VISITORS to a pub in Ramsbottom got a little more than the pint and crisps they were expecting when a resident goat dropped by for a bleating visit in the beer garden.

Charlie the Goat has been self-isolating in his nearby home but slipped out for a”few scoops with his bubble”.

He certainly didn’t leaved the pub rammed though and his visit came much to the delight of revellers.

Friendly Charlie is certainly not baa’d from The Shoulder of Mutton in Ramsbottom though - as his owners are the landlady’s parents.

Landlady Cat Bateman said: “He lives just behind the pub and he’s owned by my parents so he definitely wasn’t intruding. It’s something we used to do often but haven’t done since lockdown, so it was nice for him to pop by and see people.

“He loves coming in and is a very friendly goat, so he was going around seeing people. He was actually on his way to bed when my stepdad decided to bring him to the pub.”

Charlie even made himself useful - clearing up debris around the area.

Cat added: “They decided to have a beer and brought Charlie along too. He was a very good help actually. He ate some of the leaves that were lying around the paths. It was great to have him back in the pub”

The bleating visit came at a time when the Shoulder of Mutton is itself going steady amidst the pandemic, although Cat is anxious about Christmas - a time when pubs usually make money.

She said: “We are doing alright to be fair. But we have gone into tier three so we don’t exactly know how it is going to go. It’s all just a bit weird at the minute and we’re taking it day by day.

“We have been looking ahead to December as Christmas is when pubs will make their money, but we don’t know what will be happening yet. What will be, will be.”

The pub’s recently launched takeaway menu has provided a fresh service to the Holcombe Village area, and has received positive reviews from customers.

The traditional country pub has introduced seafood platters and king prawn and mussel stews, along with chicken wings, ribs and other dishes.

Popular pub food classics are still available.

The takeaway service, a rarity in pubs but something starting to gather popularity in light of the pandemic, means people can collect the dishes and eat it wherever they like.

The pub thanked its customers for their support following the announcemnt of Tier three restrictions.

They said: “Thank you to everyone who has visited us over these last few months. We appreciate every single one of you who help us stay in our jobs and support us to carry on.

“We’re doing all we can to make sure we’re here at the other side of this pandemic, all we need is YOU. Stay local and treat yourself to our delicious menu, every little helps.”