Pub crawls didn’t start as corporate events, bar tours, or drink specials on a schedule.
They started the way most good nights do.
With friends.
Before there were wristbands, hosts with whistles, or predetermined drink menus, a pub crawl was simply a group of people deciding to move from one pub to the next together. No agenda. No leader. No rules beyond “where to next?”
The goal wasn’t to drink as much as possible — it was to be social, explore a neighborhood, and turn an ordinary night into a shared experience.
Somewhere along the way, that idea got… complicated.
Where Pub Crawls Actually Came From
The term “pub crawl” dates back to England, where pubs were (and still are) central gathering places in local communities. A crawl wasn’t an event you bought a ticket to — it was something you did.
Friends would:
- Meet at a starting pub
- Walk to the next one
- Linger where they were having fun
- Leave when they weren’t
There were no official routes. No schedules. No one telling you when to move on.
It was informal, flexible, and social by design.
Sound familiar?
When Pub Crawls Became “Events”
As pub crawls grew in popularity, especially around holidays like St. Patrick’s Day, Halloween, and New Year’s Eve, they started to shift.
Ticketing platforms appeared.
Drink specials became selling points.
Hosts were added to keep large groups moving.
Some crawls became less about connection and more about logistics — getting hundreds of people from point A to point B as quickly as possible.
For some people, that works.
For others, it misses the entire point.
The Original Spirit of a Pub Crawl
At its core, a pub crawl was never meant to be:
- A guided tour
- A drinking contest
- A race against the clock
It was meant to be:
- Self-guided
- Self-paced
- Social
- Flexible
You went where the vibe was right.
You stayed longer if you wanted.
You left early if you didn’t.
That freedom is what made pub crawls fun in the first place.
Why We Don’t Run “Traditional” Pub Crawls
At Do The Crawl, we’ve been hosting themed crawls for almost 10 years. Over that time, we’ve seen every version of a pub crawl imaginable.
What we learned is simple:
People don’t want to be herded. They want a reason to show up.
That’s why our events are Prize Crawls.
Instead of centering the night around drink specials or a rigid schedule, we center it around:
- Games
- Contests
- Prizes
- Social interaction
Drinks are optional.
Pace is up to you.
There’s no host telling you where to go next.
You get the map.
You get the missions.
You crawl your way.
Why Prizes Changed Everything
Prizes do something drink specials never will.
They give people a reason to participate — not just consume.
They encourage interaction, creativity, and friendly competition. They turn a night out into something memorable without requiring anyone to drink more than they want to.
And they attract a different kind of crowd:
- Easygoing
- Social
- Interested in fun, not chaos
Which is exactly how pub crawls started in the first place.
The Modern Pub Crawl, Reimagined
Today, pub crawls can be anything.
And that’s okay.
Some people want drink deals and guided tours.
Some people want structure.
Others want flexibility, games, and a reason to leave the house without pressure.
Our crawls are for the second group.
They’re inspired by the original spirit of pub crawls — just updated for modern cities, modern crowds, and people who value experiences over excess.
Always Read the Event Description
Every pub crawl is different.
That’s why we always encourage people to read the event description before buying a ticket. Knowing what you’re signing up for makes the night better for everyone involved.
Our events are honest about what they are — and what they aren’t.
And if that aligns with what you’re looking for, we’d love to crawl with you.