Comedy duo visiting Highland pubs to highlight the industry’s crisis
A comedy duo are visiting pubs in the north of Scotland to highlight the industry’s crisis.
Thinking Drinkers Tom Sandham and Ben McFarland are visiting 25 Scottish pubs on a 1000-mile plus, two-week journey on a tandem bike to toast the great British pub and highlight the industry’s crisis.
The pair are cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats and showcasing how wonderful and versatile pubs can be by only eating, drinking, sleeping and stopping in British boozers, including Black Isle Bar in Inverness and The Last House at John O' Groats, among others in Scotland.
“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 Mr Sandham.
“No shops. No restaurants. No coffee chains or cafes. No petrol stations. Not even a Greggs.”
Mr 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 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.”
Andrew Mowat of The Last House at John O' Groats, Caithness commented: "Pubs have been hit very hard by extra taxes, unfair fees and burdensome bureaucracy - which have pushed up prices and made running a pub increasingly difficult.
“But pubs have always been incredibly resilient and will navigate this perfect storm by doing what they always have done - enhancing the lives of those that live around them.”
As well as being two halves of comedy duo Thinking Drinkers, Tom and Ben are known for their writing and alcohol industry expertise, and presenting drinks segments on ITV’s This Morning.
They have received industry support from pub companies, brewers, drinks firms and the online resource ‘Stay In A Pub’ for their bike ride.
“Pubs like the ones we’re visiting in Scotland are much more than just a place to drink,” said Mr Sandham.
“They are unique, historical national institutions, the cornerstones of our communities, the heartbeat of our high streets and proven antidotes to loneliness.
“Please come and meet us at one of them on our journey.
“We want to encourage the public to get off their sofas and support their locals – because if we don’t, we’ll seriously miss them when they’re gone.”
Tom and Ben’s Highland itinerary:
Monday June 30
The Bothy Bar, Pitlochry
Inshriach House - Shed & Distillery, Aviemore
Old Bridge Bunkhouse, Aviemore
Tuesday July 1
The Cairn Hotel
Black Isle Inverness Bar
The Mallard Bar, Dingwall
Commercial Hotel, Alness
Wednesday July 2
Invershin Hotel Bunkhouse & Bar, Invershin
The Crask Inn, Lairg
Farr Bay Inn, Thurso
Thursday July 3
The Strathy Inn, Thurso
Halladale Inn, Thurso
Ferry Inn, Thurso
The Last House, John O’Groats Brewery
