*This was written in 2016. Some pubs mentioned may be long gone.*

Back in 2010 I was in a taxi with a good friend Sarah who told me and my mate Woza about The Pub 365 Challenge that she was undertaking. The idea was to visit 365 pubs in the same number of days and have a drink in each. Ideally starting on the 1st of January and having the whole year to do it.

We couldn’t wait until January. We started the following Saturday. I resigned from it early on as I hit financial rock bottom, Woza’s response to this was sticking £30 in my hand and saying “let’s go and tick some pubs off.” Then Colin moved in with me and it was back on. It was epic and I ticked off 404 pubs. I had always wanted to have another go and last March (2015) it was time to go again. Figuring that there was 29 days the following February I took advantage of the extra leap year day and opted to have a go at The Pub 366 Challenge. With all the pubs on the previous challenge now ineligible I had to look further afield whilst also mopping up ones that I hadn’t visited in Walsall or that re-opened in that time.

So I started in Bloxwich in The Lady Diana. Highway To Hell was playing as I entered. The barmaid was friendly, the pub was good and I was enjoying myself, but then the music changed to George Ezra and I had to flee in terror. (2026 update – I now like some of George Ezra’s work but still can’t get on with his early stuff.)

Going to different places is the big plus of these challenges and the first major session occurred in Barnsley. The locals in Chennells Bar were a bit impatient. One bloke almost entered me in his efforts to get noticed by the barmaid. I was so glad that Phyllis Nelson’s ‘Move Closer’ didn’t come on. Another bloke who got up the bar after me waved his glass repeatedly in front of my face. He was not happy when I got served first. Another chap who caught our attention in this town was the skinhead in The Courthouse. We had an idea what sort of he music he would put on the jukebox. We were not expecting Britney Spears, Jennifer Rush and Celine Dion.

In The Waggon And Horses in Digbeth there must have been 100 freshly washed glasses on the bar. So much so that I could not see much actual bar. Someone must have tipped them off that I was coming. I only used one of them though, and even the first pub cat of the challenge couldn’t sway me to break the one drink per pub rule.

We meet a lot of barmaids but I’ve only brought one of them a drink on each challenge, this one was in The Market Tavern in Chesterfeld. She didn’t serve me but looked like someone that I used to fancy, and that was good enough.

At the Cuckmere Inn in Sleaford by Eastbourne a sign out side advised that ‘The whole team welcomes you’. Unfortunately our barmaid didn’t appear to be having a good Monday and wasn’t at all welcoming. Maybe I should have got her an unprecedented second drink of the challenge to cheer her up. The barmaid of the challenge worked at The Ship in Leigh On Sea. She was fit, funny, friendly and flirty. All good F’s there. The barmaid in The Steamer in Fleetwood who watched us put money in the jukebox then told us we couldn’t have the sound on as two people were watching tv, (the only other people in the pub) also scored few points.

We also encountered landlords and landladies. The landlord of The County in Huddersfield asked us if we were foreign and did we know what dripping was. He was a character and free food he provided helped cement this. The landlady of The Olde English Gentleman in Loughborough, described her customers and we learned that one falls asleep and farts like a foundry cat. I’m not sure if the man in The Royal Oak in Great Wyrley was the landlord but he kept glancing at me then his watch. It was only 7.50 pm. I took the hint and fled. The customers in The Beech Tree in Blackheath seemed to be giving the landlord money to put in the jukebox. I’m sure it’s the other way round in most pubs.

There were other things that all added to the challenge experience. Making The Albion in Rugeley all about me with friends and customers all chanting my name was ace – we then got told off for singing Walsall songs. The Bulls Head in Sedgley did a great range of Thai food including a dish called Gang Dang. Naturally I had to sing “we’re having a Gang Dang, we’re having a ball” all the way to the next pub. Talking of singing on the way to pubs, in Ye Olde Smack in Leigh On Sea they played Bulletproof by La Roux, so I sang it all the way to the next pub and continued as we ventured in. Unfortunately the toilets were right by the front door and I darted straight in. I was still in full flow of singing rather loudly. Two gents at the urinals – also in full flow did not appreciate the sudden serenading and gave me daggers.

In Shrewsbury at the Salopian Bar I had my first chicken and ham pork pie which was amazing but sparked a discussion with two local ladies as to if it counted as a pork pie as it contained chicken. This discussion somehow turned to underwear and culminated in them asking to see my boxers. Their wish was granted. I didn’t think to ask if they had white bras on. I always miss a trick.

I could list other things but I’m conscious of the word count however I must give a mention to the Swan & Railway in Wigan. This was a great pub but the upholstery needed a bit of tlc. I wondered if I could fit my mossiv head in the hole in one of the seats. It had to be done. It did fit. I must apologise to the barman in The Velvet Coaster in Blackpool who gave me the dirtiest look ever, just because I was using the lift. I’d never seen a lift in a pub before and was somewhat excited. He wasn’t though, but couldn’t be arsed to run up the stairs to issue a reprimand.

