THIS pub fanatic deserves a toast for visiting more than 19,000 watering holes from the Good Beer Guide.

Stuart Ashby has drunk in exactly 19,186 pubs across Britain as part of a quest to visit each venue featured in different versions of the Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA) popular publication.

The 65-year-old’s visit to The Plough in Oxfordshire last weekend marked the completion of CAMRA’s 1996 Good Beer Guide. He has also cracked the 1984, 1987, 1990 and 1993 editions. The books each feature up to 8,000 different pubs across the UK.

Mr Ashby, of Buckingham Road, Shoreham, said: “I only go to them once and tick them off the list. It’s hard to say what my favourites are, it wouldn’t be fair really.

"Sometimes you’ll go at opening time when there’s no atmosphere, or last orders when everyone’s queuing and it’s busy – or maybe perhaps in the afternoon when it’s empty or heaving.

“I think what makes a good pub are friendly staff and a landlord or landlady that makes you feel welcome. And of course the beer needs to be good. It could be a grotty pub as long as the beer is served well and the pipes are clean.

“Personally I like rural pubs myself. Ones that are central to the community with friendly locals.”

The retired railway worker said his epic pub journey started in 1984 when, on a day out with friends, he suggested they visit the nearest venue possible to grab a drink.

Mr Ashby, a season ticket holder at Brighton and Hove Albion and a cricket fan, added: “I like real ale anyway, but I was with a few friends from football and intended to go in the first pub I saw.

"My friends suggested another one down the road that was featured in the Good Beer Guide so I thought I’d get one of my own books, and it all started from there.

One of Mr Ashby’s stand-out memories include a time when a landlord armed with a shotgun greeted him at the door with a mouthful of abuse.

He said: “The guide said the pub opened at a certain time and I arrived to see it closed. I knocked and the next thing I knew I had a rifle in my face.

“I apologised and walked away.”

Factfile

The Good Beer Guide is published annually by CAMRA, listing what it considers to be the best cask ale outlets in the UK.

The book is currently edited by Roger Protz, but the contents are assembled by CAMRA’s 200-plus local branches.

The local branches consist of members who have an interest in keeping up to date with what is going on regarding the availability of real ale cask-conditioned beer in their own branch area.

Some great Sussex pubs to drink in this weekend

WITH Sussex due to be bathed in sunshine this weekend, Stuart Ashby recommended five pubs across Sussex to visit.

The Crab Tree Inn, Buckingham Road, Shoreham. Probably my favourite pub around here. It does Fullers London Pride and has a nice pub garden.

The Lord Nelson, Trafalgar Street, Brighton. Good beer and good beer enthusiasts.

The Evening Star, Surrey Street, Brighton. Dark Star beer and Fuller London Pride, probably my favourite beer.

Tower, London Road, St Leonards. We went there the day after St Patrick’s Day and they let us wear all the green hats for a picture, which was a nice touch.

The Counting House, Moatcroft Road, Eastbourne. A lovely place to visit on a sunny day.