MIRANDA HART NAMED NATION’S IDEAL PUB LOCK-IN COMPANION

Ultimate pub study reveals Miranda beats Clooney and Willoughby as UK’s dream lock-in companion

• UK chooses Miranda Hart as ideal pub lock-in companion • Queen Vic is voted Brits’ favourite fictional pub • Al Murray is UK’s fictional pub landlord of choice • Fish and chips is voted the ultimate pub grub • UK’s favourite pub drink is ale • A quarter of Brits voted live music as their ideal pub entertainment • Come and enjoy the ultimate pub at the Autumn Racing Weekend and 9th Ascot CAMRA

Beer Festival on Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd October 2015

XX October 2015, Ascot racecourse - With Autumn setting in and the lure of afternoons in the pub proving hard to resist, new research from Ascot racecourse has today revealed that Miranda Hart is the celebrity that Brits would most like to have a pub lock-in with. The comedienne and actress topped the celebrity lock-in list (16%) and was followed closely by TV presenter Holly Willoughby (14%) and Hollywood heartthrob George Clooney (12%). The research was conducted to celebrate Ascot’s Autumn Racing Weekend and 9th CAMRA Beer Festival on Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd October, to discover what would make the nation’s ultimate pub experience. The study showed that Brits are reluctant to share their pub time with party animals Kate Moss and Harry Styles who received just 4% and 2% of votes respectively as lock-in companions. Aside from pub lock-ins, the study also revealed that the nation’s favourite fictional pub is Eastenders’ The Queen Victoria (17%) followed by Coronation Street’s the Rovers Return (16%). Emmerdale’s The Woolpack received just 14% of the vote while pub goers are clearly worried about Del Boy falling through the bar as only 11% of people voted the Nag’s Head from Only Fools and Horses as their favourite fictional pub. While the Queen Vic was voted most highly as a fictional pub, Eastenders’ Alfie Moon, (played by Shane Ritchie) was pipped to the post in battle of the fictional pub landlords, being beaten by the pub landlord himself, comedian Al Murray (who won 16% of the vote compared to Alfie Moon’s 12%). With pub grub playing a key role in the pub experience, the study found that traditional fish and chips (17%) were more popular than a roast (16%). Both bangers and mash and burger and chips received

just 6% of the votes, suggesting that Brits believe there’s nothing better than a traditional cod and chips with mushy peas. In the battle of the nation’s ultimate pub tipple, Brits voted a pint of ale as their favourite pub drink (18%), followed by a pint of larger (16%) and then wine (14%). However, while ale was a popular choice with male punters, with 32% voting it their favourite pub drink, just 5% of women would opt for ale while 23% voted for wine. When it comes to pub entertainment, the survey revealed that nearly a quarter (24%) of participants said they would prefer live music over pub quizzes (21%). Punters weren’t keen on darts or a comedy act (both receiving 5% of the votes) but pool and watching sport were both popular choice for pub entertainment with 10% and 9% respectively. The Ascot CAMRA Beer festival, now in its ninth year will return to Ascot Racecourse on Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd October as part of the Autumn Racing Weekend. The festival will provide racegoers with the opportunity to sample more than 280 different ales, ciders and perries across the weekend alongside an excellent Flat racing card featuring the Listed LondonMetric Noel Murless Stakes on Friday and the highlyvaluable seven-furlong handicap, the £180,000 Totescoop6 Challenge Cup and two Group Three races, the Gigaset Cumberland Lodge Stakes and The John Guest Bengough Stakes on Saturday. Brits’ top fictional pubs:

• Queen Vic • Rovers Return • The Woolpack • The Nag’s Head

Brits’ top 5 favourite fictional pub landlords:

• Al Murray • Alfie Moon (Eastenders) • Mike Fisher (Only Fools & Horses) • Betty Turpin (Coronation Street) • Mick Carter (Eastenders)

Brits’ top 5 favourite pub tipples:

• Pint of ale • Pint of larger • Wine • Cider • Spirit and tonic

UK’s top picks for pub grub:

• Fish & Chips • A roast • Steak and chips • Ploughman’s • Pie & mash

For more information and images please contact

Mia Douglas Ascot@brands2Life.com

07957 148616

0207 592 1200

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