A Cambridgeshire man with an undeniable passion for local establishments believes he has set a new Guinness World Record for visiting the most pubs in a 24-hour period. Matt Ellis of St Neots, embarked on an epic pub crawl this past Sunday, propping up an impressive 51 bars to be the first to lay claim to the individual title.
Ellis’s marathon began at The Regal in Cambridge on Sunday at midday and concluded triumphantly at The Weeping Ash in his hometown of St Neots on Monday evening. The entire feat was completed in just 8 hours, 52 minutes and 37 seconds, well within the 24-hour window, surpassing the previous unverified record attempts and establishing a new benchmark.
While the current official Guinness World Record for “Most pubs visited in 24 hours (individual)” stands at 152, achieved by Martin Perez in Buenos Aires, Argentina on March 15, 2025 (as per Guinness World Records’ website), Matt Ellis’s attempt was specifically aimed at setting a new record for a category that may have been less formalized at the time of his attempt in October 2021. Guinness World Records has since clarified that new criteria for such records are constantly being updated and verified.
“It was all about the joy of pubs and the people you meet,” Ellis stated, highlighting the primary motivation behind his ambitious endeavor. Beyond personal achievement, his pub crawl aimed to raise crucial awareness for the hospitality sector, which faced immense challenges during the recent pandemic. “Pubs over the last 18 months have had a very difficult time,” he remarked. “I am a big fan of pubs – the contribution they make to our society and the camaraderie you can enjoy in them.”
To ensure his attempt met Guinness World Records’ stringent requirements, Ellis had to consume at least 125ml of any beverage in each pub, have a photo taken, and secure verification from a member of staff. He confirmed that he largely stuck to non-alcoholic options like orange juice and Diet Coke to maintain responsible consumption throughout the taxing journey.
Ellis has submitted all his meticulously collected evidence and paperwork to the Guinness World Records team for official verification. The pub community and enthusiasts across the UK are eagerly awaiting confirmation of his remarkable achievement, which underscores the enduring spirit and importance of the local pub.
