Waiting for the Barn Owl to open On what proved to be a showery day with a sharp cold wind blowing, we embarked on our social to Kingskerswell. Our chosen meeting point was the The Barn Owl on the edge of the village. Being ever keen, there was a group of eleven waiting in the car park for the doors to open at midday. These were soon joined by more, including some of our friends from Exeter & East Devon Branch, taking our total to around twenty for the day.

The Barn Owl is a Hall & Woodhouse pub, so the beers on offer were Badger Best Bitter and Fursty Ferret, both meeting with approval from the 'team'.

Relaxing in the garden Our second call required a 15 minute walk to The Park Inn. The pub was looking a bit bereft as the name boards had been removed, but all was well, they were looking very smart having been repainted and were in the bar waiting to be re-installed.
There are three hand pumps in this single room bar, but only two beers were available - both from Teignworthy, Gun Dog and Thirsty Blonde. Our group divided between the bar and the outside garden area, which was most impressive. It was very pleasant, the sun came out and we were sheltered from the wind - a pleasant spot to while away the hours.
While we were there the Thirsty Blonde ran out and was replaced by one from Red Rock, then Dark Star Hophead, a 3.8% pale golden ale was put on. This proved very popular with some of the 'team' to the extent that some returned to the Park Inn on the way back to Newton Abbot!

The Lord Nelson As so often happens on these events there now came a parting of the ways. Some moved on to the Sloop and some remained at the Park (they got to taste the Hophead!). The Sloop is a Greene King Hungry Horse, so didn't have a lot to offer those who called there and they soon moved on to the Hare & Hounds and the Lord Nelson.
The Hare & Hounds was offering Salcombe Gold or Doom Bar, while the Lord Nelson had Exmoor Gold and Dartmoor Legend.

Everyone reassembled at the Lord Nelson, a popular, cosy two bar pub in the centre of the village. The log burner was going full tilt to everyone's delight.

This was to be the parting of the ways again with those who had to return to Newton Abbot going one way and those to Torquay the opposite way.
Thanks must got to Lawrence, our Social Secretary, for organising the day visiting pubs that many of us had not been to before.

The Park Inn In the bar at The Park Inn The Sloop Inn The Hare & Hounds The Lord Nelson A cosy Bar in the Lord Nelson