Rovers Return Inn Billy first appears in Coronation Street in January 1961, but takes over The Rovers Return in 1984 after his mother Annie retires and signs the pub over to him. It doesn't last long, though, and he leaves for good in 1984, after a series of run-ins with police due to the lock-ins held after hours. Arguably the most famous barmaid on "Coronation Street", Bet Lynch was in charge of The Rovers Return for a little over 10 years. In late 1984, the brewery, Newton & Ridley, unhappy with the way the pub was being run into the ground by Billy,
Timothy Taylor Brewery also produce an occasional special bottled ale called "Havercake Ale". In the past Timothy Taylor's produced another bottled ale called "Northerner", bearing the advertising slogan, "For Men of the North". This slogan has been reinvented as "Originally brewed for men of the north, now loved by everyone" and is borne on the back of the wagons. The brewery is supplied with water from an artesian well (Knowle Spring). Only whole hops are used for brewing. The yeast strain originally came from the Oldham Brewery. 80 percent of production is for cask conditioned products. Bottling is contracted to Robinsons Brewery. Timothy