No TV screens, no music, no fruit machines. As the sign suggests, this isn’t any typical boozer, so if you’re after something a bit more adventurous than a familiar pint at the local, then the Real Ale Train, or RAT as it’s lovingly known, is just the ticket.

Operating on sixteen Saturday nights throughout the year, the steam-hauled RAT departs from Alton station at 7.20pm for a round trip along the Watercress line which lasts approximately three hours.

Onboard, the real-ale carriage serves up six different locally-brewed cask ales on each journey. Chat to enthusiasts and soak up some atmosphere at the bar, or why not fill one of the cosy carriage booths with friends and settle in for the journey? At just £2 a pint, buying a round or few beats the local boozer hands down. Better still, if you’re organised and book your tickets in advance, the first pint’s free!

Photo courtesy of Dominic Windsor on Flickr