Healey Dell Tea Rooms feature in new TV ad

Photo: Matt Eachus/David Dillon

The vintage chandelier-lit tea rooms on the banks of the River Spodden were used as the location for the 30-second ad to launch a new northern-based insurance comparison website

The Healey Dell Tea Rooms in Rochdale are set to take centre stage in a new TV ad, being shown on Channel 4 from 1 December.

The vintage chandelier-lit tea rooms on the banks of the River Spodden were used as the location for the 30-second ad to launch a new northern-based insurance comparison website, OwMuch.com.

Anthony Rushton, OwMuch Founder, said: “I’m from Accrington so it’s important to me to speak honestly to the people of the North. My one stipulation for the ad was to keep it authentically northern. Healey Dell Tea Rooms is exactly that, authentically Northern. And from that backdrop, we were able to bring our authentically Northern vision of the ad to life.”

The ad itself was created by Manchester-based independent advertising and video production agency, Koala. It features Yorkshire-based rapper ExP and also stars Anthony himself as Mr OwMuch.

James Rees, Koala’s creative director, said: “As soon as I heard the lyrics that ExP had written, I immediately saw the ad set in a Northern tea room with plenty of bizarre interactions. We couldn’t have found a better location than Healey Dell. Yes we’re playing on being from the North, but it isn’t done at the North’s expense. We’ve created something that is honest and true, as well as fun. Everyone that worked on the shoot is from the North – from the talent to the make-up artists and of course our two main stars.

“This is a completely new brand in a crowded marketplace. We knew we had to do something that would stand out and be memorable. With the current financial situation affecting so many people across the region, we also wanted to create an ad full of positivity and energy, which would be 30 seconds of fun and joy on people’s screens.”

And it was the idea of keeping everything authentic to the North that led to the creative decision for Anthony to appear in the ad himself.

James continued: “Anthony was never meant to be in the ad, but I’m sure you can all agree that he makes an absolutely cracking Mr OwMuch. It was also great that Anthony was on board to do it because that’s a huge thing to take on.”

Lisa Mok from Healey Dell Tea Rooms said: “It was such a fun few days welcoming Koala, Anthony, ExP and everyone involved with the shoot to Healey Dell. They were fantastic to work with and we feel privileged that our tea rooms were chosen for the backdrop of their ad. We can’t stop singing the jingle and are super excited to see Healey Dell on our TVs soon.”

The ad will launch Owmuch.com on 1 December on Channel 4.