When to try
Twelve pubs takes most of a day. Pick the day well, start early enough, and you'll spend it in pubs rather than in queues.
Picking a day
- Avoid Saturday nights if you can. Saturday is the most popular day for Dozen groups, so you'll often be sharing the route with several others. Add the usual weekend crowds and there are queues at some doors and less patience for big groups who are a few pubs in.
- A weekday or a Sunday is easier. You'll find space to sit, get served faster, and door staff are more relaxed.
- Mondays and early Tuesdays are a problem. The Salmon of Knowledge is closed on Mondays and doesn't open until 4pm on Tuesdays. Every other route goes past it, so on a Monday do the Monday Dozen, which skips it.
- Check the football. Small pubs like the Dog and Partridge and the Nelson fill up when a big game is on.
- Check for regular events. Quiz nights, live music and open mic nights can fill a pub or take over the room for the evening. Each pub's page lists what's on, so check the ones on your route before picking a night.
Start times
Most pubs open at noon, so for the full twelve a start around midday is about right. The Gateway (8am) and The Didsbury (9am) open earliest if you want a breakfast first. Each route page has a day-by-day table. Here are the earliest starts side by side.
| Route | Sat | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Village Dozen | 11:30 | 11:30 | Closed | 11:45 | 11:30 | 11:30 | 11:30 |
| West Didsbury Finish | 12:00 | 12:00 | Closed | 12:50 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 |
| The Original Dozen | 11:30 | 11:30 | Closed | 12:45 | 11:30 | 11:30 | 11:30 |
| Out and Back | 12:00 | 12:00 | 16:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 12:00 |
| Reverse Dozen | 11:30 | 11:30 | Closed | 14:30 | 11:30 | 11:30 | 11:30 |
| West Didsbury Walk | 12:00 | 12:00 | Closed | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 12:00 |
| Withington Finish | 11:30 | 11:30 | Closed | 11:45 | 11:30 | 11:30 | 11:30 |
| East Didsbury Start | 10:50 | 10:50 | Closed | 11:00 | 10:50 | 10:50 | 10:50 |
| Monday Dozen | 11:30 | 11:30 | 11:30 | 11:30 | 11:30 | 11:30 | 11:30 |
| Baker's Dozen | 11:30 | 11:30 | Closed | 12:15 | 11:30 | 11:30 | 11:30 |
| Half Dozen | 11:00 | 11:00 | Closed | 14:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 |
Getting in
- Door staff can and will turn away anyone who looks too drunk. One person struggling can get the whole group refused.
- Groups of more than about ten are easier to let in if you split up, or if someone rings ahead.
- Bring ID, even if you're well past looking 25.
- Fancy dress is usually fine, but leave out anything that looks like a weapon or hides faces. Some pubs won't let those in. See fancy dress.
- Bring a card. The Didsbury takes card only, and paying for rounds is quicker by phone or card everywhere.
Pacing
- Twelve pints is a lot. Halves, small glasses of wine, or a soft drink every few pubs will get you further.
- Eat before you start, and again around the halfway point. See food and shops.
- Drink water as you go. Every pub has to give you free tap water if you ask.
- Agree how you're getting home before you start. See getting there and back.