Comedy duo the Thinking Drinkers are throwing their heavyweight support behind the beleaguered hospitality sector with the launch of a new show celebrating the pleasures of the pub.

To recognise the hard graft of those on the frontline of pubs, bars and restaurants, there are discounted tickets available to hospitality workers at performances of Thinking Drinkers: The Booze-Ical, which premieres at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this August.
The show will see discerning drinking duo Ben McFarland and Tom Sandham express their love for the local whilst serving up, and tasting, a quintet of quality drinks brands. These include Satellite Super Session IPA from Beavertown Brewery; BenRiach 10 year-old Single Malt Whisky; Thatchers Gold Cider; The Lost Explorer Mezcal; and Dutch Barn Orchard Vodka, distilled in Yorkshire and co-owned by world-famous comedian Ricky Gervais.

The award-winning, elbow-bending entertainers are also urging their audience to sign their hard-hitting petition that demands ALL work lunches in pubs and restaurants become 100% tax-deductable - as long as there's a decent drink on the receipt.
Tom said: 'Ben and I first met when we worked on a pub trade newspaper and, frankly, most of our best - and only - work was done over a pint at lunchtime. It's heartbreaking that today's generation of workers seem to rarely even get out of the office, let alone enjoy a cheeky craft ale and a cheese toastie courtesy of HMRC to set them up for the afternoon.'

'The Booze-ical was inspired by the daily battle pubs are currently facing to survive and thrive. Hit by a combination of COVID, rising energy costs, the cost-of-living crisis and crippling business rates, we thought what they clearly need is a musical - written and performed by two people who can't sing.'
Ben added: 'The number of British boozers is shrinking like a crisp packet in a roaring pub fire and, according to some rough sums we scribbled down on a beer mat, in six years they will be outnumbered by soulless coffee chains and Greggs. It's time to rise up against the pastry-archy!

'Our last show put us in The Guiness Book of World Records for masterminding the World's Biggest Pub Quiz, so it's clear that our global influence is now huge. We have high hopes that this show will tip the balance for pubs. Bringing back lunch at the local is just the start - we want to lead the nation back to the boozer!'
Thinking Drinkers: The Booze-ical is a brand new, all-singing, all-dancing, laughter-filled, lyrical love letter to the local. Set in a pub, it co-stars the super-talented West-End singers Flat and the Curves.

Tom said: 'Thinking Drinkers: The Booze-ical has all the ingredients for the greatest lock-in of your lives: intoxicating anthems, a whole load of funny, liquor-laced history, a profound paean to the pub and, let's not forget, five first-class free drinks.
'We're also giving something back to busy hospitality workers, helping them to unwind by offering discounted tickets at a show that constantly reminds them of their working environment.'

Thinking Drinkers: The Booze-Ical marks the duo's 12th successive year at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and runs from 1st July to 25th August 2024 at the Underbelly in Edinburgh, with plans for a UK tour later in the year.

Drinks experts on ITV's This Morning and Channel 4's Sunday Brunch, the Thinking Drinkers are drink historians, award-winning authors and comedians who have been awarded numerous industry awards for their alcohol expertise and have written several award-winning drinks books - including 'The Thinking Drinkers Almanac' - named by the Sunday Times as its ‘Drinks Book of The Year'.

+ For the Hospitality Discount quote DRINKS20 when booking at underbellyedinburgh.co.uk, Monday to Thursday from July 31st to August 25th at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Not including 2-4-1 days (4th & 5th August).