How to Play the Game

Basically everyone throws in £20 which is given to Brendadio (my dad).

You put in your order - you get to pick from the wide selection of either a larger, a bitter or a Guinness (choose wisely because swopping is heavily frowned upon) and we are off.

Nothing too sinister in that right?

Well bear in mind that because we go to all the old boys pubs £20 gets you about 7/8 pints and that the session kicks off at about 5. The second ‘money drop’ (£10 this time) usually hits at about 7 – so you can see the kind of pace the three old fella’s set.

And the pace doesn’t stop.

You see the catch is that my Dad and Uncles aren’t out for the night, they meet the wives in Rain Bar at 8.30 and are usual done and back home by 10 (in the case of Special Les, properly done!) Whereas our night is only begging.

So they go hell for leather – basically my dad goes ahead at each bar with my uncles orders the round and has it waiting for you on the bar as you arrive (it is funny seeing 15 pints lined up on a bar mind).

Only problem is that by the time you’ve had half your pint, they are out of the door and one their way to the next pub. It is a vicious circle gentlemen and one that has claimed MANY victims.

You see it’s not always the volume that gets you, it’s the pace (as Maddog can testify).

Normally by the time we hit rain bar to meet up with our female friends we are a gurning mess…and there’s still 6 hours to go…this is usually the time some idiot shouts up the dreaded words ‘cheekies?’ If you hear that, head for the nearest exit.

I’ve actually not remembered leaving Rain Bar before now despite the fact that not only did we leave, but we were in a club for 3 hours afterwards and don’t even get me started on having to help Matt throw up outside BEFORE 8.30 (now that was heavy year).

Author Fraser

Three Simple Rules

01. Keep moving
02. Keep the banter going
03. Keep an eye on the kitty

01 Detail

Fall behind and you get left behind.
Skipping (ie missing or diluting one’s order – buying a half perhaps) is the most frowned upon of all offences and punished with a nick name – re: my uncle ‘Special Les’ who made the mistake of ordering a ‘pint of special’ (ie Larger shandy)
The name has stuck.
It was 5 years ago.

02 Detail
Banter is key to the pub crawl. See Uncle Paul, the KING of banter.

03 Detail
Keep an eye on the kitty because there was a dark incident a few years ago when my dad appeared to leave with some of the left over kitty (this has still yet to go to court). But as a general rule follow the kitty because it follows the route and is ALWAYS first to the bar.

Past Stories

Please share past stories you may wish to share of this momentous annual event

Tips and Tricks

Just to get us started;

01. Where available stand by indoor shrubery

02. Monday, book it off... wise move!

03. Steer clear of Sam when it comes to getting into smaller rounds in Rain Bar. Generally (unless you have in interest in breakaway football clubs), but also because once the pace has been set early doors, he will look to maintain it for the rest of the night. Only serious drinkers – or people who want to throw up - need apply.

04. Special prize if you can remember the exact point Andy P’s homing beacon kicks in and he leaves to go home.

05. Extra points if you get Matt so drunk his girlfriend has to put him in a taxi home because he’s spent the last half an hour in the girls toilets throwing up (see last year).