Couples say 800 Wetherspoon trips are just as exciting and thrilling as traveling the world

After a year of traveling, a couple who is obsessed with Wetherspoon pubs and airports returns home.

Between them, Alan and Agnieszka Forbes managed 160 airports, including two in Malaysian Borneo. The company also had 150 ‘Spoons in its busiest year ever since Covid travel restrictions were lifted.

Alan has so far visited 985 different airports, and Agnieszka 483, but they plan to stop counting when they reach 1,000 and 500, respectively.

Alan, 62, was joined by Agnieszka (44), who started the year with six weeks in Colombia, before flying back to the UK, then flying again for five weeks to Argentina.

They have hosted Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina twice, Germany, Greece and Kosovo twice, and most recently Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.

The full-time pilots visited the Agnieszka Family in Krakow before flying back to Wizz Air for their return flight to Woldingham, Surrey.

Their plans for the New Year include continuing their mission to visit every Wetherspoon Pub – they only still have 70 years – as well as any places that are open or closed.

Alan said, “We always find a positive side to everything,” and that Colombia was an amazing place. None of us had been there before. Although we have been to Argentina before, we have also been to other parts of the country, which was wonderful.

We also love Italy and Greece. For us, it’s about travel. It’s the same with bars. We can look back and see places in the UK that we didn’t know existed because of pubs. We are just as excited about visiting a pub in the UK that we have never been to as we are about traveling to other parts of the world. It’s all about traveling to places you have never been before.

The couple, who were married in June 2021 after meeting a decade ago, visited 23 airports in Malaysia, Singapore, and other locations during their Far East trip this year.

14 of these facilities were remote in Malaysian Borneo. Long Seridan is located 60 meters from a stream, while Long Akah is next to a small settlement.

Alan said: “Airports are in tribal areas and although they are not living a tribal life because they are coming into the 21st century, they are very far away.

They can’t be reached by land or river, and the scenery is breathtaking.

There is no security, and there are no crowds.

Two of the things we did there were not done and I am talking to Malaysia Airlines to see about sponsoring us to go back, as the airfare is getting ridiculous.

My goal is to achieve 999th and 1000th while Agnieszka could achieve 499th or 500th.

“If not, we will likely go back to India to do even more.”

Alan, who is the father of three children, and one grandchild, worked in an airline company after he graduated from school. He then became a partner at a travel company.

He took on various part-time positions, including dog walker and airport baggage handler, as well as working with adults with autism. Agnieszka, a Polish-born woman, was Director of Sales for Europe at a five-star Caribbean hotel chain.

Before Agnieszka joined Alan in 2012, Alan had already started to cross airports over four decades ago.

Four years ago, experience collectors decided to quit the business and pursue full-time travel. They also visited airfields in Mestia in Georgia and Potosi, Bolivia. This was a former high-commercial facility. The 798-meter strip was landed on Kastellorizo, a beautiful Greek island.

The National Trails collection includes 15 walks in England and Wales that have a combined total of 2,000-miles.

Alan traces his fascination with new places back to his teenage years.

He said, “It all started as a quick observation.”

I was a little boy when I began playing football in Leeds. A man told me he would visit all 92 football fields. I loved the idea of it so I started to do that as well.

One night, I was at work and was discussing how many pitches I was going. He suggested that I might have attended more pitches than that. Although it was not something that crossed my mind, I loved to travel and thought, “I’ll see how many international airports I can get to.”

This was possible while I worked, had a family, and did the usual things in my life. Although it was obsessive, I managed to keep it under control.

After Agnieszka and me had left the business four year ago, I became obsessed with it and decided to do 1,000 before closing it down. We won’t stop travelling, but we won’t stop counting.

Wetherspoon pubs or football grounds can host new teams, but you also know that only a few teams will be in the league. In contrast, airports might have all the teams in a country, but you will never see them all. Everybody in the world will go.

“It’s strange I don’t count the countries I’ve been too, because I know I wouldn’t do them all.”