Is this Britain’s biggest minibar?

A teetotal retired businessman has amassed what could be Britain’s biggest minibar comprising a collection of more than 2,000 miniature bottles.

A retired businessman has collected more than 2,000 miniature bottles of alcohol

Eddie Hayes, 71, has been building his collection for the past 42 years from hotel minibars around the world, which now fills the shelves of his 30 foot long bar in his home in Newport, Wales – but he hates the taste of alcohol.

“I went off alcohol a long time ago after I drank a cocktail of spirits which was disgusting,” he told the South Wales Evening Post. “I might have the odd lager and lemonade shandy now but that’s all. So my collection is safe in my hands.”

Hayes started the collection when a gas explosion destroyed a relative’s off licence and he helped to salvage several bottles of alcohol.

As a thank you, he was gifted with a selection of miniature bottles.

Since then, Eddie and his wife, Jean, have bought bottles from their travels across the world and are often gifted new additions from their friends.

“The collection just grew and grew and the more our friends knew about it the more they started adding to the collection,” he said.

“I would never dream of drinking them – and let’s face it they would give you one hell of a hangover.

“It is my pride and joy and although it must be worth more than £10,000 I wouldn’t dream of selling it.”