09/03/24 – Cleethorpes and Grimsby

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My day today takes me first to Cleethorpes, which expanded into a town when the railway came in Victorian Times. I start my day at “Cleethorpes Tap House & Kitchen”, followed by “Willy’s Bar and Brewery”, “Nottingham House” and “Message in a Bottle”. and “The Old Vic”. I finished by Cleethorpes Railway Station visiting “No 1 Pub” and “No 2 Refreshment Room”. Then onto Grimsby next, which was once  the home port for the world’s largest fishing fleet around the mid-20th century. A short journey to Grimsby Docks to drop into “Docks Beers” with amazing food from Mockingbird. I finished the day in Grimsby visiting “The Barge” and “Vittles & Company”.

Cleethorpes

Cleethorpes Taphouse & Kitchen

My first call was to “Cleethorpes Taphouse & Kitchen”, a steady 25 minute walk along the promenade from Cleethorpes Railway Station. Located in the Discovery Centre next to the boating lake. A tearoom and a gift shop is also located within the centre. The Taphouse also serves a range of food including breakfasts and meals throughout the day.

A large back bar serving a large range of keg beers from along the front of the bar alongside even more on the back wall. Lots of different styles to choose from here aswell as some from local “Docks Beers”. I went with “Leaking Boot”, from nearby Grimsby based Docks Beers. A tasty easy drinking session pale ale.

Willy’s

A 20 minute walk back into town brings me to my next calling point, “Willy’s”. A bar with its own onsite brewery which started brewing in 1989 using a 5¼BBL Kit. A great location with seating at the front overlooking the beach and the River Humber. A great smelling selection of homemade food is available aswell.

3 real ales on the bar today (they didnt have any of their own beer left due to brewer being on holiday) but a good selection regardless. I started with “Paleface” from West Sussex based Firebird Brewing Co. I then went onto “Lincoln Gold” from Barnetby based Lincolnshire Craft Beers. Two really tasty pale ales.

The Nottingham House

A few minutes walk around the corner brings me to my third call of the day which is to “The Nottingham House”. Described as a fabulous example of a real English pubs, this certainly rings true upon entering. The pub itself was converted from two cottages which were built in 1856. The pub itself split into 3 rooms – a bar, a lounge and the snug. Lots of great photos, ornaments and more around the pub. Great warm welcome in here.

A great line up of 6 beers available over the bar (3 on each side of the bar), with a great choice of styles. I went with a local beer to me back home from Ossett Brewery, “Blonde”, a favourite of mine, a very easy drinking blonde beer.

Message in a Bottle

Another short walk brings me to “Message in a Bottle”. What was originally setup as specialist beer shop in 2015, this has evolved into having a pop up bar every Friday through to Sunday, with seating outside at the front (under cover) aswell as seating inside. Inside is a great range of cans and bottles to drink in or takeaway, with lots of choice.

A really great vibe in here with customers coming and going throughout my visit. 2 cask ales on the bar aswell as a keg stout and lager. A large fridge with cans in is also behind the bar to choose from. I started with a beer from Manchester based Cloudwater Brewery brewed for International Women’s Day 2024. This pale ale is a delicious tasty hazy pale ale packed full of flavour. I went onto “Alf” from another Manchester based brewery, Marble Beers in collaboration with Norway brewery Amundsen. Another great hazy pale ale.

The Old Vic

My next call is back in the direction of the Railway Station which is to “The Old Vic”. An addition to my day having only reopened last weekend after being closed for a period of time formerly being The Foundry and O’Neills. A great renovated pub which seemed very popular, with the addition of a fantastic outdoor seating area at the rear of the pub, perfect for a sunny day.

Up to 3 real ales available on the bar (one had just run out), but the two that were left on were from local breweries Docks Beers and Axholme Brewery (Theakstons having run out). I went with the Axholme Brewery beer, “Cleethorpes Pale Ale”, a refreshing pale ale with great citrus notes.

No.2 Refreshment Room

A short walk down to Cleethorpes Railway Station, where in the corner of the station concourse lies the “No 2 Refreshment Rooms”. This is also known as “Under the Clock”. A hidden gem of a pub which every time ive visited has always been busy, as it was today. A small one roomed pub with a small heated outside area at the front of the pub.

A fantastic line up of 6 cask beers, alongside a cider. A great range of styles including a Mild which I haven’t seen too often so went for this. “Ruby Mild” from York based Rudgate Brewery, described as a ruby red colour with complex and smoky flavours with a rich velvet finish. This didn’t disappoint.

No.1 Pub

Onto another pub on the Railway Station housed in one of the former station buildings called “No.1 Pub”. A view out onto the beach from here (unless there is a train in the platform). The pub has the slogan “We’re a train pub not a chain pub”, and one side of the pub sits on one of the platforms. A pub split over 2 levels, dropping down shortly after walking into the pub.

A line up of 4 cask beers to choose from, a nice range of styles. Great Newsome and Batemans being fairly local breweries. I went with “Stoney Binks” from Hull based Great Newsome Brewery. A really tasty traditional English Bitter.

Grimsby Docks

A short train journey from Cleethorpes to Grimsby Docks. The service between Cleethorpes and Barton-on-Humber call here, run by East Midlands Trains.

Docks Beers

A short walk from the Railway Station, crossing the Railway line brings me to “Docks Beers”. This is the brewery and taproom for Docks Beers. A fantastic venue with seating around the brewery setup. A really great vibe in here, very busy. This taproom opened in October 2018. The Docks Academy is located upstairs which hosts bookable music gigs. Also home to “Docks Shop”, which has a range of beers and merchandise to purchase.

A fantastic range of beers, being a massive choice of keg beers from the back walk and a t-bar on the front, alongside 3 cask beers. I had 3 beers all brewed by Docks Beers. I started with “Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap Fish”, a delicious American style pale ale, lovely and hoppy. I went onto “Naughty”, a tasty and tart cherry sour, and finished with “Red Sky at Night”, a raspberry sour, packed full of fruity flavour.

Mockingbird have a food stall outside where food can be ordered to eat in Docks Beers. Described as “Disrupting the world of chicken and ‘mock’ chicken since 2021, Mockingbird is an independent business serving up delicious chicken and vegan-chicken fast food from its first site in Grimsby at Docks Beers”. I went for a few choices from the menu, and each one was so delicious and tasty. Well worth every penny. If you get here make sure you order something!

Grimsby Town

Either a 10 minute walk back into town or a train journey if you drop lucky with the times. Grimsby Town is the station nearest the town centre.

The Barge

My first call of 2 in Grimsby is to “The Barge”, located in the town centre in a converted grain barge, which has been beautifully converted into a bar. With a small room upstairs and a large area and bar downstairs. Love these sorts of conversions as they are always really unique and quirky.

A choice of 2 cask ales on the bar here to choose from. I went for “Harvest Pale” from Nottingham based Castle Rock Brewery. A multi award winning blonde beer brewed with a blend of American hops. A really tasty easy drinking beer.

Vittles & Company Cafe Bar

My last call in Grimsby is just across the railway crossing. A popular Cafe bar which was very busy, a very light airey feel inside. Ive visited their other bar whilst in Hull last year. The food offerings here sound really tasty, alongside a selection of freshly made cakes. A very warm welcome on entering this busy cafe.

A large choice of cans and bottles to choose from to drink in here. Both local and international beers. I went with a can from Malton based Brass Castle Brewery. “Snow Eater” is a American IPA made with Chinook hops. A very tasty, sessionable pale ale.