WITH its restaurants and bars inundated with awards, and visitors flocking from far and wide to dine there, Ramsbottom is fast developing a reputation as Greater Manchester’s most-up-and-coming suburb.

But how did this former Lancashire mill town, nestled in the shadow of the West Pennine Moors, achieve this, and is everything really as rosy as it seems in the town?

One of the main reasons for Ramsbottom’s recent revival is its flourishing independent restaurant and bar scene.

While the likes of Levanter and Baratxuri have introduced a continental flavour to the Lancashire foothills, and stolen much of the limelight for doing so, quality can be found on almost every corner.

In Bridge Street alone, Lolo’s, a 1920s-themed vegan restaurant, and The Hungry Duck bistro, are regarded as being among the North West’s finest eateries.

Meanwhile, bars such as Irwell Works Brewery, Ramsbottom Tap, and XLII have breathed new life into a once stale nightlife scene.

Five minutes from the town centre, in Whalley Road, is another immensely popular establishment, the Eagle & Child.

The pub has received national recognition for both its food and social conscience following an extensive refurbishment, and was recently crowned John Smith’s Great British Pub of the Year.

Owner Glen Duckett took over the pub in 2011, about the time that Ramsbottom’s restaurant scene truly began to blossom.

He said: “We opened around then and the Hearth of the Ram did, too. That’s when it all started really. But the place that put Ramsbottom on the map was Ramsons.”

Opening in 1985, Ramsons scooped numerous awards, including the Good Food Guide Readers’ Restaurant of the Year in 2007.

It sadly closed a few years ago, but its legacy endures in the town today.

Mr Duckett says that the picturesque views and ‘Pennine charm’ are what attracted him and others to the town.

He added: “Ramsbottom has always been a tourist hotspot because of the independent shopping and retail scene, and the East Lancashire Railway, but the food outlets have enhanced its attraction.

“The proximity to Manchester and the fact you can get there in half an hour on the motorway means it’s somewhere people can visit for a day out and feel like they are in the countryside.”

Despite the influx of new restaurants, the town has somehow managed to retain its quaint, village-like feel. But, can it hold on to that character as it continues to evolve?

The success of Ramsbottom’s food and drink scene has inevitably driven an increase in those wishing to immerse themselves in the town permanently, causing house prices to rocket.

Its perfect balance of being close enough to both the city and the countryside has seen it become a popular destination for young professionals seeking a more rural setting before starting a family.

Has this shift in demographic disturbed what is traditionally a close-knit community?

Kirsty Deane, aged 42, has lived in the town since birth. She claims she has noticed a shift in the demographic of people living in the town.

She said: “Years ago, you knew everyone so would leave the front door open all day and never worry about it. Nobody would do that now.

“With a lot of out of towners moving here I can go out now and not know any one.”

Does she think the transformation is a positive thing?

“I think there are too many restaurants. It’s nice to stay with the times and they’re a great night out, but when people get off the train thinking it’s this up-and-coming town, there’s nothing else for them do in the day other than eat.

“We used to have loads of really nice shops 20 years ago, but that has changed.”

Meanwhile, Ramsbottom councillor Robert Hodkinson says he is concerned about the increasing shift towards a night-time economy.

He said: “We have reached a tipping point where we are starting to get concerned about the loss of day-time retailers.

“For example, we have lost a couple of banks, in Barclays and Natwest, which means that during the day there’ll be a reduced footfall.

“We also don’t have the room for parking, which is a big issue. Unless we can address that then we can’t really go much further in terms of expansion and enticing entrepreneurs into the town centre.”

Cllr Hodkinson says he and fellow Ramsbottom councillors, Ian Bevan and Ian Schofield, are in discussions with the council to try to tackle the problem by building a long-stay car park in the town.

Terri Fletcher, co-owner of Ramsbottom Soap Co., and a member of the town’s business group, is one of those who has felt the adverse effects of the transformation.

Along with her husband Gregg, she used to own Purple Tiger in Bridge Street, but they were forced to close in 2015 when ‘the tides turned’.

She said: “Ramsbottom is getting a reputation as a real foodie place with some really high end places, but it would be nice to see some shops come back and have the best of both worlds.

“At night you can hardly move in the bars, and getting a table at somewhere like Levanter is difficult, but during the day, there’s hardly anyone on the street.

“The banks leaving has had an impact on people coming into the town and having a coffee or picking up a birthday card.

“Ramsbottom used to be a real shopping destination but that’s not really the case anymore. The shops here are quite specialised.”

Even now, Ramsbottom remains a town with a unique identity, steeped in tradition. Egg rolling on Holcombe Hill at Easter is still commonplace, while the World Black Pudding Throwing Championships, which is held in the town centre every year, is surely up their with the most eccentric of sports.

Such quirks are, of course, a part of what makes it such a unique place to live, and are part of the reason the town is in the midst of change.

Whether it can hold on to its charm in the pursuit of progress remains to be seen.