Couple name the UK's best Wetherspoons after visiting 500 in quest to reach them all

Dedicated duo Phil, 77, and Julie Fox, 74, challenged themselves over 15 years ago to visit all 809 Wetherspoons in the UK, and have now visited their 500th boozer

A dedicated duo have hit a milestone in their unique quest to visit every Wetherspoons across the UK, having just enjoyed a pint at their 500th establishment and revealed their favourite one.

Wetherspoons enthusiasts Phil, 77, and Julie Fox, 74, from Halifax, West Yorkshire, set themselves this boozy challenge over 15 years ago, aiming to visit all 809 of the chain's pubs. Their latest conquest was The William Adams in Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk, marking the halfway point in their epic pub crawl.

However, Phil, a retired newspaper production worker, has confessed that completing the mission might be "impossible" due to the logistical nightmare of reaching the six Wetherspoons located inside airport departure lounges. Despite nearly throwing in the towel after their 500th Wetherspoons visit, Phil revealed: "We nearly called it quits when we reached 500 but that wouldn't have lasted long.

"It's impossible to do it though because we would have to book holidays abroad, because there's two at Birmingham Airport. So it's a bit of a trek to go to Birmingham, just to fly to Spain for Wetherspoons."

To celebrate their achievement and prove it to their family, they even marked the occasion with '500' written on a piece of cardboard. Phil, who is also a grandfather-of-seven, reminisced about how the idea sprouted back in 2007 during a session at his local Spoons.

Initially, the couple had only planned to visit 100 Wetherspoons, but the adventure quickly escalated. Phil recalled: "We ran out of conversation and we were staring at each other, so I asked her how many spoons we had been to. I worked out we had been in maybe 70, so we decided to do 100.

"We then went for 200 and it's carried on - it's become a part-time hobby."

Julie and Phil will plan trips to different parts of the UK so they can visit the pubs and will sometimes stay in a Wetherspoons Hotel.

Phil said: "We've stayed in the hotels, the ones we've stayed in are all quite nice. But we will often stay in a Travelodge or a Premiere Inn because of the costs, they are always cheap. We did London last year, so we went to eight pubs that all have the word moon in the title, so that was a nice holiday."

The pair, who have five children between them, say their favourite pub is The Stamford Post in Stamford, Lincs.

He said: "We used to love the one in Keswick but we've got a new favourite. It's called the The Stamford Post - we've been there a few times and even visited a few days ago. It's an old newspaper office but it's really, really nice inside - they modernised it and everything."

Julie, a retired retail worker, and Phil both try and have something different every time they visit the boozers.

Phil prefers a IPA beer while Julie often goes for a lager such as San Miguel or Cruzcampo - but both of them love the halloumi wrap.

He said: "There is a good selection of beers, I've drifted towards the IPAs and they always have them. You go into a lot of modern pubs and they just have lagers, but Wetherspoons come at a good price as well. The food is good and my wife likes a beer, but she likes San Miguel and Cruzcampo."

"They are always introducing new things onto the menu, they are introducing a load of Korean things now, like crunchy chicken with coconut rice. We try all the food - we love the halloumi wraps and they are a good price."