All raise a toast to 'Mad George'

TRIBUTES TO LEGENDARY LANDLORD FOLLOWING DEATH AT 83

- NEAL KEELING

IT WAS an era when Manchester had the Other Fleet Street; the city's soccer stars boozed in back alley pubs, and so did police and villains.

He emerged from this often boisterous and raucous maelstrom as a Manchester legend. His clientele included journalists from national papers and the M.E.N. and the circulation, and printing advertising workers.

But his fame went way beyond the newspaper industry whose staff were loyal to the watering holes he was in charge of.

He was known as 'Mad George' but it was a term of endearment. He had a Manc accent with a Greek twang and always ran a good pub.

As Sean Brett, landlord of the city's Old Nag's Head in Jackson Row, says: "George Archondogeorge was a lovely pal, and great landlord, and a friend to many, I shall raise a glass tonight."