Manchester. Located in a row of former townhouses dating from the late 18th century, the upper floors have garret windows which suggests that the top floor was once used as a weavers' workshop. It is one of the city's oldest buildings, surviving the aerial bombardment of WWII and the industrial revolution which saw the decline of weavers' workshops. The pub's name may refer to a travelling circus that used to spend the winter there, and like its neighbor The Circus it vies for the title of oldest and smallest pub in the city. A smallish semi-circular bar is fronted by a narrow area with limited seating against the wall. I tasted a selection of beers from Hydes Brewery in Manchester, and settled down with a Hopster Zesty Blonde Ale watching the beginning of the Leichester City football game.