A pub landlord attempting to stop Britain from running out of Nigels staged a festival for men with the name - and hundreds turned up from all over the world.<br /><br />Nigel Smith, 59, held Nige-fest last night (24) - gathering hundreds of Nigels from all over the world together for a pint.<br /><br />The entertainment was provided by musicians called Nigel, and attendees brought photo ID and signed the “the book of Nigel” kept at the Fleece Inn, in Bretforton, Worcs.<br /><br />Nigel came up with the idea after the name became officially extinct according to new birth records in 2016 and 2020.<br /><br />The landlord broke the world record for the largest gathering of Nigels after 432 joined him for a pint in 2019.<br /><br />He was hoping to break his own record last night - but this year, 372 Nigels turned up for an evening of Nigel-themed refreshment.<br /><br />The oldest Nigel in attendance was an 84-year-old who came from America for the event. The youngest Nigel was in his 30s.<br /><br />Others travelled from Los Angeles, Florida and Texas to Nicaragua, Zimbabwe and Spain.<br /><br />Entertainment was provided by other Nigels - two DJs, an MC, a comedian, a busker, and even a group of Morris dancers all called Nigel as well.<br /><br />The second ever 'Nigel Night' raised more than £3,000 for British Heart Foundation.<br /><br />Pub landlord Nigel plans to host it again in 2025.<br /><br />Nigel said: "It was absolutely brilliant. We had a fantastic time.<br /><br />"It was like we all had known each other forever, but obviously we didn't. It was a great feeling of all of us getting together and celebrating our Nigel-ness.<br /><br />"Times are pretty difficult at the moment for many of us so it was great to be able to get together for a party.<br /><br />"We just had a jolly fine time.<br /><br />"Tradition is something you do twice, that's the rule, and we shall do it again. I think we're encouraged enough to say every two to three years, we'll do it again, definitely.<br /><br />"We had people from all over coming to the event. Our friend from Texas - Texas Nigel - came for the second time, only to be joined by another Texas Nigel.<br /><br />"One Nigel came from the Isle of Wight so we had to give him an award for the longest travelled Nigel in the UK.<br /><br />"People who came this time heard about us three years ago and put it in their diaries.<br /><br />"We were running shuttle buses from our local town and hotels so that all the Nigels who had travelled were able to get here and perhaps enjoy a beer or two and not have to drive home.<br /><br />"We had a 14-week-old puppy called Nigel as well, which was nice - but he didn't say very much!<br /><br />"We are uniting Nigels from all across the world, and we would like to reach out to and invite all Nigels - and all non-Nigels - to come along and join us next time in 2025."
