Devon Group rail trip with Christmas lunch + pubs and beer!

On Wednesday 6th December, 17 of the Woody Bay regular volunteers went on a pub crawl by train combined with a Christmas lunch.

1. From Barnstaple to Exeter then a morning trip to Newton Abbot for the first drink at the Railway Inn. Note the time, 11.15, a very early beer for some us!

2. Back at Exeter we all met up at the Imperial Wetherspoons where we had reserved a table and were fortunate to have the separate function room. We had pre-booked the Christmas dinners which were soon served....

3. The guys eagerly await their free beer as part of the Christmas lunch offer.

4. Ali Burgess had pre-booked a brie and bacon burger meal instead of the regular Christmas fare.

5. L&BR Catering Manager Judy Williams certainly enjoyed her day out with the lads!

6. & 7. Then Christmas Pudding for everyone.

8. Back to the trains after lunch and time for a short trip up to Honiton for a drink at the Star Inn (beer for some, coffee for others).

9. At Exeter St David's this Class 143 Pacer will take us back to Barnstaple but....

10. ....six of us die-hards stopped off at The Beer Engine Brewery pub at Newton St Cyres for yet more beer!

11. A great pub to end the day and enjoy a local pint of Rail Ale or Sleeper Heavy.

Words and photos Nigel Thompson.