EVERY penny counts as the cost of living keeps soaring and wages stand still, with proper nights out often a rare occurrence.
However, there is a ray of light in the form of one English town’s all-you-can-drink collective booze-up – compared by thirsty revellers to Spanish party capital Benidorm.
Sun reporter Mark Lister joined revellers on the ‘Crisis Buster’ pub crawl[/caption]
Each bar was packed with punters singing and dancing[/caption]
Pals Siobhan Giggins, Ann-Marie Hanley, Amanda MacIntosh, Jayne Dunn and Kerry Helsdown[/caption]
In the name of investigative journalism, I grabbed my drinking pants – and umbrella – for the big sesh last Saturday in rainy Doncaster.
For just £20, I was given a ‘Crisis Buster’ wristband, affording me entry into six bars, and all I could drink.
The South Yorkshire town’s attempt to revitalise its pub scene, the deal lasts from 2pm to 6pm on Saturdays and can serve as a substitute for a full night out – meaning you’re back home in time for dinner – or as a warm-up for truly painting the town red.
A similar deal runs on Fridays between 8pm and 10pm.
It comes after The Sun visited the British town with the least amount of pubs per person – which has lost half its boozers – as part of our Save Our Sups campaign.
The shrinking pub scene across the country is being blamed on tax hikes and crippling running costs, with an average of 50 pubs closing per month in 2024.
And Doncaster is far from exempt – with The Slug & Lettuce and Yates, both on Hall Gate in town centre, and run by the Stonegate Group, put up for sale this month, reports Doncaster Free Press.
‘Benidorm but cheaper & with more rain’
I arrived in Doncaster on Saturday afternoon soggy, but my spirits soon brightened when I got my yellow wrist band from the first bar on the tour: Mint.
All you have to do is flash your band at the bar and helpful staff hand you the drink of your choice. In my case, a pint of Fosters. And you can sup as much as you want.
The bar was already bouncing with revellers singing and striking moves, and it was only a small stroll to the Social bar, where a live band was playing and another flash of the wrist band was greeted with another pint by friendly staff.
Another flash and revellers are handed a free pizza slice.
Outside, I chatted to local lasses and fellow Crisis Busters Zoe Smith and Jodie Foster, both 40.
“I don’t go out often because it is so expensive nowadays,” said Zoe.
“But for £20, this is a no-brainer. It is a brilliant atmosphere and everybody is having a great time and turning back the clock to when we could afford to go on pub crawl.”
After the Social, it was a mad dash in the torrential rain to Mambo, where I sunk a pint of Strongbow as the party got into full swing, before skipping on to Ballers, which was conveniently right next door.
Crisis Buster buddies can be spotted on the streets sporting their wrist bands, and groups were pleased as punch to spot The Sun joining in with the fun.
Pals Chelsea Norbury, 28, and Holly Higgins, 36, had already enjoyed a few scoops as they headed to Boogie, next on the run.
Chelsea said: “I’ve done this Crisis Buster five times, but it’s Holly’s first and we are loving it.
“Forking out just £20 for a great Saturday afternoon out drinking with your mate is a fantastic deal.”
Holly chipped in: “I will definitely be doing this again. Other towns should offer similar deals.
“The atmosphere around the bars is amazing.”
The deal is perfect for a Saturday afternoon sesh[/caption]
Pals of all ages were getting in on the action[/caption]
A punter having fun between pubs[/caption]
Mark was pleased the bars were close to each other[/caption]
Birthday girl Jayne Dunne, 57, was celebrating her day with friends Siobhan Coggins, Ann-Marie Handley, 54, Amanda McIntosh, 50, and Kerry Helsdown, 46, and were in high spirits.
“We have come here from Newark for the party atmosphere,” said Jayne. “It’s our first time, but it won’t be our last.
“It’s just like Benidorm, if not cheaper – but just with a bit more rain.”
The sixth and final bar on the tipple trek for The Sun was the Hallcross.
After a last pint in there it was time for me to head home, but I left hundreds of thirsty revellers still downing the drinks and making the most of the deal.
Kim Addy, 41, Katie Fiddler, 39, Clare Skidmore, 41, and Donna Carpenter, also 41, were in for the long haul.
Kim said: “We’ve come by train from Sheffield for the day and the Crisis Buster is a brilliant way to save money.
“Six pounds for the return train ticket and £20 for the wrist band, I reckon I’ve already saved myself around sixty quid on a typical night out in any other town or city.”
CAMRA’s Yorkshire Regional Director, Kevin Keaveny, said: “Pubs are struggling, with many closing at an alarming rate across Yorkshire and the UK.
“The fact that pubs in Doncaster had to band together for a ‘Crisis Buster’ event to get people into pubs shows how difficult the environment is for the hospitality trade.
“But pubs can only do so much themselves, which is why we are urging Government to take action at the upcoming Budget to save our pubs.
“We are calling for a scrapping of the damaging Employers National Insurance contributions, a cut on tax charged on pints in pubs, a reduction on VAT and for help towards sky-high energy bills.”
Michael Kill CEO of the Night Time Industries Association, said: “The Night Time Industries Association recognises the brutal economic climate facing both businesses and customers right now.
“Operators are being squeezed from every angle – soaring costs, rising bills, and squeezed disposable incomes – forcing venues to fight harder than ever just to keep their doors open, while still offering nights out people can actually afford.
“The Crisis Buster bar crawl in Doncaster, alongside initiatives like BYOB at XLR in Manchester, are clear examples of how venues are doing everything they can to square the circle — delivering value for money while keeping the lights on. It underlines just how critical our sector is to towns and cities across the UK.
“While we welcome creative efforts to attract people back into towns and cities, safety and responsibility must always come first — from venues ensuring safe environments, to customers planning their nights with care and drinking responsibly.
“The NTIA continues to push for a stronger, fairer night-time economy nationwide, where businesses aren’t left on the edge, forced into heavy discounting just to survive, and where communities can enjoy safe, vibrant, and accessible nightlife.”
The rain wasn’t deterring the revellers from bar hopping[/caption]
A punter strikes a pose during a smoke break[/caption]
£20 gets entry and a drink in six bars until 6pm[/caption]
A woman shields herself from the rain with a jacket[/caption]
Mark made it all the way to the final boozer – but was soaked through[/caption]
