Paul Heaton plans another birthday happy hour

Pop star Paul Heaton says he is planning on putting money behind the bar at dozens of pubs to celebrate his 65th birthday.

The singer, who fronted Hull-based bands The Housemartins and The Beautiful South, made a similar gesture in 2022 when he opened £1,000 tabs at 60 pubs.

"I picked pubs, some of which I knew and some I didn't, and put money behind the bar for my birthday. I'll probably do it again next year... 65 is a nice number," he said.

Heaton's 23rd studio album, Jenius, was released on Friday, and he will set out on a UK arena tour in October.

When asked how he would choose the venues, Heaton told BBC Breakfast: "Some of them I've been in. Some of them I just ask people, 'What is a good pub in Nottingham?' or wherever, and there's money behind the bar until it runs out.

"It doesn't have to be just for Paul Heaton fans, although they might be now I've bought them a pint!"

Heaton has voiced his support of traditional British pubs, and he has bought drinks for fans as a thank-you in places where he has performed.

Heaton shot to fame with The Housemartins in the early 1980s.

They had two successful albums and a number of hits singles, including a cover version of Caravan of Love which reached number one in the UK charts in December 1986.

After the band split in 1988, he formed The Beautiful South, which became one of the biggest-selling UK acts of all time.

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