All of pub-hopper Rob's astonishing numbers plus his best and worst boozers

-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


"That's very hard," laughs ale-loving Stokie Rob Cocker when asked to name his favourite pubs. It's an understandable response given the 73-year-old from Penkhull has just visited his 12,000th boozer.

The pub-hopping CAMRA member has kept a record of every different alehouse he's visited over the last 55 years. But narrowing them down to select his favourite watering holes is quite the task - especially when there are so many he struggles to remember.

"I've visited 1,400 pubs in London and they are all superb," said Stoke City fan Rob. "But it's hard to recall them." He reached his latest milestone on Friday when he took the train to Warrington, Cheshire, for a civilised pub crawl.

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Rob describes himself as a 'statto' and, aged 18, started to write down the names of the pubs he visited on the back of a fag packet before eventually keeping a diary. His figures are extraordinary - and even his wife is now fast approaching 3,000 different pub visits.

Rob Cocker enjoying a pint inside his 12,000th pub
Rob Cocker enjoying a pint inside his 12,000th pub

Rob's incredible pub-hopping stats

  • He has now visited over 12,000 different pubs since he was 18

  • He has frequented every single boozer within 20 miles of his home

  • He has drank in every city in England

  • He has gone to over 1,400 alehouses in London

  • He has visited 471 Wetherspoon pubs

Rob's top six ales

Tiny Rebel Stay Puft

Marstons Pedigree

Salopian

Cloudwater

Leather Britches

Bass

Rob Cocker has visited 12,000 different pubs
Rob Cocker has visited 12,000 different pubs

Rob's six favourite pubs

Rat Race Real Ale House, Station Approach, Hartlepool, County Durham

The Eight Bells, Church Street, Alton, Hampshire

The Royal Hop Pole (Wetherspoon), Church Street, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire

The Cask Bar, Andrew Place, Newcastle, Staffordshire

The Imperial (Wetherspoon), New N Road, Exeter, Devon

York Tap, York Station, Station Road, York, Yorkshire

And the worst...

"I still can't believe it," laughs Rob. He won't be drawn on the name of it, but says the worst watering hole was in the Black Country.

"When I went in there was a big gap between where all the people were stood and the bar. I wondered why they were queuing here.

"When I eventually got up to them there was a big sink hole in the middle of the pub! It was incredible! I've never seen anything like it."

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