You might think it rather telling that my “featured image” (above) for Withernsea is a visualisation of what the Prom might look like one day; I couldn’t possibly comment.
My massive master GBG spreadsheet tells me this is my first ever pub in “Withered“, as its friends probably call it. But I’ve clearly been here before, the Navigator never lies.
I knew it was a “traditional” cheap ‘n’ cheerful resort, as we could have camped there last Easter for about a fiver. Mrs RM said no.
Without Mrs RM to stop me, I made my way along the prom before the new micro pub opened at 4. Look at the Old Boat Shed’s What Pub page closely.
I’ll start with the Withernsea positives.
It does have sand, which is good for a beach resort.
And a little lookout you can sit in and hide from BRAPA.
And a view to some distant land, full of mystery and eastern delight (actually it’s Bridlington).
And some historic photographic panels that show what it was like before aeroplanes and craft beer meant folk from Hull had to come here on charabancs for their holidays.
And a sort of outside entertainments arena where Bruce Springsteen is booked to play next year, perhaps.
And the lighthouse was atmospheric as the sun pierced through.
And the terrace Catholic Church is a classic.
And finally, it does have a British Legion, though the mobility scooter needs a bit of work.
But the “famous” chippy was closed, always a bad sign at a resort I assumed got year round trade from Hull’s gentlefolk and haddock connoisseurs.
On the downside, the central area was a bit rundown, and not just because the clock was wrong.
The shops were “interesting“.
I nearly bought Simon a present, but the scarf shop was shut.
I thought the pubs…
…unprepossessing, to use the long word.
At 4pm I walked up to the Old Boatshed, by some way the smartest place in town. The sign on the door said “Open at 4pm“. You know how this one goes.
“Can I HELP you ?)
“Are you open ?”
There were 3 people in there, all eager to confirm they weren’t open, and should “come back in about half an hour“.
You don’t get that in Marston’s or Greene King pubs, do you ? Just as well there was one chippy open, well done Lifeboat Fish & Chips.
£6 for this lot, served by pleasant staff.
20 minutes later….
All was well with the world, as long as the Boatyard was open.
It wasn’t of course, so I wobbled round the block for ten minutes.
And then it was open,
As I approached the bar,
“What can I get ya ?”
GIVE ME A SECOND !!!!
But that’s the grumpiness over. Pleasant, chatty people, proper seating, and some fantastic beer.
That stout was hard to fault, especially as it was first out of the pumps. Cool, rich and foamy, NBSS 4.
All was well with Withernsea, which the Tourist Board can have for their slogan if they want.
Even better, the nice lady chased me down the street after I left my OS map. A Pub Man without his Explorer would have been ever grumpier than usual. Thanks for that.
Sand ! You call that sand ?
There’s more sand in a French Foreign Legionnaire’s sock.
Mind you,that is a proper portion of fish and chips missing only a couple of slices of manky bread and marge.
Withernsea – where nowt ‘appens fast.
And in other news today is the first time pubs have been allowed to open in Ireland on Good Friday.
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Fill yer boots 😉
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So have you booked it on a Tuesday next February for the inaugral AGM of the QBG Tickers Association?
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It’s cheaper than Skeggy, so possible.
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Now that’s a proper Tourism board declaration. Guaranteed to have the masses camped out overnight at the Gothic Emporium (is that an overflow from Whitby?).
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I sense the proprietor of Ye Original Olde Gothic Emporium would sue, but is too scared to enter the walls of Withernsea.
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Withernsea – too scary for Dracula to land here.
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How much does the sparkler affect the quality of the lacings? Do you see more lacing of quality in the north? Or is lacing discern able from the sparkler head you get?
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I didn’t expect the Spanish inquisition….
The North is just better beer quality, to be honest !
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I have often wondered because of the frequency of northern lacing versus the lack of southern lacing. The inquisition is settled amicably.
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I would have to go through almost posts and search for the word “lacings” and then map the pubs on a giant map, Dave. Can I have an intern ?
