Puddy back behind O’Donnell’s Bar

7th March 2018 Geoff Baker Lyme Regis, News 0

matt-puddy-volunteer — New manager of the Volunteer Inn in Lyme Regis, Matt Puddy, with staff member Briony Evans. Photo by Richard Austin

THERE’S a new guv’nor in charge at Lyme Regis’ own ‘Little Ireland’.

Fifteen years after leaving The Volunteer Inn, Matt Puddy, one of Lyme’s most popular characters, has returned as the pub’s new manager.

Matt, who last worked at The Volly in Broad Street when it was run by the late great Joe O’Donnell, is back behind the bar after a decade at the Rock Point.

“It feels like coming home and there is no finer place to call home than O’Donnell’s Bar. I can’t wait for St Patrick’s Day on March 17 when we’ll be hosting another of The Volly’s legendary knees-ups,” said Lyme-bred Matt, pictured above toasting the start of his new role with barmaid Bryony Evans.

About Geoff Baker 8 Articles

Born and educated in Lyme Regis, Geoff Baker trained as a journalist at the Express & Echo in Exeter and graduated to Fleet Street – via the Sidmouth Herald and the Birmingham Post – where he became chief of the entertainment desk at the Daily Star. He quickly gained a reputation for breaking exclusive showbiz stories and was often a guest on national TV. After setting up an agency handling news for Fleet Street, Geoff worked as Paul McCartney’s PR guru for 15 years, accompanying the former Beatle on his worldwide tours. Geoff returned to his home for a less hectic lifestyle to write a much-awaited novel