Lovers!, The

Manchester, Friday lunchtime. About ten past one. From the roof of Manchester House on Bridge Street, a panning shot over Manchester begins with a view of Sunlight House standing to the right behind Cumberland House and the roof of the closed Central station in the distance.

Along Deansgate, left down Bridge Street. Then . . . . The lens moves left bringing the John Rylands Library and the tower of Manchester Town Hall into frame with Bridge Street appearing to the far left.

. . . if your a football fan or a girl, first on the right for the George Best Boutique. The camera finds Bridge Street running diagonally west to east before settling on the George Best Boutique on Motor Street in the bottom left on the shot.

Bouncing up and down to get a view of the famous footballer, Sandra (Susan Littler), Veronica (Rosalind Ayres) and Beryl Battersby (Paula Wilcox) are advised that he's away in Majorca. Motor Street in Manchester 3 with the Masonic Temple on Bridge Street in the right background.

Peter Brown (PB) discovered that George Best's boutique now serves pizzas and the Masonic Temple in the background has also been converted into restaurants.

The three girls spot Neville (Anthony Naylor), Roland (Nikolas Simmonds) and Geoffrey Scrimshaw (Richard Beckinsale) standing nearby. To the left stands Manchester House at the corner of Bridge Street and Dolefield.

The lower floors of Manchester House have been converted into shops, cafes and restaurants with the offices remaining above. (PB)

Neville remarks "I don't fancy yours." The corner of Alderton Street and Bridge Street in Manchester 3.

Peter Brown (PB) explains that the Victorian buildings in the middle distance have been replaced by the Crown Court extension and offices now occupy the Salford side of the river in the far distance.

Geoffrey and Beryl go their separate ways after the others pair up and wander off together. Renamed St. Mary’s Parsonage, Alderton Street lies to the bottom left with King Street West to the top left, Motor Street to the right of centre and Bridge Street to the bottom right.

On Saturday Neville, Roland and Geoffrey meet at the station. Windsor & Eton Central station in Windsor, Berkshire identified by Jonathan Horswell.

Chanting fills the air as the three join other football fans in the queue for the ticket barrier. Various parts of Windsor & Eton Central station can be seen in many other productions including 'The French Lieutenants Woman', 'Left, Right and Centre', 'The White Trap', 'A Run for Your Money', 'The Wildcats of St Trinian's', 'That’s Your Funeral', 'Upstairs and Downstairs', 'Two-Way Stretch', 'Doctor in Trouble', 'Doctor in Distress', 'Lease of Life', and 'Allez France!'.

As the queue moves forward, Geoffrey talks with Neville before noticing Beryl pass through the ticket barrier after alighting from a train. Jonathan Horswell locates this as Windsor & Eton Central station off Thames Street in Windsor.

Leaving his friends, Geoffrey walks back to the station bookstall where he begins to chat with Beryl. Windsor & Eton Central station recognised by Jonathan Horswell who is curator of the British Railway Movie Database.

The two leave the station together after agreeing to go to the pictures together that evening. Although prop posters for Manchester Victoria departures and trains to Bury are displayed, one giveaway for the station's location is a poster for Wye Races . . . Wye racecourse is in Kent.

Following dinner at a Chinese restaurant where they bump into Neville and Sandra, Geoffrey walks Beryl home. Neil Rigby with his customary judicious style pinpoints Beryl living in Cedars Road, Hampton Wick in Greater London. The gasometer has since been demolished. (RL)

John Harwood found autumnal colours on Cedars Road. (SJ)

A hug, one kiss and a phone number later sees Geoffrey leave the front door as Beryl goes inside. Cedars Road, Hampton Wick KT1 as identified by Neil. (RL)

John H. felt this gate pillar arrangement fitted the best. The enthusiastic foliage didn't help identify other features. (SJ)

On his way to work on Monday, Geoffrey hardly gives pretty girls a glance. Looking north in St. Ann’s Square with the corner of Barton Square on the left and Exchange Street to the right.

The building in the left background has been re-clad and those in the distance, including the one seen under construction in the capture, were demolished after an IRA bomb destroyed them in 1996. (PB)

Geoffrey crosses the road. St. Ann’s Square with Old Bank Street on the extreme right.

