Dale Harvey - a 37-year-old on a mission to have a drink in every British pub - has named St Albans' Ye Olde Fighting Cocks as one of his favourites.

Dale Harvey, 37, and Holly Harvey, 31, started the mammoth task in March last year - and have already spent £22k on alcohol.

They have had a half pint or a spirit and mixer in 2,192 pubs so far - around 5 per cent of Britain's total number of boozers.

Dale and Holly's record is 27 pubs in a day - more than one an hour.

The pair, from Nottingham, started their drinking journey after growing tired of seeing the nation's watering holes shutting.

Dale, a business owner, said: "We have been going for 590 days. We love it.

Herts Advertiser: Dale and Holly are on a mission to raise the profile of the great British pub.Dale and Holly are on a mission to raise the profile of the great British pub. (Image: SWNS)

"We have a half or a spirit and a mixer in every pub. The record we have done is 27 in one day.

"We were fed up of seeing beautiful pub buildings closing down.

"We thought we would do anything we can do to raise the profile of the great British pub."

Holly, a council worker added: "I enjoy travelling to different places and experiencing new pubs every weekend.

"I enjoy meeting new people along the way and having them sometimes join us.

"My favourite pub is a tough one, there are so many good pubs for different reasons but one that springs to mind is The Holy Bush Inn in Makeney.

"It is a beautiful 17th-century village pub with stunning original features, quite the history, great beer and great pork pies."

Dale, who ran a pub of his own for 10 years, set himself the challenge in 2022 - and brought Holly along for the ride.

Herts Advertiser: Dale and Holly have had a half pint or a spirit and mixer in 2,192 pubs so far,Dale and Holly have had a half pint or a spirit and mixer in 2,192 pubs so far, (Image: SWNS)

Their number one boozer is one of their locals - the Dog and Parrot in Nottingham.

And the worst pub they have been to is also nearby - although Dale wouldn't say the name.

He simply described it as "what a crack den would look like at 4am".

The cheapest pint they've found is in Wetherspoons, where Shipyard will set you back £2.50.

The most expensive pint belongs to the Dublin Castle in Camden, north London - where a pint of lager will cost you £7.

Dale said: "I will try anything, the amount of different drinks I have tried is insane.

"I used to be a lager man and think it was the only thing I wanted to drink but I am really loving craft beer.

"I have become one of those craft beer w******."

Dale said he has always been a pub enthusiast so his friends and family didn't question his mission.

He said: "The best part of doing this is seeing these parts of the UK. Stanford is the most beautiful town I have ever been to.

Herts Advertiser: Dale and Holly's record is 27 pubs in a day.Dale and Holly's record is 27 pubs in a day. (Image: SWNS)

"So far we have visited London, Manchester, Nottingham, Warwickshire, Leicester, Nottingham, Derbyshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Staffordshire."

Dale said they will continue the challenge for as long they are able to, with a four-day pub excursion planned for Holly's birthday this weekend.

"We love travelling around the country and meeting so many great people. We have been to parts of the country we never even heard of," Dale continued.

"It has taken over our lives but we love it. We have met so many friendly people. People want to come to the pub with us, we have friends all over the country.

Herts Advertiser: Ye Olde Fighting Cocks is currently fifth on Dale's list of favourites.Ye Olde Fighting Cocks is currently fifth on Dale's list of favourites. (Image: Archant)

"Because of us, people ate going out and trying their pubs. If it can help any pub survive and stay open that is the aim."

The full list of Dale's favourite pubs so far can be seen below:

  1. Dog and Parrot, Eastwood, Nottingham
  2. Brew, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire
  3. Pharmacie Arms, Syston, Leicestershire
  4. Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, Brewhouse Yard, Nottingham
  5. Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, St Albans, Hertfordshire
  6. Paten & Co, Stamford, Lincolnshire
  7. The Ned Ludd, Nottingham
  8. Bunny Jackson's, Manchester
  9. The Ten Bells, Spitalfields, London
  10. The Blind Beggar, Whitechapel, London