Here’s the plot twist that’ll make your brain do a little jig: the video was filmed in London, England. I know, I know—it feels like it should be a wet Wednesday in County Cork. But nope, the muddy, rain-soaked street and the general vibe of “we’re all a bit soggy but having the time of our lives” was actually shot in South London.
Specifically, the main street scene was filmed on Worple Road in the leafy suburb of Raynes Park. You probably walked past it once on your way to get a sandwich and never knew you were standing on hallowed, fiddle-filled ground. Imagine the neighbors in their 1970s houses suddenly seeing a bunch of guys in dungarees and a girl with a blinding smile, all dancing in the rain.
The band reportedly wanted a really rough, working-class feel, so they chose a street that looked like it had seen better days. Let’s just say the setting was as “authentic” as Kevin Rowland’s unforgettable sweatband collection. It’s a bit like finding out the best Irish pub in town is actually run by a guy from Birmingham.
And That Pub? That’s the Star
You can’t talk about the video without mentioning that little brick pub where the band hangs out. That’s the The Mitchell’s Brewery pub on Worple Road, though it’s now called something different (because pubs in London change names faster than I change socks). In the video, it looks like the kind of place where everyone knows your name—and your granddad’s name, too.
Sadly, the pub has been converted into a block of flats since then. That’s right: you can’t go there for a pint and a chorus of “tora tora tora” anymore. It’s a bit of a bummer, but hey, at least the ghosts of that video probably still haunt the hallway. If you ever visit, listen closely for the faint sound of a fiddle coming from the upstairs bathroom.
And get this: the rain in the video? It wasn’t actually raining that day. The director, Julien Temple, hired a fire engine to spray water over the entire street. Kevin Rowland and the crew got absolutely soaked, take after take, just to make you feel that “moody, damp” atmosphere. That’s dedication—or maybe just a really good excuse to avoid doing laundry that week.
