3rd January 2020
The East Yorkshire ticking weekend took a familiar path.
Park up in Hull, check-in (Ibis this time), admire the city but bemoan the lack of a Tim Horton’s, catch train to Bridlington and do pubs on way back in.
A year ago I didn’t even know Bridlington had an Old Town; perhaps it didn’t and it’s part of the Hull Cultural Capital legacy.
Not only does it have one of the great small Old Towns in the UK, it has a shop selling hipster caps for eight (8) pounds.
It also has a shop selling signs to micropubs.
Because I was on a tight schedule I couldn’t afford the time to go in every pub, but rest assured that like the Board Inn they all looked compelling.
Of course, I’ve got the one with the wordy words on the wall, which is often a danger sign.
Odd one, the Pack Horse. No-one comes to Bridlington for the Old Town (do they ?) and there’s just three Old Boys at the bar on a quiet Friday afternoon when the chintzy cafes seem busier.
The Christmas decorations don’t help; we took ours down on Boxing Day, and I wouldn’t have had them up at all if I had any authority in our house.
If you lived in Harlow or Solihull this would look exceptional. Here, it’s up against the wondrous Board Inn and suffers in comparison.
Nice trad beer range, though the lack of Plum Porter is probably illegal.
Beer from Abbeydale (OK at best but only £2.70 a pint), music from Fleetwood Mac, Rainbow and Survivor, and some rustic banter that seems unintelligible a week on.
“Your life and your family will be forever loved”
Or it could be a lyric from a Journey song.
retiredmartin 
Some smashing looking pubs there, Martin. We spent a night in Brid back in 2018, but stayed at the Premier Inn on the seafront.
There wasn’t the opportunity to explore the old town, although we did take a drive through. Definitely worth re-visiting.
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Yes, it’s worth revisiting. Bempton and dramatic headland close by.
Like you, I’d only visited the resort style town centre, which is where a few Beer Guide pubs have been over the years.
Didn’t know there was an Old Town, only 2 streets but packed with interest. The Board Inn I visited in the summer is stunning.
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It’s six years ago that I were last in Bridlington – like you “on a tight schedule” – and I don’t think I got beyond the railway station with its Station Buffet to rival Stalybridge.
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I know Bridlington very well as my Grandmother lived there -however we never went to the Old Town (probably back in the 60’s it would have been thought of as very dull for a child who only wanted to go to the beach ) We visited recently & I was surprised to see how nice it was ! We also enjoyed the pub at the station -it may have closed now -thought I read something about it
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Glad it’s not just me and Duncan who were surprised. The Old Town feels a long way from the beach.
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Old Fleetwood Mac or new? (Of course it’s all old now, but…).
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1977, Go Your Own Way, which theoretically is “new” I guess.
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Solihull have just confirmed this is their GBG entry next year irrespective of location…
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Enjoyed reading the input from a non resident Bridlington old town has suffered most from the onward march of time however the new input of money and time by the indigenous population of old town will i am sure bring back some of the good times .All the best retired Dave Harvey.
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Thanks for commenting, Dave.
As someone who has visited the town a half dozen times but didn’t realise there WAS an Old Town (some way from the new town centre) until a few years ago I’d say Bridlington has been the biggest UK surprise on my travels.
Obviously towns are more than pubs, but places like the Board have really made the town a destination for pub lovers.
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