Thomas Vosper has visited more than 1,000 pubs as part of his annual pub crawl mission, which began in his mid-twenties and has since turned into a bestselling book series. His latest title, Historic Pub Crawls Through Scotland, is released this week. Vosper believes pubs are essential to British culture: "Whenever you go anywhere in the country, whether you're with friends, with family, even if you're on your own, the first place you stop for is somewhere to get a drink and a bite to eat," he told the Daily Star. "I think that pubs and pub crawls specifically are a fantastic way of seeing different parts of history in an area and also the people as well."
From Hobby to Viral Sensation
After personal setbacks in 2023, Vosper compiled 13 of his favourite pub crawl routes into a self-published book that went viral. His Instagram account @historicpubcrawls now has over 250,000 followers. He recommends planning for about 12 stops on a crawl: "You can get a good variety of pubs that way… if you don't fancy a certain type of pub, you can skip it and still know that it's not long to get to the next one."
Top 10 Favourite Pubs
Vosper named 10 particularly memorable boozers he would return to for a quiet pint:
- The Marquis – Covent Garden, London: Originally named the Hole in the Wall, it has a history linked to Anne Talbot and offers an eclectic atmosphere with retro music.
- The Warrington Hotel – Maida Vale, London: A Grade II listed pub featured in the 1970s TV show The Sweeney, with cosy old-school decor.
- The Old Joint Stock – Birmingham: Rated by many as the best pub in the Midlands, it has a studio theatre and excellent pub grub.
- The Philharmonic – Liverpool: A Victorian pub with antique wood panelling, stained glass, and chandeliers, offering a step back in time.
- The Vines – Liverpool: Known as "The Big House," dating to 1907, with grand mahogany bars and a stained-glass dome.
- The Peveril of the Peak – Manchester: A 1820s pub of outstanding historic importance, named after a Sir Walter Scott novel or stagecoach.
- The Guildford Arms – Edinburgh: One of Scotland's "People's Palaces," with elaborate design from the Golden Age of Scottish pub design.
- The Centurion – Newcastle: A wood-panelled pub with a sports bar makeover but retains old-world charm.
- The Prince Albert – Brighton: A music venue pub known for its mural of music legends like Amy Winehouse and Jimi Hendrix.
- The Gravediggers – Dublin: An old-school pub with no music or TV, focusing on conversation and serving one of the best pints of Guinness.
Regional Favourites
While London has the widest variety with 3,500 pubs (about 10% of UK pubs), Vosper praises Liverpool as "absolutely sensational," particularly The Philharmonic Dining Rooms and The Vines. He controversially states: "Liverpool is better than Manchester for pubs." For Guinness, he says Ireland is unbeatable: "If you go to Ireland, that's where the best Guinness is. End of. The debate's over." For lager, he recommends Scotland and Tennent's.
Humble Beginnings
Vosper started his journey by approaching pubs saying, "You're in my book. Can I have a free pint?" Most refused, but one gave him free pints all night. That was 2½ years ago. His first few books did well, leading to a publishing deal. His book launch for Historic Pub Crawls Through Scotland will be at the Guildford Arms in Edinburgh, which he calls "one of the most beautiful pubs in the whole world."