Peter Brown's shot of St. Ann's Square shows that it is now pedestrianised.

Facing Old Bank Street across St. Ann’s Square with buildings on Cross Street in the centre distance.

The fountain in the left foreground represents a cotton bud as Manchester, of course, was once the centre of the cotton industry. (PB)

As he rings the bell to the bank where he works with Neville and Roland, Geoffrey smiles a passing Girl. The western entrance to Old Bank Street.

The same corner minus phone boxes captured by PB.

At the office, the Window Cleaner smiles at Beryl and Sandra.

Geoffrey and Beryl arrange to go on a day out. Looking across from the corner of Princess Road and Clarendon Street towards Mancunian Way with St. Philip’s church in the left.

The junction at Princess Road is a lot busier, as Peter Brown discovered, and so has been re-modelled. Student accommodation now forms the backdrop to the Mancunian Way.

The pair start to learn more about each other as they sit on the top deck of the bus to the zoo. A closer view of the SELNEC liveried Mancunian double-deck bus as it approaches the roundabout at the junction of Mancunian Way and Princess Road with the green door of Church Works on Newcastle Street in the left distance.

In Peter Brown's view the foreground saplings are now mature trees while the buildings on Newcastle Street have been cleared. The area is currently awaiting redevelopment.

In front of the Monkey House, the two discover that they are both fond of animals and both from Manchester.

On a fairground ride they learn that neither of them has been abroad . . . . unless you count Beryl's trip to Istanbul when she was 3.

Between the legs of giraffes, Geoffrey and Beryl attempt to discuss deja vu.

Having read a romantic story in a magazine, Beryl almost gets it right when she tries out one of the lines . . . "You know Geoffrey, you have a really lopsided grin." Hoping to take a comparison shot in Manchester, Peter Brown put out an appeal on Twitter to find the location . . . . and Jacko came up with Hepworth Way in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. The flats in the background stand on Wellington Close.

Geoffrey smiles as Beryl explains that "It's in the eye of the beholder".

In the corner of a park, the couple kiss on a bench before the weather changes to rain.

A few weeks later, Geoffrey walks away from Beryl's house after the two split up. Cedars Road in Hampton Wick again, as identified by Neil. (RL)

A leafier view of the same scene 49 years later from Antony Blair.

Despite several no smoking signs on display, Veronica looks for her cigarettes whilst riding on a bus.

As he passes, the Conductor offers a light to Veronica.

Geoffrey and Roland take a walk together one lunchtime. Barton Square running between St. Ann Street and St. Ann’s Square with Barton Arcade in the right background.

Barton Square now by Peter Brown.

The two lads eye up a passing Young Woman as Veronica she gets off the bus. Facing south on St. Ann’s Square with St. Ann’s church on St. Ann Street in the distance.

A rainy day in St. Ann's Square. (PB)

Bumping into each other, Geoffrey and Veronica agree to go for a drink . . . which helps them to get to know each other better. St. Ann’s Square in Manchester 2.

Trees now populate the square as Peter Brown's view shows.

The next day, Geoffrey is smiled at by a Girl as she feeds a parking meter. Looking towards Exchange Street from St. Ann’s Square with the Last Shot Memorial to the left and the Royal Exchange crossing the background to the right.

Newer street art has joined the memorial. (PB)

Having had no success with the ladies, Geoffrey and Roland leave an all night party.

The two workmates comfort each other as they walk away.

Back together, Geoffrey and Beryl have lunch together in Albert Square. Facing south on the steps of the Albert Memorial with the William Gladstone statue to the right of centre and the Central Public Library along Mount Street in the left distance. The square can also be seen in ‘A Taste of Honey’, ‘The White Bus’ and ‘The Parole Officer’.

The lovers come to an arrangement . . . . and Geoffrey looks for an engagement ring.

With tensions rising between Geoffrey and Beryl, the young clerk storms into work. Looking north along St. Ann’s Square an Exchange Street from the corner of Old Bank Street with building work taking place at the junction of St. Mary’s Gate, Market Place and Market Street in the distance.

