A NEW craft ale bar complete with retro video arcade games has opened its doors in Oswaldtwistle.

Tap Select, in Union Street, is offering ale lovers the choice of eight mouth-watering craft beers on tap, as well as a small selection of ciders.

The brainchild of former Rhyddings High School teacher Domenico Sanna, Tap Select is hoping to provide the people of Ossy with somewhere different and exciting to drink.

Mr Sanna, whose parents own Oswaldtwistle’s Italian restaurant, Franco’s, said: “In the last few years beer culture has changed dramatically, and to get something really different you usually have to go further afield to places like Manchester or Clitheroe.

“I wanted to bring a bit of that to Oswaldtwistle, and provide something for the people who haven’t really been catered for, as well as keeping people local and investing in local businesses.”

In addition to the ales, ciders, and extensive selection of beers in the fridge, Tap Select, which is located in the old Lloyd’s Bank building, serves food and features two retro arcade games - Galaxian and Centipede.

Mr Sanna said: “I’m a bit of a video game fan and so I thought of having the arcade games as a feature in the bar, and the name Tap Select came from that - tap for the beer taps and select for the computer games.”

Since its opening, the punters have been rolling through the doors and Mr Sanna said he couldn’t have done all this without the support of his parents and local tradesmen.

He said: “I’m very lucky to have my parents support in helping set the business up and I want to thank all the tradesmen for their help too.

“The first weekend we opened we were really busy and people have come in and have been blown away by what we’ve done.

"I had almost run out of beer on that first Sunday.”

And with plans for a bigger menu to complement the tapas and lite bites they’re currently serving up, Tap Select could be set to become a haven for beer.