The owner of a Caribbean takeaway spot in Stockport was feeling tired and about to go on her break when a superstar walked through the door and made her night.
Caribbean Queen singer Billy Ocean, 75, visited Mama Flo’s takeaway on Thursday evening and was recognised by the owner’s daughter, who told her: “Mum, it’s a big superstar”.
Owner Florence Coke said the singer had been “in good form”, adding: “We had a great night chatting away with his entourage, so thank you Billy for a splendid night.”
Ms Coke also said the singer had promised he would be back to try her snapper fish, which was not on the menu that night.
Ms Coke said when the Trinidad-born singer had arrived, she had been looking at him and thinking “I’ve seen his face before”.
The singer said he would tell her who he was after having his specially requested meal of spicy fish, rice, callaloo and curried goat.
Ms Coke said her staff, daughter and grandchildren had all been able to have a private audience with Ocean as the restaurant was not busy.
“We were happy for that,” she said. “It always seems to happen if anyone famous has come in, they always choose a time when it’s quiet.”
Ocean is not the only famous face to have visited Mama Flo’s, which opened at its current address in Buxton Road in 2013.
Over the years, the takeaway has been visited by Manchester City player Kyle Walker, actor Will Mellor, former politican Edwina Currie and Stone Roses singer Ian Brown.
Ms Coke said she had served “loads and loads” of celebrity customers in the restaurant, which she described as her “little gem”.
She told Radio Manchester: “Some names that enter the shop I don’t even put out. I don’t want them to feel uncomfortable, so I keep it low key key most of the times.”