The pillar box and Moss Bros. are still in situ today and New Cathedral Street now stretches away in the distance. (PB)

Leaving his office, Geoffrey finds Beryl and takes her to somewhere where they can talk. Peter Brown locates this as Parker Street to the south of Piccadilly Gardens with the buildings in background bounded by Oldham Street, Piccadilly and Lever Street that were occupied by Woolworths, which was subsequently gutted by a fire in 1979 and a bank with a small BBC TV studio above.

Peter 's comparison shows that the view today is obscured by the offices at One Piccadilly Gardens and a tram stop.

Looking up from Piccadilly Gardens to the upper floors of Hotel Piccadilly which also appears in ‘Cup Fever’ and ‘Charlie Bubbles’.

Nothing much has changed here apart from rebranding and a re-clad for the hotel and Sunley Buildings, now City Tower, next door. (PB)

On the roof of the Hotel Piccadilly, Geoffrey explains that he can't remember the speech he prepared. The Manchester skyline seen from the roof of the hotel with Rodwell Tower at 111 Piccadilly in the centre distance.

With no access to the roof, Peter Brown was unable to get a view of Rodwell Tower from the car deck but the building on the corner of Aytoun Street is visible.

Geoffrey attempts to break an uneasy silence. Looking over Piccadilly Gardens towards the Rylands Building on the far corner of Market Street and Tib Street with the Co-op Insurance Building on Miller Street in the top right distance.

The Rylands building is visible from the car deck as Peter Brown discovered. Built as a warehouse in the art deco style, it was converted to a department store, firstly as Pauldens then Debenhams. It currently waits to see if plans to turn it into an arcade and offices come to fruition.

Ending up rowing with each other, Beryl shouts at her boyfriend as he starts to sulk. On the other side of the roof, the tower of Manchester Town Hall rises above Albert Square to the left.

Sadly, the Town Hall is not visible from the car deck as the buildings on New York Street obscure the view as seen here in Peter Brown's shot.

Agreeing that they don't like each other, the pair leave the hotel. The entrance level of Hotel Piccadilly, currently known as the Mercure Manchester Piccadilly.

Peter Brown was pleased to find the little concrete bollard at the base of the column in situ at the location where just cosmetic changes have taken place with the former Bank of England building is still present in the background.

The two take separate taxis to St. Ann's Square. Looking across to properties on Portland Street from the entrance level of the Hotel Piccadilly.

In Peter Brown's comparison, Watts Warehouse, now the Britannia Hotel, still forms the background on Portland Street.

After being seated together at Sandra and Neville's wedding, Geoffrey sits watching the cricket alone. Old Trafford Cricket Ground with the clock tower of Trafford Town Hall in the centre distance.

Expecting Beryl to appear as arranged, Geoffrey looks around for her. Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Trafford, Lancashire.

At Manchester United's ground, Beryl walks across the empty car park. Old Trafford Stadium on Warwick Road North, now Sir Matt Busby Way,

Peter Brown's comparison shows that the stadium is almost unrecognisable now, but this part of the East Stand still retains some of the mid-20th century incarnation. The Munich memorial clock is still in-situ.

After phoning Beryl's Mother, Geoffrey races to the other Old Trafford. Facing north on Warwick Road North with warehouses on Trafford Park Road in the right distance.

This part of Warwick Road North/Sir Matt Busby Way has been severed by Wharfside Way advises Peter Brown, and now lies somewhere in the middle of this junction. The warehouses on Trafford Park Road in the background have all now gone.

The two spot each other before Beryl's asks when the kick off is. The location features in 'Charlie Bubbles', 'Cup Fever' and 'Billy Liar'.

Peter Brown explains that the souvenir shop extension has been demolished and the houses on Railway Road in the background have been replaced.

The pair wonder what to do before deciding on a walk in the country.

The fire escape of the small office block on the concourse is still visible in Peter Brown's shot but the houses on Railway Road are obscured by trees.

Entering the ground, the two stroll across the pitch.

Sitting together, Beryl and Geoffrey agree that they're much happier without each other.

The camera zooms out. Old Trafford Stadium on Warwick Road North in Old Trafford, Lancashire.

Admitting the off angle shot, Antony Blair took this view just after 1.00 pm on match day from the away supporters Disabled Platform for the game against Brentford F. C.