The challenge petered out a bit in the later months and in the end I only just made it. The target was 366 and I made it to 367 on the penultimate day. I didn’t even bother going out for a tick on February 29th. I did however wonder if I could do this sort of challenge for a third time. More on that at a later date.

Right, before I reveal the top 10 pubs of the challenge I’d better cater for the fans of stats. Here are some figures. Pubs which gave a Pointless quiz machine win – 27. Pubs that were vacated and immediately slagged off on Twitter – 1. Pubs that were entered but not ticked off due to behind the bar twattery – 2. Pubs that were departed quickly due to UB40 coming on – 7. Pubs where I nearly pulled on the car park with a lass that wasn’t even going in the place – 1.

Okay so we are at the business end of the blog. The top 10 pubs. Please note that pubs on the challenge do not get much of a chance to impress. They normally have just the time it takes to drink a pint – not long in my case, to make an impression and sometimes pubs are visited on afternoons which probably isn’t the best time to call but we can only judge on what we see. So, please put on the theme tune to Pick Of The Pops and let’s do the rundown.

10 – The White Hart – Shifnal. This was a class pub. Best in Shifnal. We weren’t going in, but I saw it and insisted. Busy and offering great beer. Possibly would have been higher but I docked the place a point as people were dressed in Halloween outfits a week early.

9 – The Crown Inn – Stourbridge. Again busy but comfortably so. Great beer, amazing baps and I liked the barmaid.

8 – The Borough Arms – Crewe. Like a beer warehouse there that was that much choice. Friendly barmaid, great baps (the eatable type) and 7 handwashes and 4 options of loo roll. Wasn’t meant to be anywhere near this pub on the day, but trains were not playing nicely so had to miss Penkridge and get to Crewe early. Glad we got acquainted.

7 – The Brewers Arms – Lewes. I had a choice just before my train. Have a gander at the local football ground (The Dripping Pan) or pop and see Anne Of Cleavage’s old house – the one Henry VIII gave her upon divorce. Or come to this pub. I chose the later. Barmaid was ace and said I could have a few samples – I stupidly opted for the first ale but the main highlight of this place was the wall which contained printed A4 sheet’s of all the class lines that had been uttered in the place. By whom and date etc. If my old local The Fitters had done this, then there would be no paper or trees left in the world.

6 – Wigan Central – Wigan. By far the best micropub I’ve been in yet. Ale was class and the numerous fellow Saddlers all added up to a fine visit. A rare two pint pub.

5 The Rat & Ratchett – Huddersfield. This pub contained my favourite pinball machine (The Addams Family), great ale and just had that “ace pub” vibe.

4 – The Strawberry Gardens – Fleetwood. Class pub, and there were very few tears shed when the match was called off. Enjoyed several hours here with a great bunch of fellow Saddlers and the one pint per pub rule was not just broken but given a damn good shoeing. Docked a point for a lack of appearance from Syd Little who runs the place. (2026 update – he doesn’t anymore.)

3 – The Howard – Sheffield. Ace music (The Vaccines as we walked in), cool vibe, and lots of northern lasses. This just felt like a class place.

2 – Old No 7’s – Barnsley. Could write a blog just on this place. Tremendous beer, cracking bar staff, exceptional pork pie, friendly locals. Some great signage (I love a sign me). I’d never had a pale stout before I walked in here. One of the pubs in my novel has been altered to be more like this place – no higher accolade than that surely?

1 – The Rutland Arms. Sheffield. Local beer called “Reet Pale Ale”. More quality signage including advising that the staff love gin, the stronger ales on a board marked “Danger Beer” and of course the list of “Forbidden Music” by the “Play Music Box Thing”. This was a Sunday afternoon visit and just a one pinter but am looking to have a few Saturday night hours in there after The Mighty Saddlers have visited Bramall Lane in April. And the food must be sampled. Looking forward to having the “Slutty Rutty Butty”. (Best food name of the challenge along with the Smelly Elly Burger at The Elephant & Castle in Lewes). (2026 update – the April visit did happen, as did the Slutty Rutty Butty. Bith were excellent.)

Honorary Mentions.

Alehouse Rock in Moxley – Class pub, outstanding beer and it gets a mention as I got the only free pint of the challenge in here. Yes, I’m easily bought. I’d make a great FIFA delegate.

The Lamp Tavern – Moseley, Birmingham. Very friendly, both from landlord and customer. Good beer and free food. All good.

So that’s it. Challenge and blog over. I would recommend doing it. Pubs are great and urge you to support them, be it your local or a pub that you pass all the time but have not ventured into. As my mate Ian says, it’s a great feeling pushing open a pub door for the first time to see what you are going to get behind it. You could go to a different town for a pub crawl which is always fun. I was somewhat hyper when arriving in Wigan to drink for the first time and hugged every Walsall fan in the first pub “Last Orders” and I also nearly got run over when excitedly hunting for the Burton Bridge pub last Saturday. So please enjoy those pubs out there, but make sure you observe the Green Cross Code or I’ll set Alvin Stardust on ya.