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Pub celebrates centenary with starring role in Corrie

Susannah Wright
21/ 8/2008

A PUB is celebrating 100 years of pulling in the punters by starring in Coronation Street.

The Bowling Green in Chorlton will be shown on the ITV soap as mechanic Tyrone Dobbs goes for a meal with his fiance Molly Compton and mum Jackie Dobbs. And although the producers are remaining tight-lipped about the nature of the storyline, they reveal that the scenes will be screened towards the end of September.

Mark Canny is the owner of the pub on Brookburn Road.

He said: "It was nice to have them filming in here. We often get some of the crew and cast members coming in for a drink and I think one of them suggested they do some filming here.

"We’re a good old traditional pub and I think they thought we had the right atmosphere here for what they wanted."

The cameo role for the pub comes as the building reaches its centenary. And to celebrate the milestone, Mark is putting on events for regulars and visitors.

Yet the original building for the pub dated back to the 1650s when it was used as a staging post for carriages and horses.

The historic inn is thought to have been one of the oldest licensed premises in the country, but it was knocked down a year after its replacement was built in 1908.

The original site was then turned into a bowling green, which punters can use free of charge as long as they put down a deposit to use a set of bowls.

Mark, 35, has run the pub for six years. He said: "There’s a good crowd that comes here and we’re really pleased to be celebrating 100 years.

"It’s a good traditional pub with a beer garden and pool tables, and I think we have a good family atmosphere here.

"The bowling green at the back is a hit in the summer and we get lots of people come down and as long as they’re not wearing high heels, they can have a game!

"We serve good pub food too and I think people like that."

On Friday and Saturday - August 22 and 23 - DJs will be spinning a medley of tunes.

On Sunday, live band Green Hot Clover will entertain punters. And on Bank Holiday Monday, a fun-day will be held with a bouncy castle and activities for children and adults.

Events will start at 8pm, and Monday’s will be on from midday to 6pm. Entry is free.