A TV star called into a York pub last night (May 9), but instead of ordering a drink he got behind the bar and started serving customers.
The star in question was Tom Rosenthal, who is known for his roles in Channel Four’s Friday Night Dinner and ITV’s Plebs.
He visited York as part of a project to travel the world by offering favours for an upcoming book, ‘Around The World In 80 Favours’.
The book will see the actor and comedian navigate the globe without paying for travel, which can only be exchanged for a fair and equal favour.
To get to York, Tom completed a favour of hoovering a family in Carlisle’s car.
He then bagged a lift further south to complete his next favour consisting of a shift at The Falcon, in Micklegate.
As reported by The Press, the pub reopened in November 2022 and is co-owned by Cameron Brown and Aron McMahon.
The pair also own the Turning Point Brewery in Knaresborough.
Tom's visit was arranged by Megan Wilson, who asked the actor to cover the shift for her boyfriend, Ollie Dennison, who works at The Falcon.
Megan said: “The whole visit came about when I emailed Tom’s 80favours email offering help from Leeds/York as a joke, not expecting a reply.
“Ollie helped organise the visit and we met up in The Falcon where himself and Quinn (the pub’s manager) helped Tom pour the perfect pint, tap a keg, and talk to locals."
In return for the shift, the team bought Tom’s train ticket to Leicester, where he is completing his next favour.
One of the customers at the bar last night was York resident Ben McCluskey.
Ben said he was on the train back to the city from Leeds when a friend told him that the star was on shift, so he decided to call in past on his way home.
The 33-year-old, who works in the Civil Service, said he used to visit the pub regularly before the pandemic, but this was his first visit since it reopened.
His reunion with the pub was more than memorable with Ben praising not only it’s revamp, but also his interaction with the guest barman.
“Having spoken to (Tom) while at the pub he seemed like a really nice, down to earth guy,” he said.
Ben admitted that he had not followed much of Tom’s work, but after meeting him said: “I’m probably a bigger fan of his now than I was before.
“I will be reading the book when it comes out to find out where he ends up.”
Ben explained how Tom was happy to chat with customers, sign autographs, and pose for pictures.
He added that the idea of the book is a good one, giving credit to it championing “community support” which he said was important in the current climate.
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Despite Tom being a successful actor, comedian, and writer one question remained.
Can he pour a pint?
“(At the start) I think he needed a bit of help,” answered Ben.
“He was a bit unfamiliar (with the job).
“He was there for a good few hours so got some good practice.
“He seemed to have the hang of it by the time I had left.”
To keep up with Tom’s travel’s follow him on social media.
For more information on The Falcon, visit the pub’s Instagram page.
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