retiredmartin

January 2024. Barrowford.

Lancashire’s GBG24 entries (well, the dozen newbies) were completed in the beautiful Forest of Pendle,

depending on your perspective in Greater Burnley or Lesser Clitheroe.

I parked the campervan opposite the Pendle Heritage Site,

a museum that explains why 17th century women who drank schooners of sour beer were tried as witches.

I think their crimes were as nought compared to whoever designed this unreadable (in the dark) parking sign.

The CCTV failed to detect my entry and despite paying the fiver on exit I’m expecting a fine any day now.

Barrowford is the Epping or Knole of the north, an upmarket linear village strewn with places called “Cichetti”,

or selling bridal and fashionwear.

I bought clothes once. Didn’t like it.

The closest pub, George and Dragon, looked the loveliest,

but it’s the Bridge Inn in the Guide.

Smaller inside than it looks, packed with folk sort of dressed up for a nights vertical drinking,

and with ALL tables reserved for a modest food trade. That’s my bugbear, along with tasters.

Daringly, I take a seat at one of those tables, knowing I’m going to have necked my pint of Moorhouses Straw Dog (named after a 1979 Stiff Little Fingers single) before the reservists (?) ever turn up.

It’s cool, a bit thin, and I instantly regret rushing my final Lancashire tick.

Luckily, Barrowford has other pubs, one of them without reservations.