It's Happy Hour in Ludlow as singer Paul Heaton goes on a pub crawl in the town
Pub goers in Ludlow might have been forgiven for doing a double take as pop star Paul Heaton was spotted in their local.
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Former Housemartins and Beautiful South singer Paul Heaton captured a photo diary of a trip to south Shropshire at the end of last week which featured several visits to pubs and a few breweries.
The 62-year-old has a great love for pubs across the country, having put £1,000 behind the bar of 60 pubs for his 60th birthday on May 9, 2022, as well as a crisp packet collection stretching back to the 1980s.
The singer posted several times on social media to show his stops on the trip, starting at Three Tuns Brewery in Bishop's Castle on Thursday, where he had a pint from the Three Tuns range, as well as a bag of Two Farmers Herefordshire Sausage and Mustard.
Interacting with fans over social media, he said: "Anyone recognise this beauty from the 2010 Pedals and Pumps Tour?
"Wasn't called that 15 years ago. Great pint and crisps."
Friday saw the Happy Hour Again singer add to his famous crisp packet collection further by visiting the Charlton Arms for another Two Farmers bag, this time Hop Cheese and Onion flavour, and a pint of Hereford Pale Ale from Wye Valley Brewery.
He also visited the Wheatsheaf Inn for a Butty Bach from Wye Valley and a bag of Prawn Cocktail crisps from Burts, as well as posing for a photo with a member of staff behind the bar.
Manager Karen Johnson said she had been very surprised to see Paul Heaton in her pub, but said it was great for the pub and the town to have him there alongside another big name.
She said: "It was really lovely to have him there and for him to put it on social media and if he wants to come down and have a bite to eat, he's more than welcome to do so.
"I'm glad he liked the beer as I'm a stickler for keeping my beer well and it's nice to have him in there, plus it's another celebrity as we get Alastair MacGowan in as he lives locally.
"I do love the Housemartins as well and I absolutely loved Caravan of Love, plus all the Beautiful South stuff he did back in the day."
The final day of his tour on Saturday saw Paul Heaton take a tour of the Ludlow Brewery, with a pint of Gold and Farmers Folds Bullshot crisps, then back onto the Church Inn for a pint of Hobsons Pale Ale and a bag of Tyrells British Beef and Ale crisps.
His beer tour of Ludlow culminated with return visits to the Wheatsheaf and the Charlton House for a pint of Timothy Taylor and Burts Lightly Sea Salted crisps in the former and another Hobsons Pale Ale and a bag of pork scratchings in the latter.
It's one of a number of trips Paul has made to the region over the last year, having played two nights at the Halls Wolverhampton due to the demand for tickets to the show.
