The Thinking Drinkers cycle across the country to back Britain's boozers

Comedy booze experts The Thinking Drinkers are cycling the length of Britain on a tandem bike - staying and eating only in pubs.

Tom Sandham and Ben McFarland sat they are embarking on the 1000+ mile, two-week journey to highlight the plight of the boozer, after discovering six close every week.

And they are making the trip on a tandem which they borrowed off a man they met down the pub.

‘If we don’t use pubs, we’ll lose them – so that’s what we’re doing, relying entirely on lovely locals during our nationwide ride,’ said Sandham. ‘No shops. No restaurants. No coffee chains or cafes. No petrol stations. Not even a Greggs.’

McFarland added: ‘We’ve never ridden a tandem, it’s a frighteningly long way and rather than a gentle pootle around some pretty pubs, it’s going to be a brutal bike ride on behalf of the beleaguered British boozer - but it’s nothing compared to the daily struggles facing pubs up and down the country.’

The pair kick off on June 20 and will  be documenting every mile of their epic pub pilgrimage on their Thinking Drinkers YouTube channel.

Along the route - available here - they aim to visit four pubs every day, a total of more than 60 pubs over the two weeks, but they’ve promised that even after they’ve dismounted, they will not be exceeding the recommended 14 units a week.

The aim is to get people out to the pubs to meet them, and draw attention to the campaign to reduce taxation on licensed premises.

 Sandham said:  ‘We are urging pub-goers to get behind the campaign… By making a lot of noise, we will make things happen and raise awareness of the issues facing pubs. People need to know.

‘Pubs today are much more than just a place to drink. They are unique, historical national institutions, the cornerstones of our communities, the heartbeat of our high streets and proven antidotes to loneliness.’

McFarland added:  ‘The costs for pubs to simply do business are far too high – no other business sector in the economy is taxed so heavily and unjustly and this has pushed the price of a pint above the £5 barrier. 

‘With even really busy pubs currently struggling to survive and the average publican making just 12p profit on a pint, we’re calling for a reduction in business rates to give them a much-needed lifeline.’

‘Pubs are essential in bringing communities together and do so much to improve our collective mental well-being. They provide crucial social respite to the people who live around them - from coffee mornings for new parents and pensioners; to live music, comedy nights, kids’ parties, pilates, hot-desking work spaces and, hopefully, somewhere safe to apply anti-chafing cream to very sore bottoms!’

Published: 28 May 2025