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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Dianne Bourne

Paul Heaton puts "cash behind the bar" at 60 pubs to celebrate his 60th birthday - here's where in Manchester

Music legend Paul Heaton is preparing to celebrate his 60th birthday in style - by sticking his own cash behind the bar of 60 pubs across the UK. The former Beautiful South frontman celebrates his landmark birthday on Monday, May 9 and wants fans to join him.

He announced on his Facebook page at the weekend that he would announce a "full list" of 60 pubs. And the great news is there's a host of Greater Manchester pubs where he's sticking cash behind the bar that he's just announced.

Paul explained in his Facebook post that he had intended to do another of his bicycle tours across the UK, visiting and performing 60 pubs to celebrate his big 6-0. But due to "recording delays" due to the pandemic that has had to be put on the backburner.

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So instead, kind-hearted Paul has decided the "next best way to celebrate this coming of age is to handpick 60 pubs across the UK and Ireland and put a given amount of money behind the bar of each one". He says he hopes that both fans of his, and regulars at the pubs, can enjoy a "birthday drink on me" until the money runs out or the bar runs dry.

Paul Heaton is planning a very special 60th birthday (GMWN)

In what promises to be more than just a Happy Hour, he says he hopes to "bring people together on the day", which is just the loveliest thing isn't it? The full list includes six belting Greater Manchester boozers.

In Paul's original statement he posted a picture sipping a drink and shared his plans. He wrote: "To celebrate my 60th birthday (on Monday 9th May) I’d originally intended to do another bicycle tour, visiting & performing at 60 pubs across the UK & Ireland.

"However, due to recording delays caused by the pandemic, I’ve had to shelve these plans for the time being.

"Instead, I’ve decided that the next best way to celebrate this coming of age is to handpick 60 pubs across the UK & Ireland and put a given amount of money behind the bar of each one. Then, both regulars and yourselves can enjoy a birthday drink on me (until the money runs out, or the bar runs dry!)"

Paul posted this photo on his Facebook with the exciting birthday plans (Facebook/Paul Heaton)

"The hope is to bring people together on the day, whilst recognising that many folk who bought my records or showed me support over the years, could do with a wee party, as we come out of Covid and hit potential financial struggles. I’ll announce the full list of pubs and locations tomorrow, so if there’s one near you please head over on Monday, show your support and raise a toast to me on my birthday!"

The pubs in Greater Manchester are The Flying Horse in Rochdale, the iconic Britons Protection in Manchester city centre, Bowling Green in Chorlton, The Orion in Withington, The Railway Inn in West Didsbury and Albert Wilsons in Withington. A little further afield, there will be cash behind the bar at the Dog & Partridge in Warrington, Bird i'th Hand in St Helens and The Saddle Inn, Casa Bar and The Globe all in Liverpool.

He's not said how much will go behind the bar at each pub, or at what particular time it will start. Although the follow-up post did say: "It would be great to see photos of you all enjoying your free drinks and celebrations at each pub throughout the day!"

Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott have been delighting audiences as a duo (Birmingham Mail)

Cheshire-born and Sheffield-raised Paul found fame with the Housemartins and then The Beautiful South, before delighting audiences in recent years across the UK with his partnership with Jacqui Abbott.

Paul, now based in Manchester, and fellow Beautiful South star Jacqui performed a sell-out UK tour in 2021. The duo will be back on stage for two huge stadium gigs this summer, at St Helens on July 22 and Doncaster on July 23.

The list of 60 pubs in full

Robinsons Bar – Great Victoria St, Belfast

Eddie Murphys – Thomastown, Kilkenny

Peadar O’Donnells - Waterloo St, Derry

The Punters Rest - Tipperary

The Sky on the Ground – Whitewell, Wexford

Courtney’s Bar – Killarney, Co. Kerry

Keohoes – Dublin

Tig Coili – The Latin Quarter, Galway

Bonners Corner Bar – Ballybofey, Co. Donegal

The Old Toll Bar – Paisley Rd W, Glasgow

Nice n Sleazy – Sauchiehall St, Glasgow

The Sheep Heid Inn – The Causeway, Edinburgh

Kay’s Bar – Jamaica St, Edinburgh

Tanners Arms – Byker Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne

The Freetrade Inn – Lawrence Road, Newcastle upon Tyne

The Half Moon – Northgate, Darlington

The Black Bull – Main St, Darvel

The Sportsmans Inn – Heads Ln, Carlisle

The Original Oak – Headingley, Leeds

The Britons Protection is one of the pubs (MEN Media)

The Flying Horse – Packer St, Rochdale

The Britons Protection – Bridgewater St, Manchester

Bowling Green – Chorlton-cum-Hardy

The Orion – Burton Road, Withington

The Railway Inn – Lapwing Ln, West Didsbury

Albert Wilsons – Wilmslow Rd, Withington

The Dog & Partridge – Manchester Rd, Warrington

Bird I’th Hand – Prescot Rd, St Helens

The Saddle Inn – Dale St, Liverpool

The Casa Bar – Hope St, Liverpool

The Globe – Cases St, Liverpool

The Coachmakers Arms – Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent

The Bay Horse – Market Pl, Market Weighton

Lord Nelson – Arundel Street, Sheffield

Riverside Kelham – Mowbray St, Sheffield

The Morning Star – Greetwell Gate, Lincoln

Ye Olde Blue Bell – Market Place, Hull

The Whalebone – Wincolmlee, Hull

The Grafton – Grafton St, Hull

The White Horse – Hutton Cranswick

Hatfield Main Pit Club – Stainforth, Doncaster

The Old Horse – London Road, Leicester

The Black Horse – Aylestone, Leicester

The Bulls Head – Cambridge St, Saint Neots

Hardies – Merthyr Tydfil, Wales

Golden Fleece Inn – Market Square, Porthmadog

Rummer Tavern – Duke St, Cardiff

Hare & Hounds – King’s Heath, Birmingham

Patrick Kavanagh – Trafalgar Road, Birmingham

The Red Hart – Bodham, Norfolk

The Eagle – Norfolk St, King’s Lynn

The Duke of York – Woodbridge Rd, Ipswich

The Stags Head – New Cavendish St, London

The Coffee House Pub – Beak St, London

The Glue Pot – Emlyn Square, Swindon

The Thunderbolt – Bath Rd, Bristol

The Cricketers Inn – South St, Dorking

Grasshopper on the Green – Westerham, Kent

Minerva Inn – Looe St, Plymouth

Duke of Wellington – Brighton Road, Shoreham-by-Sea

Polgooth Inn – St Austell, Cornwall

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