Hard working landlord, Ken, struggles to run The Grapes under pressure from the brewery. On his own since his wife left, Ken spoils his step-daughter Melanie, especially after she decides to find her real father. He plays the supportive Dad, but is worried sick in private. Playing 'Huggy Bear', Ken supplies free drinks to local police, ensuring they turn a blind eye to his after time drinking sessions. Ken's dry wit and good heart make him popular with the regulars, especially the pretty barmaid.

Two funny but lazy policemen, they spend more time in the backroom of The Grapes then they do serving the community. Old school coppers, their crime fighting instincts can sort out free gas, electric goods and counterfeit currency, for the right price. Phil has a distinctive laugh you won't forget. They're always quick on the scene of crime, well, once they've finished their burgers. They can only stop for one drink, after all, "Crime won't crack itself!"

The Grapes' very own 'Romeo', Duffy has a wife & kids at home, a mistress on the side and still finds the need to go with Janice. Spends his evenings in pub, engaging in intellectual conversation with Joe, while they view Polaroid pictures of the mistress. While Joe suspects him of fathering Janice's baby, Duffy's in for a bigger shock, maybe his wife isn't as happy as he thinks she is?

Joe is regularly in the pub at opening time, while someone clocks him off at work, maybe even fiddling him some overtime. A wannabe DJ, he accepts his dream may be over, but that doesn't stop him and Duffy bursting into song at every opportunity. Despite marriage troubles of his own, he stays faithful, most of the time! Even though he and Duffy regularly give bad advice to her boyfriends, Melanie's the girl who keeps Joe's dream alive.

A doting, but nosy, Mum, she only wants the best for her little boy. Despite him being a grown man with children of his own, she still puts his clothes out on the bed for him every morning. She's always loyal to her friends. If they make the papers, she'll hide the evidence, after she's made plenty of photocopies. Has trouble with asthma, especially when her nosiness is rumbled. She never gets a minutes peace, with all of the chores to do around the house, but she manages to leave plenty of work for Winnie, the cleaner, and her best friend. She's selfless to a fault, but there's no place for friendship or family when a bag of Maltesers is at stake!

Ken's step-daughter splits her time between working behind the bar, attending college and twisting her Dad around her little finger. Her boyfriend's have to pass Ken's vetting process, but are welcome into the open arms of Melanie and The Grapes' regulars once they pass. Her search for her real father reaches a happy conclusion but will he turn out to be all she dreamed of?

The resident miserable old git. Tommy's on the doorstep every night at opening time, awaiting a pint of mild. He's not one to get into buying rounds of drinks, "No thanks, I'll stay on me own". Unimpressed by Eddie's humour, Tommy has his own chair by the window. On his own since his wife died years before, Tommy can't live off his pension alone, revealing a secret occupation.

The Grapes answer to Posh and Becks, a nice but poor couple, who spend their giro's in the pub. Eddie can be found boring the pants off the regulars with his tales of temporary traffic lights and the dog who found the World Cup. Joan is gentle and funny and spends her time looking after her Mum, an animal lover with a hygiene problem. When they have trouble paying the bills, the Grapes' regulars come to the rescue, even Tommy!

The Grapes' part-time barmaid, Tanya is a ray of sunshine in Ken's life. A reliable friend and worker, Tanya has a soft spot for Ken, but will he ever notice?

Melanie's first Boyfriend, Liam is a young scottish student. Stupidly, he takes advice from Duffy and Joe, getting on Melanie's bad side when he agrees to go on the Big Boys Beano.

Melanie's new boyfriend. He's alright by Ken, that is until Ken finds him with Melanie in a compromising position on the sofa!