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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Saffron Otter

British boozer goes viral for 'work of art' video - regulars say 'it's always this mad'

Molly, 84, dazzles in a 1920s fringe dress as she chats up a younger gentleman in a football shirt propped up at the bar, while middle-aged Dennis reveals his wiggling belly as he parades his pint in the air, singing along to The Four Tops' I Can't Help Myself.

These are just two of the characters often spotted in videos shared by The Chestergate pub in Stockport, Greater Manchester, whose regular Tuesday night antics have gone viral. Since being shared by pub manager Steph Armstrong a fortnight ago on Facebook, the clip has reached more than one million views with people as far as Los Angeles vowing to join them one evening.

Over on Twitter, the clip has been described as 'bordering on art' with 'so much going on' as thousands of others commented on how much the punters are enjoying themselves. One of the regulars, Matt Baker, 70, visits the local boozer daily as his way of getting out of the house and says it's always that 'mad'.

Matt says he prefers to sit in the Chestergate instead of being at home alone (Saffron Otter / Daily Mirror)

"People can let their hair down here because of the atmosphere," Matt, who has been drinking pints at The Chestergate for decades, tells The Mirror.

"The landlord really looks after you, she's made a welcoming environment.

"Tuesday karaoke is always mad. It's attended by a lot of people, you won't get a seat, it really does fill it.

"It's chaotic but it's controlled chaos. There are characters in any pub, but particularly in this one."

Another retiree sat across from Matt is Michael Simpson, 77, who also pays a daily visit.

"I'm retired, not from drinking, but from working," he says as he takes another gulp of his pint.

"Birds of a feather flock together," says Michael (Saffron Otter / Daily Mirror)

He just happens to be in the pub when it kicks off later in the evenings for what he instead describes as "kara-croaky".

"There's no competition - birds of a feather flock together, you see?" the former black cab driver adds on why his local is special.

Becky Wallwork, 25, is sitting at the back of the pub with her family and admits she visits "because there is always something going on".

"I don't get involved in singing but it's funny to watch," Becky, who drops by a few times a week because of the pub's convenient location in the town centre, says.

"There are a lot of different characters. That's Stockport for you. And those characters are always here."

The Chestergate has become the place to go for karaoke in Stockport (Saffron Otter / Daily Mirror)

George Clarke, 18, who has been working behind the bar for 1.5 years, isn't surprised to see his customers have gone global online.

"We're a traditional British pub and it's what I'd want to expect," he begins, talking about the iconic scene filmed the other week.

"People enjoy seeing something that's so homely, it just feels right being here.

"It's what pubs are built for and it's like that every week.

"If they're enjoying themselves, why doesn't everyone?"

George encourages those that have watched the clip to go to their local pub and enjoy themselves too (Saffron Otter / Daily Mirror)

He says anywhere between 50 and 100 people can pile in for their notorious karaoke nights - which take place every Tuesday and Friday, as well as a special themed karaoke on the first Saturday night of the month.

The Chestergate's success means a lot to landlord Steph, who has worked in pubs for years but has only recently returned to work in her hometown of Stockport.

"You just can't beat it," the 34-year-old says.

"That environment when you're in here - one person could be up singing but everyone can be singing along with them. They are all up and dancing, and everyone is involved.

"With everything going on in the world, we just want everyone to come in and have a nice time.

"A lot of customers are alone and are sitting at home alone with nobody to talk to and they know when they come in, they know everybody and they can come out and they don't have to worry about anything."

She adds: "People come back and the word has spread now. It's the place to be on a Tuesday and a Friday."

The Chestergate can be found at 66 Mersey Square, Stockport, SK1 1NP.

Do you have a funny story about your local pub? Please get in touch at webfeatures@trinitymirror.com

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