Beer lover on quest to visit every UK pub reaches his 10,000th watering hole

A man on a years-long mission to visit every pub in the UK marked his 10,000th pub with a pint in Edinburgh.

Dale Harvey, whose Great British Pub Crawl began more than four years ago, said he was "tired" but resolute to keep going on his travels around the UK.

On Monday, he arrived at Teuchters in the west end of Edinburgh where he bought a pint of Pilot beer to mark the occasion.

Mr Harvey, who is part of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) national executive, thanked staff and owner Peter Knight.

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His pub crawl began in March 2022 as a hobby, intending to visit every pub in Nottinghamshire, but it evolved to become a nationwide challenge.

His journeys across England, Scotland and Wales, where he celebrates the pubs he visit, have generated millions of views on social media.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, he said the milestone was "surreal", adding: "When I started four years and three months ago I never expected to reach 10,000 pubs."

He described Teuchters as "amazing", adding: "I love everything about Scotland when it comes to their pubs, their culture, their people, their towns.Every time I come I’m more and more impressed with the place."

Asked if the experience is still novel after 10,000 pub visits, he said: "I’m tired. I’m going away on holiday to Fuerteventura for a little sit in the sun and relax.

"But as soon as I get back, I’ll be straight back out on the road and doing it again."

Mr Harvey said that his Google research indicated there are around 40,000 pubs across the UK, though some of the premises he visits will end up closing down later during the journey.

Asked if he will see the pub crawl through to the end, he said: "Absolutely, 100 per cent determined."

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He continued: "Because my wife told me I’d never do it. And any time my wife tells me I’ll never do something, that makes me 10 times more determined to go through with it."

Raising his pint, he said: "Here’s to the next 10,000. I’m certainly not going to stop. I’m not going to slow down.

"I’m going to carry on, while there are issues to highlight, I’ll be out there doing this."

Mr Harvey has also been trying to publicise the pressures faced by licensed businesses, saying that "ever-rising costs" are pushing many to the brink.

Britain's pub industry could lose around 2,300 venues by 2029-30 without major reforms, according to the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA).

The trade body warned that thousands of establishments remain at risk despite recent interventions from Labour, including a 15 per cent reduction in rates this year and a freeze due to begin in 2027.

Pubs have continued to close at an alarming pace, with two venues shutting every day since January 2026, according to industry figures.

The Centre for Economics and Business Research echoes these concerns, arguing that existing measures merely postpone rather than prevent widespread closures.

Labour's support package has delivered £73.6million in savings for the sector during 2026-27, according to the BBPA's analysis.

Pub-specific business rates introduced in January could save individual establishments around £2,000 each, reducing the average bill to £11,459.

The two-year freeze beginning in 2027-28 is projected to provide a further £273million in relief to the sector.

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