Phil Carr, who arrived at the pub at 7.45am, likened the marathon session to a “prison sentence” where he’d be “trapped” in the famous chain.
A man committed to spending 16 hours inside a Wetherspoons pub after pledging to his followers he’d see it through.
Phil Carr, who arrived at the pub at 7.45am, likened the marathon session to a “prison sentence” where he’d be “trapped” in the famous chain. As reported by the Mirror, he described it as “the ultimate test of endurance” to remain there for such a lengthy stretch.
Making light of his self-imposed challenge, Phil quipped that he “really didn’t want to do it,” but settled at a site in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, joking: “God knows where it is, somewhere in the north”. In his video diary, Phil observed there were “20,000 people and a power station” in Gainsborough nowadays, suggesting the town was “cut off from the outside world”.
The “ordeal” kicked off as he planted himself down and requested some breakfast, “hiding in the corner”. He joked: “I don’t want to be horrible to Gainsborough, but as an outsider coming and spending 16 hours in their Wetherspoons is the most exciting thing that happened to the place for 500 years.”
Phil’s opening meal consisted of an egg muffin accompanied by a hash brown, with the entire order plus a beverage setting him back just £3.30. He remarked it was “so cheap” and thoroughly enjoyed the bargain. His day involved flicking through newspapers, admitting that “boredom was a big problem”.
He observed: “We’ve made the transition from the breakfast crowd to the day drinkers. It’s a beautiful sight. It’s like watching a flower bloom.”
Carr noted that during the bustling midday period, a traffic enforcement officer outside “really unified the pub”. He also observed that despite Wetherspoons being “one building,” it’s utilised in diverse ways by different patrons.
For his midday meal, he indulged in a “£6 feast” of panini and chips, accompanied by a beer, and admitted to making several trips to the loo for a bit of exercise. He mused: “What unit do you think you measure boredom in? Is it Big Bang theory episodes? In that case, I’m 21 Big Bang Theory episodes bored. When I get to the 10-hour mark, I’ve promised myself I’m going to change where I’m sitting in the pub.”
Phil confessed he was “looking forward” to switching seats, but when he finally did, he wasn’t keen on the “vibe” of his new spot, so he decided to have a “go on the fruit machines” to kill some time – though he dismissed them as a “mug’s game,” he did manage to pocket £50.
“My evening burger and drink were £10.42, and pints and drinks hovered between £2.50 and £3.50 all day,” he revealed, proudly displaying his haul. As the hours ticked by, he expressed concern that the staff might start “looking blankly” at him, given he’d been there all day and showed no signs of leaving.
Rounding off his day with one last meal, he opted for some nachos and another beer, which set him back another £10. Phil then quipped that after his day at Wetherspoons, he retreated to a Travelodge room, likening it to jumping “out of the frying pan and into the fire”.
