A trip to the Ale & Steam Festival at the GWR. On to the Railway!

[MinZaPint]

A pal of mine went to this last year mainly for the BEER and came back raving about it and said I'd got to go! Well on this occasion I thought I'd do as I was told! Well It's a long way up to Cheltenham from Poole so after breakfast at Wetherspoons in Wimborne, refreshment was called for first in Pewsey, tucked up a one way street just out of town "The Crown"



featuring 5 of it's brewed out the back ales + plus 2 others, well worth a visit but make sure you have directions!

It's thirsty work travelling so we popped into "The Golden Heart" at Birdlip



an excellent selection of ales and as with the other hostelries we visited at around 4% abv sensible session beer.

Then on to the Travelodge outside Cheltenham, dump the bags and car and off to Gloucester, ain't bus passes wonderful? The bus stops right buy "The Regal"



My 4 pals viewed from their best side! going in.

The "Good Beer Guide" recommended amongst others "The Pelican"



We arrived at "Happy Hour" at £2 a pint and made the most of it, more excellent ales which cut short our wandering time, but we just had to pop round the corner to "The Dick Whittington" where the legendry family lived.



Then back to 'spoons for "Fish Friday" very good fish & Chips with a beer to ease the saltiness of the Cod you understand. Back to the digs for a good nights rest ready for the railway on Saturday more of which later.

[Newportnobby]

Some very nice looking pubs, there, David
Hope you didn't get too squiffy

[MinZaPint]

So Saturday dawned bright and clear and courtesy of the bus passes we set of for Cheltenham and breakfast at Wetherspoons with our drivers sister and brother in law (Tour organisers and ticket purchasers)

From which we departed by taxi to the Cheltenham racecourse station where we were met by

Ready to take us on the full run of the steam hauled section of the line to To Toddington where the North Cotswold CAMRA had thoughtfully set up a 10 cask mini festival.
We sat in the buffet car (restored  and back in service in March this year)

Where we were able to enjoy

We weren't the only ones that were thirsty!


This'll look nice when it's finished

Cask ale storage for trains!

2807 arriving from Winchcombe


Vans at Winchcombe


The DMU off to Laverton

2807 arriving from Toddington preparing to exchange tokens

The beer garden at Winchcombe where the main supply of ales was

The "Motley Crew" deciding on their next brew

Best use of a waiting room I've seen for some time, my pal Eddie getting his next 1/2, we like to try as many ales as possible!

The 2-8-0 tank returns

We took the last steam service back to Toddington where 4270 was preparing to retire to the shed

Then with enough fortification in our glasses to last the journey we took the DMU (last train running!) back to the race course, taxi back to the Banks for a top up and then back to base where we had a KFC (big mistake!)
Following morning breakfast in the Harvester adjoining the digs and off home via the "Carters Arms" at Wroughton near Swindon a must for real ale fans

The list all on handpumps 11 beers & 2 ciders

Sign to the "Loos"

The "British Lion" at Devises

The "Museum" at Farnham

And finally the "Tap house" in Wimborne which has featured in previous posts. A thoroughly enjoyable trip and now back to the layout, nearly finished the boards, honest!   

[Newportnobby]

More good pics, David, and strangely all in focus

[port perran]

Great pics.
Seems like a good trip was had by all