Pirates star pops into pub for a pint while filming Alice

ONE of the world’s biggest movie stars dropped into a pub near Exeter for a pint of bitter and a bit of roast beef.

Pirates of the Caribbean star Johnny Depp took staff and regulars by surprise when he sauntered into the Sandy Park Inn at Chagford and ordered a pint.

Inn owner Stephen Adams told the Echo: "We were all just amazed."

Johnny is currently in the Westcountry filming Alice in Wonderland, at Antony House, near Torpoint, with director Tim Burton. He is playing the Mad Hatter in the Walt Disney Studios film.

But he took a break from the lights, cameras, action to see the Devon countryside on Sunday — and that's when he came upon the Sandy Park Inn.

Stephen said: "There are so many country pubs and he stopped at ours. We were absolutely delighted to have him.

"He was with another chap who I did not recognise.

"Mr Depp was fantastic and was really good with the staff. The women were all stunned just to see him.

"He was very friendly and got involved in a chat with some of our local characters, who really enjoyed themselves. He seemed to be having a good time.

"He had a pint of Otter bitter and had the roast beef with Yorkshire pudding and all the trimmings. He said he thought it was excellent and remarked upon the home-style cooking, praising the chef."

Stephen, who took on the inn two months ago added: "It was amazing. Sadly, I didn't have a camera. In fact nobody did. I have now bought a throwaway camera which I keep under the bar — just in case it happens again."

The inn often receives visits from other stars, including the cast of Jam and Jerusalem, Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French, who film in the area.

Filming of Alice in Wonderland started in Devon last month. Alice is being played by 18-year-old Australian actress Mia Wasikowska. Little Britain's Matt Lucas stars in a double role as brothers Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee.

Depp and his long-term partner Vanessa Paradis, the 1980s pop singer, have two children together and own a 150-year-old mansion in Somerset as well as a French vineyard.

Alice in Wonderland is due for release in 2010.