Kidderminster pub 15,000th on 26-year pub crawl (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Kidderminster pub 15,000th on 26-year pub crawl

7:40am Tuesday 10th August 2010 in News By Charlie Crabtree

Milestone: The team of Black Country drinkers reach their 15,000th pub in Kidderminster. Buy photo: 331018J Buy this photo »

A TEAM of Black Country drinkers who have been touring British and Irish pubs for 26 years have checked off the 15,000th pub on their extensive list - in Kidderminster.

Peter Hill and his team-mates, John Drew, Karl Bradley and Peter’s dad, Joe Hill, began their mammoth pub crawl in 1984, sporting their trademark beer mat waistcoats.

They have since raised thousands of pounds for charity on their way around the country’s pubs and celebrated their latest milestone at The Watermill, in Park Lane, last Friday.

Peter Hill, 54, said: “It has been really exciting. It has taken 26 years to get to here - 10,000 pubs was a big milestone and to get to 15,000 it has taken another nine years. I am chuffed to bits.”

The group have travelled nearly 250,000 miles around Britain, visiting pubs.

In the 1980s, they raised £3,000 by drinking in every pub in Worcestershire and Herefordshire and they have since raised more than £8,000 with further adventures.

There have been up to 20 drinkers in the team but they remain a foursome - after Mr Bradley put his pub crawling days behind him - thanks to driver, Gary Mountain.

They have had a pint in every county in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England and also pub crawled their way along the coasts of Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

As three of them work, most of their travelling and pint drinking takes place on Sundays and during holidays.

Peter Hill, a machinist, said: “We have so many stories to tell I can’t remember them all. We have slept in fields, barns, stables and even graveyards and still do occasionally.

“I don’t think you can beat my hobby if you like beer, travelling, history and adventure.”

He added it was a shame they could not live long enough to reach their ultimate goal of drinking in every pub in Great Britain.

He explained: “We all have our favourite pubs in different counties. There are some superb pubs in Worcestershire. I could go on and on naming them.”

Peter Hill has written a book - Beer There and Everywhere - about his earlier escapades, which will be published later in the year.