Thomas Vosper has visited more than 1,000 pubs across the UK and named two London boozers in his top 10 list. His latest book, Historic Pub Crawls Through Scotland, is released this week.
Pub crawl tradition preserved
Thomas Vosper has been organising a pub crawl for his birthday every year since his mid-20s. In 2023, after personal challenges, he turned his passion into a self-published book that became a viral sensation. He has since written six best-selling books on pub crawls.
"Whenever you go anywhere in the country, whether you're with friends, family, or even on your own, the first place you stop for is somewhere to get a drink and a bite to eat," Vosper told us. "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."
Top 10 pubs including two London favourites
Vosper compiled a list of 10 pubs he would happily return to. Two are in London: The Marquis in Covent Garden and The Warrington Hotel in Maida Vale.
- The Marquis – Covent Garden, London: Originally known as the Hole in the Wall, it has a history dating back to Anne Talbot, mistress of the Duke of Buckingham (1667-1673). It offers an eclectic ambience and retro music.
- The Warrington Hotel – Maida Vale, London: A Grade II listed building featured in the 1970s police drama The Sweeney, exuding old-school charm.
- The Old Joint Stock – Birmingham: Widely regarded as the finest pub in the Midlands, with a studio theatre and superb pub-grub menu.
- The Philharmonic – Liverpool: A Victorian pub with antique wood panelling, ornate tiling, leather sofas, stained glass, and chandeliers.
- The Vines – Liverpool: Known as "The Big House," dating back to 1907, with sweeping mahogany bars and a stained-glass dome.
- The Peveril of the Peak – Manchester: Dating from the 1820s, of "outstanding national historic importance" according to CAMRA, once used as a brothel.
- 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 retaining old-world charm.
- The Prince Albert – Brighton: A music venue and pub with a mural of Amy Winehouse, Jimi Hendrix, and Kurt Cobain.
- The Gravediggers – Dublin: Serves one of the finest pints of Guinness, with no music or TV, focusing on conversation.
London and Liverpool stand out
Vosper said London offers the broadest range of pubs: "As a Londoner, with 3,500 pubs, which is about 10% of the UK pubs, London's always the best place for a drink." He also praised Liverpool: "Liverpool's an absolutely sensational place. It's got some of the world's most beautiful pubs."
When planning a pub crawl, Vosper recommends about 12 stops: "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."
Best Guinness and lager
Vosper noted Ireland remains the ultimate destination for Guinness: "If you go to Ireland, that's where the best Guinness is. End of. The debate's over." For lager, he recommended Scotland: "Go and get a Tennent's. It's their national drink – well that or Irn-Bru."
Social media success
Vosper's @historicpubcrawls Instagram account has over 250,000 followers. It started humbly: "I started going into pubs, bearing in mind I didn't even have an Instagram account at that point, and saying 'You're in my book. Can I have a free pint?'" The first pub told him to "go and do one." Of 15 pubs, five refused, five said buy your own drink, and one gave him free pints all night. "I thought 'I might be onto something here.' That was 2½ years ago."
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."
