Roll up, roll up see the tattooed lady! *

Meet at stand E Manchester Shudehill Interchange at 10:30am ready for 10:40 X43 WitchWay bus bound for Burnley

* Full words to Rawtenstall Annual Fair can be found here of this article and can be heard here (YouTube so adverts may pop up!)

Though I can't guarantee a tattooed lady we will be visiting Rawtenstall not, unfortunately, during the Annual Fair but on a Wednesday in March. None of the outlets does food, but there are several pie, sandwich and chip shops in the town. Had we visited on Thursday there would also have been the street food outlets in the market.

Take a look at this 1920/30 photograph (click the picture to see full page) of the main thoroughfare, Bank Street, in Rawtenstall. Pay particular attention to the lines laid down the centre of the road. Questions will be asked when we arrive.

Our first stop is at the far end of the sett covered (usually erroneously referred to as cobbled) main street. The Hop Micro Pub lives up (or should that be down) to its name of micro, but its small bar is still big enough to offer five real ales. There is an upstairs lounge as well as an outside (weather permitting) drinking area. WARNING: It is not only a modern bar, but has adopted the modern practice of electronic payments only.

We now cross the road (no danger from the trams!) and visit Boho Ale House. A second small modern bar which isn't going down the keg only route and purveys a couple of real ales. Those of a feminist or sensitive disposition may wish to bypass this outlet due to the décor being a nod to the fabled Manchester pub, Tommy Ducks, but not as deadly.

A few yards further along, and adjacent to the site of the market, we find Northern Whisper Tap Room. As you would expect, all the beers, five or six, are from Northern Whisper, complemented by about a dozen fonts. Though this is the brewery tap, the actual fermenting vessels et cetera are a little up the valley towards Bacup at Cloughfold. The décor is a little industrial, but the welcome is warn and every man and his dog are accommodated. Had the market been open you could have brought your street food in and eat it with your pint.

Our next venue only serves one beer, but mustn't be missed if in Rawtenstall. This is the world(?) famous Mr Fitzpatrick's Temperance Bar. Again this is the tap, with the brewery being in Waterfoot (don't they have wonderfully named villages around Rossendale!). Though there is only the one option, Root Beer, there are dozens of other cordials on offer (though the once famous Bulls Blood no longer appears among them - Is that a sop to vegetarians?) Whether a bus load of CAMRA members will follow the leader into this posh pop shop we will see on the day!

The next beery haunt is a big contrast to our previous outlets being anything but modern. The Buffer Stop occupies the waiting room of Rawtenstall station on the East Lancashire Railway, though sadly not the original, for who would put a building across a through line! Being a Wednesday in March there are unfortunately no trains, steam, diesel or Hornby. Come along at the weekend, however, and there is a better service than at Reddish South (with those at 10:00, 13:00 and 15:45 being steam powered). Back to the pub, and up to five cask ales are usually on offer, with an emphasis on local breweries.

On our way back to Rawtenstall Interchange we will call in to Jacksons Cafe Bar for a swift half while waiting for the bus. Being a modern but small establishment sittings, as in school dinners, may be required if the group is too large! The size also limits the number of beers available to two. Snack and cakes are available should you wish for (limited) replete before travelling home. As the Interchange is just around the corner, if a real time bus tracking app is used, we can delay leaving until the last minute. If visiting ten years ago the bus station was even handier, being just across the road (photo) - but the X43 didn't use it then.

Arrive	Leave	Pub	Address	Food
10:30	10:30	Meet Shudehill Interchange Stand E
10:40	11:27	X43 WitchWay bus at 10:40am towards Burnley
11:35	12:40	Hop Micro Pub	70 Bank Street, Rawtenstall BB4 8EG
12:45	13:15	Boho Ale House	63A Bank Street, Rawtenstall BB4 7QN
13:15	14:15	Northern Whisper Tap Room	18 Newchurch Road, Rawtenstall BB4 7QX
14:30	15:00	Mr. Fitzpatrick's	5 Bank St, Rawtenstall, Rossendale BB4 6QS
15:15	16:15	Buffer Stops	Bury Road, Rawtenstall BB4 6AG
16:30	17:30	Jacksons Cafe Bar	32 Bacup Road, Rawtenstall BB4 7ND	Cakes
17:35	18:27	X43 WitchWay Burnley to Manchester Shudehill