we’re doing and wants to help us take Ancoats Guitars to the next level - but that raises the question, where do you even start with something like that?

Looking to the Future

As we approach our fifth birthday, it feels like Ancoats Guitars is on the edge of something really special. We’ve laid the groundwork, built a loyal community, and proven that small-scale, independent British guitar making still has a place in Manchester. Now it’s time to take that next step and grow - carefully, sustainably, and with the same passion that’s brought us this far.

We’d love to hear from anyone who might have ideas, advice, or experience that could help us on this journey - whether that’s about funding, growing a workshop, marketing, or just keeping things moving in the right direction. If you’ve been following Ancoats Guitars for a while, you’ll know how much we value genuine connections and shared knowledge.

Here’s to the next chapter - bigger workshop, better tools, more guitars, and more great music.