The Sheffield guy who has run a pub quiz for 31 years

In 1994, the landlady of The Anglers Rest in Sheffield determined to redesign the pub’s leisure be offering. She removed the Tuesday evening quiz host and puzzled what to do subsequent.

Step ahead Phil Ashley, a typical on the Handsworth native.

Phil, then running as a bus driving force, took over as quiz grasp – and 31 years later, remains to be posing the questions.

Customers had complained that the former incumbent did not concentrate and performed the song too loud – they have got no such gripes with Phil, who’s now 73.

When the BBC visits, the bar is full of common groups.

There is Dad’s Army at the desk on the entrance; the 10-strong Corner Group within the a long way nook; the Stooges reverse them, 4 males of their overdue 60s who’re mentioned to be those to overcome. Other entries had been thrown in combination on the remaining minute, like a playground soccer fit.

Addressing the group from his bar stool, Phil says: “Is everybody ready? We’ve got someone in from the BBC tonight.”

The status quo’s identify could have not too long ago develop into The New Anglers, however present landlord Richard Billard has saved the whole thing reassuringly out of date, together with the layout of the quiz.

Like high ministers, Phil has observed 4 long-term publicans oversee his paintings.

“Ten general knowledge questions and 11 music ones. Simple,” he says.

The song spherical has developed over the years, from cassettes to CDs and now his previous Nokia 301 telephone hooked up to the speaker device.

Many of the regulars had been collaborating within the quiz for so long as Phil has been web hosting. They cheer and groan in equivalent measure when he reels off one of the crucial catchphrases he is advanced over time.

If one thing is going mistaken, a query is fluffed or the song skips, Phil will shout: “Do bear with me ladies and gentleman, this is a live show” – to loud jeers from the room.

He has his quirks, equivalent to seeking to trick members into pondering the solution is attached to the choice of questions. They do not fall for it, rolling their eyes and groaning – a cue for Phil to wreck right into a rendition of the music If You Don’t Know Me By Now.

Landlord Richard, now 37, was once best 26 when he purchased the pub and was once decided to stay issues the similar.

“I didn’t want to upset the clientele. Phil was part of the fixtures and fittings,” he muses.

“The man can talk, there’s no doubt about that. He does a good job to be fair, though it can gets heated and sometimes the questions get read out wrong.”

Over time, Phil has shaped shut bonds with the shoppers.

“They’ve looked after me in the last 18 months when things got tough,” he admits.

Over 3 many years, best summer season vacations and a major middle scare and health center keep remaining 12 months have avoided Phil’s web hosting tasks going forward.

“In October 2023 I was in hospital with pneumonia. But by the next morning I was in emergency heart surgery.”

A 2nd operation was once later wanted and the process was once dangerous.

“I actually told my daughters and my wife that I wished to call it a day. I was so fed up.

“I mentioned to Lisa, my eldest, you’ll have my automobile and Lorraine you’ll have my telephone.

“Lorraine was fuming!”

Lisa, Lorraine and their mom Susan satisfied Phil to have the life-saving surgical operation.

Tonight the song spherical has led to essentially the most friction. Ninety-year-old Peter Hukin is arguing with the remainder of Dad’s Army over which artist sang Downtown.

Peter maintains the solution is Sandy Shaw. The others insist it is Petula Clarke. The majority win the talk.

The quiz additionally options the outlet of a giant picket field embellished by means of Phil’s grandchildren. Punters purchase raffle tickets within the hope that they’re going to be the fortunate one to select the proper key, open the field and snaffle the prize cash.

Nine keys are saved in a purple velvet bag, however just one will open the field. If, after 3 makes an attempt, the raffle winner has did not open the field, the prize fund will roll over to the following Tuesday. This week there’s £400 to be had.

Stan Poole, 83, who has been ingesting in The Anglers for 67 years and was once as soon as its pianist, has his probability this week, however fails to select the proper key.

He accepts the result in just right spirits along with his canine, Rocky, who accompanies him because the dying of his spouse remaining 12 months.

This reporter’s good fortune was once in, because the group which welcomed the BBC for the evening wins the quiz with 14 issues out of 21. Eight beer tokens are the prize.

Phil is not sure as as to whether his lengthy provider as quiz grasp is a report.

“I don’t know about that. Maybe in Sheffield?”

He has no plans to retire from his position.

“Since Covid, fewer people are coming out but I’m enjoying it more than ever.

“I’m all the time at the hunt for just right trivialities information. They’re all on my pc.”