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

In 1994, the landlady of The Anglers Rest in Sheffield decided to revamp the pub’s entertainment offer. She got rid of the Tuesday night quiz host and wondered what to do next.

Step forward Phil Ashley, a regular at the Handsworth local.

Phil, then working as a bus driver, took over as quiz master – and 31 years later, is still posing the questions.

Customers had complained that the previous incumbent didn’t listen and played the music too loud – they have no such gripes with Phil, who is now 73.

When the BBC visits, the bar is packed with regular teams.

There is Dad’s Army on the table at the front; the 10-strong Corner Group in the far corner; the Stooges opposite them, four men in their late 60s who are said to be the ones to beat. Other entries have been thrown together at the last minute, like a playground football match.

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

The establishment’s name may have recently become The New Anglers, but current landlord Richard Billard has kept everything reassuringly old-fashioned, including the format of the quiz.

Like prime ministers, Phil has seen four long-term publicans oversee his work.

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

The music round has evolved over time, from cassettes to CDs and now his old Nokia 301 phone connected to the speaker system.

Many of the regulars have been taking part in the quiz for as long as Phil has been hosting. They cheer and groan in equal measure when he reels off some of the catchphrases he’s developed over the years.

If something goes wrong, a question is fluffed or the music 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, such as trying to trick participants into thinking the answer is connected to the number of questions. They don’t fall for it, rolling their eyes and groaning – a cue for Phil to break into a rendition of the song If You Don’t Know Me By Now.

Landlord Richard, now 37, was only 26 when he bought the pub and was determined to keep things the same.

“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 formed close bonds with the customers.

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

Over three decades, only summer holidays and a serious heart scare and hospital stay last year have prevented Phil’s hosting duties going ahead.

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

A second operation was later needed and the procedure was risky.

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

“I said to Lisa, my eldest, you can have my car and Lorraine you can have my phone.

“Lorraine was fuming!”

Lisa, Lorraine and their mother Susan convinced Phil to have the life-saving surgery.

Tonight the music round has caused the most friction. Ninety-year-old Peter Hukin is arguing with the rest of Dad’s Army over which artist sang Downtown.

Peter maintains the answer is Sandy Shaw. The others insist it’s Petula Clarke. The majority win the debate.

The quiz also features the opening of a large wooden box decorated by Phil’s grandchildren. Punters buy raffle tickets in the hope that they will be the lucky one to choose the correct key, open the box and snaffle the prize money.

Nine keys are kept in a crimson velvet bag, but only one will open the box. If, after three attempts, the raffle winner has failed to open the box, the prize fund will roll over to the next Tuesday. This week there is £400 available.

Stan Poole, 83, who has been drinking in The Anglers for 67 years and was once its pianist, has his chance this week, but fails to choose the right key.

He accepts the outcome in good spirits with his dog, Rocky, who accompanies him since the death of his wife last year.

This reporter’s luck was in, as the team which welcomed the BBC for the night wins the quiz with 14 points out of 21. Eight beer tokens are the prize.

Phil is unsure as to whether his long service as quiz master is a record.

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

He has no plans to retire from his role.

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

“I’m always on the hunt for good trivia facts. They’re all on my computer.”