Corrie's Antony Cotton donates Tipping Point winnings to open veterans bar

30 September 2023 , 14:50

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Antony Cotton toasts the new veterans' pub (Image: STEVE ALLEN)

Britain's most famous barman has swapped pulling pints at The Rovers Return to officially open a new veterans’ bar funded with his win from gameshow Tipping Point.

Awarded the MBE earlier this year for his services to the military, Antony Cotton - who plays Sean Tully in the soap - donated his £2,400 winnings to the Broughton House veteran care village in Salford, making residents’ dream of having their own veterans’ mess come true.

The Corrie star, who battled it out on a celebrity version of the show against Jonathan Ross and Katie Piper, answering questions on politics, music, books and sport, said: “It is absolutely fantastic to see how they have spent the money and how much the veterans love it. I text presenter Ben Shepherd to tell him that they’d built a bar with the money and he was absolutely made up. I spend all my spare time in the military world and the mess is so important, it is the centre, the hub - the mess is the place where they gather.”

Antony Cotton donated his winnings to opening the bar (STEVE ALLEN)

Antony, 48, became an ambassador of Broughton House in 2019 in honour of his late grandfather Oswald Cotton, a proud Salfordian who served with the British Army during the Second World War. Founded in 1916 to provide treatment to the thousands of soldiers and sailors returning from WW1, Broughton House is now a dedicated charity and care home for those who have served their country and their families.

Antony, who met residents including D-Day veterans - former Paratrooper Peter Belcher and former RAF mechanic Dave Teacher - who both plan to celebrate their 100th birthdays in the bar in December, added: “I love hearing everyone’s stories. It is absolutely astonishing to find out that Peter was at Pegasus Bridge as my grandad was at Dunkirk.”

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Antony, 48, became an ambassador of Broughton House in 2019 in honour of his late grandfather (STEVE ALLEN)

Celebrating 20 years in Coronation Street this year, he adds: “Corrie has given me a platform to be able to make a difference for the Army and military charities. I’ve got a big gob and it takes somebody with a big gob to stand up for the Armed forces and not many people do. When there is a war on everyone is aware of it, but the war might be over but then the battle begins. The MBE matters to me so much because it came to me via the Army and was an acknowledgment of the work I have done, and I wear it in honour of every person I have met along the way.”

For more information, visit Broughton House: Veteran Care Village

Amanda Killelea