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discernible. Interesting spellcheck.
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I enjoyed reading this -the micro pub looks like a good ‘un & fish & chips spot on (did fish have skin on ? they tend to do this in East Yorkshire but not in West ) Despite living within 60 miles of Withernsea for 40 years ,think I have visited maybe once -looking at your photos,I know why ! My husband however was a regular at the caravan site but that is another story
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“Living within 60 miles of Withernsea” – that could be 3 days away in East Yorkshire. I guess we’d all like to read that other story, Pauline !
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Does Thor Heyerdahl go on all of your trips?
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I was more a Fantastic Four man than Thor, though I did visit his cave once.
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Martin’s Silver Hammer. Would that be a pataphysical question, similar to the opening hours of Micros?
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My favourite track on Abbey Road.
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Windmill?
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What is it then ? A soviet missile ?
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It’s a lighthouse…
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Of course it is. You know, I never even looked at the photo, I just thought windmill. Still in my Lincolnshire mode. Well spotted Bill.
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Or the world’s first vertical micro?
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Equally viable. What would the opening hours be ?
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Inconvenient. Like the spiral staircases.
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Mention that “folk from Hull had to come here … for their holidays” reminds me of working in the Hull Brewery over forty years ago and one of the employees who way exceeded his two pints a day ‘allowance’ taking his family for a weeks holiday there and being so grateful for getting back to work and being on free beer again.
That windmill suggests that Withernsea could do with a brewery like Adnams to liven it up.
The clock was wrong but at least it was a proper clock.
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Good point. We’ve got enough breweries with the ones in Wolves, Stockport, Burton and Burslem, thanks.
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So that’s about 1996 spare then !
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At least.
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“It does have sand, ”
That certainly does help. Almost all of our beaches on Vancouver Island are small rocks and pebbles. Not enough wave action to turn them into sand.
“Withernsea Live !!!”
I would’ve sworn that was the Hollywood Bowl in L.A. 😎
“And the lighthouse was atmospheric as the sun pierced through.”
Taking the photo just a tad earlier would have been better. 😉
“though the mobility scooter needs a bit of work.”
😁
“I nearly bought Simon a present, but the scarf shop was shut.”
Next time, might I suggest a scarf with L**ds on it. 😏
“Cool, rich and foamy, NBSS 4.”
👍
“All was well with Withernsea, which the Tourist Board can have for their slogan if they want.”
‘Sea’ above. 😝
Cheers
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Argh. Browser lost login info. 😒
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Zero chance of not guessing, Russ.
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Waves turn rocks into sand ? Who knew that ? I thought it was made in factories in Hull.
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“I thought it was made in factories in Hull.”
That’s only celebrity sand for those rich enough to buy their own islands. 😎
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lacings -will pay more attention to what Mr Tyke is imbibing.Sorry bit pie eyed tonight & no skin on my bluddy haddock
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This one had a nice “Well, they can’t *all* be winners” quality to it. 😉 America and England are definitely kindred spirits when it comes to small towns that have seen better days. The photo you captioned “Amusements” could’ve been taken in any number of slightly shabby American towns I’ve been to (and hastened to move on from).
But that fish and chips meal looked very tasty indeed. 🙂
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Yes, a proper fish and chips meal, not like those ‘Fishy Friday’ deals with a drink in high street ‘barns’ across the country.
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I’ll agree there. The Fish Friday in Spoons is a disgrace.
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Mark hits the bail on the head here. There is a certain quality possessed of these quiet, unfashionable sea side towns. To be fair Withernsea has never been the jewel of the east Yorkshire coast. It does however have something, something that its better felt on a grey mid week afternoon in October than at the height of the season.
Again Mark is correct on his appreciation of the Haddock and chips, they look top drawer.
Great Newsome make some decent beer too, all the better for being Locale.
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As you’ll have seen, the new Beer scoring regulations are weighted in favour of tiny home-brewers.
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Quite right. We need to put a stop to all these megalomarstonia brewers.
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Boo.
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