It was around 1pm, me and a group of friends, along with hundreds of others were ready to begin the (now infamous) Otley Run. The Otley Run is a 15 pub crawl from Headingley into Leeds city centre, it attracts hundreds of people every bank holiday and is a day of drinking 'carnage' - good carnage in my opinion.
Many residents and businesses have talked about restricting the run, with whispers that it may be scrapped. Frankly that's a preposterous idea and I believe it should stay exactly as it is.
We have to address the reasons why the Otley Run is facing scrutiny, namely anti-social and inappropriate behaviour towards residents, punters and businesses. Totally agree, this is abhorrent, and those people that take part in the behaviour deserve to face the consequences.
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I went on an Otley Run on Saturday, as part of a friend's birthday party. We do it every year and every year it is a massive success.
It was a warm, sunny day, we just sat down in Woodies, the first pub on the run, with our first pint ready to drink a minimum of 10 more. We got silly yes but it was just silliness, we are not the sort of group to cause a commotion or irritate residents - frankly, we couldn't stand the embarrassment of being a news story if we did.
We went along the run having a fantastic time. It's not often when you get older that you get to have the same big blowouts - namely due to increasingly awful hangovers and having a stable life - so people go out, see friends and take in the town.
However, it's not everyone and you have to draw a fine line between people being drunk and people acting stupid. The Otley Run has existed for years and years and it's an absolute hoot, everyone gets dressed up in a varying sea of silly outfits and blows off some steam.
We've had our time stuck indoors, most of us adhered to the lockdown rules and agreed that our social lives would be put on the back burner - we did that and now we want to enjoy ourselves.
The country is seeing some really difficult times, the news is hard to read and the future seems bleak. So what if we want a day of being daft? I believe we are allowed it.
Once again I must reiterate, that doing a pub crawl is not the same as being a moron and nor should it give purchase to those who are. People who do partake in dangerous or threatening behaviour don't deserve such liberties but those who just want to drink (a bit more than they should) and have a boogie whilst dressed as a traffic cone, I think, are well within their rights to do so.
Those who want to spoil it for others will face the blame. I wouldn't dream of being responsible for such a vested part of Leeds culture getting stripped away.
In terms of businesses who want to see more done about Otley Run behaviours, I agree, if groups are affecting your business or causing distress they need to be dealt with but if they are just passing by I think this is negligible.
Several bars and pubs don't allow Otley Runners, the first sight of fancy dress and the 'We're Open' sign gets figuratively flipped around. We respect that, if I was in a nice bar and the entire cast of Balamory stepped through the doors I'd be somewhat beside myself.
Pubs and bars struggled a lot during lockdown, pubs especially will struggle going forward, a number have already warned about closing due to the increase in gas and electric bills - it's Otley Run days that not only boost business but also put these pubs on the map - literally.
I won't lie, I do understand those who work in hospitality dreading the crawlers, I worked in hospitality myself and busy days were unwavering. To those people I say, I hope you get the massive credit you deserve.
To residents who take issue with it, I say be reasonable. As I said, stupid behaviours that tarnish everyone else are not fair but just think about all those people that just want a good time, it's one night then we are let loose in the city where let's face it, every night can be carnage.
The Otley Run is a Leeds staple, I say work with the people who take part, get their share of the argument and work together to solve the issues.
We're all silly hungover the next day, that's our comeuppance.
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