there was a pub on South Quay (at least one South Quay tavern on Head road but think there were a couple of others - assuming the fair(fairground?) was on the head the quickest route back would be to pay to cross the swing bridge (post 1890's) rather than the long walk down the quay to the stone bridge across to North Quay which boasted almost a complete run of pubs with no protection from crossing the road and landing in the mud (it is rumoured that many awkward customers were helped a little in this way). Depending on the tide he could be swept across the river