CHRISTMAS is a time to celebrate and for many this means a drink in a friendly pub while for others it could mean singing good old-Christmas carols.

Tomorrow you can do both when Westcliff Baptist Church invites you to join a “Beer and Carols” evening in their local, the Westbourne pub. Richard Burfoot, 43, minister at the church, took time out from his busy Christmas schedule to enjoy a pint and tell me about the event.

“This is the first time we have done this,” he said. “Rather than expecting people to turn up to church, we are going to them. It will be an informal evening and there will be no sermonising. It is simply beer and carols!”

Richard admits to enjoying a pint, but is particularly a lover of real ale. Previously, he was a minister of a Baptist church in the Cotswolds where he got the idea which led to him organising the “beer and carols” evening in Westbourne.

“It was a huge success there and I had to conduct the service from behind the bar as that was the only space available,” he explains.

“I would serve beers and sing at the same time!”

Brett Lewis, 34, manager of the Westbourne pub, said he was looking forward to the evening. “This will be a different activity for the pub and I’m hoping for a good crowd as the carol singing will take place just after the showing of a premier league football match on the pub’s TV,” he said.

l Enjoy an evening of beer and carols with Westcliff Baptist Church at the Westbourne, 45 Poole Road, Bournemouth, tomorrow, between 8pm and 10pm.