CHRISTMAS EVE, EVE IN GAINSBOROUGH. EVERYBODY’S IN THE SPOONS.

December 2023. Gainsborough.

On the way back from the Humber we stopped in Gainsborough for a peep. Those North Notts/Lincs towns like Bawtry, Scunthorpe, Retford and Gainsborough haven’t had a Retired Martin visit for a few years, with a static pub scene and the boys being too old for Sundown Adventure Land.

I’m not implying I want grandchildren so I can take them to Sundown; I’d be happy to be 9 again so I can go on the Jolly Pirate Barrel Ride once more.

I had a vague idea of visiting Gainsborough Old Hall, but they wanted cash money to visit,

and the best views are from outside anyway.

Frankly, the best view of the town centre is from the drone; River Trent, football at Trinity, four (4) GBG pubs, none of which I’d visited in the last decade or more.

At ground level, the town centre looks grim.

and the market square deserted at 1pm on the last Saturday before Christmas.

It wasn’t helped by the conversion of the old iron works into a slightly upmarket shopping precinct that became the de facto town centre in 2007,

and in Brown’s overpriced department store we were at least able to get Dad a present to give to Mum on the 25th, while opposite the Spoons we bought cards for less than a quid from Mackenzies, because older folk like cards from their grandchildren.

This was the view leaving Mackenzies;

I reckon 20% of the people in Gainsborough were in the Sweyn Forkbeard, which was an unusual name for a Gainsborough Trinity wing half, even in the 1930s.

Somehow, Mrs RM found the last table, even if it was right by the door. At least it afforded the best view of the Craft Union pub across the road, but all the life was in our Spoons.

Fizzy rhubarb for me, a large glass of Chardonnay for Mrs RM, who makes the most of my driving.

I’d been contemplating a Proper Pub Day Out here. Six cask pubs, four in the GBG under an hour from Sheff by rail for £15.20, a museum and a walk, but it all looks very scruffy. I’m sure the lone “CAMRA drinkers” pub hasn’t changed this century.

But is that necessarily a bad thing, hmmm...

Unknown's avatar

Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

11 thoughts on “CHRISTMAS EVE, EVE IN GAINSBOROUGH. EVERYBODY’S IN THE SPOONS.”

    1. Etu,
      There were plenty of dogs yesterday lunchtime in Rugeley’s Red Lion, a characterful pub full of characters by 1pm.

      Like

      Reply

      1. It’s not the dogs so much as their owners who usher them into your personal space to see if you’re as dog-soft-in-the-head as they are and then turn very nasty if you aren’t Paul.

        Like

  2. I’m really surprised that Gainsborough has as many as four (4) GBG pubs. Obviously the Spoons is a foreign country as far as I’m concerned, but the Eight Jolly Brewers has been a favourite of mine for some years now – probably 20 years since my first visit. But it has been going downhill, partly a change in clientele since Covid, with some punters not coming in and some, probably, no longer able to. The owner has been getting more eccentric, and he started a few yards out of the blocks compared with the rest of us. I went to a few games at Trinity last season – Come on You Holy Blues! – but on a Tuesday night I turned up to find the door shut and only a glimmer of light. I tried the door and made enough noise to bring him to investigate. He was having a lock-in with a local GP at 6:45pm! He invited me to join them for a few whiskys, but I had a pint (which wasn’t very good) and didn’t fancy my chances of getting in again post-match.

    I’ve also been to the Elm Cottage near the ground, which is nothing special, but I had no idea the football club’s own Blues Club was in the GBG. Maybe this is another reason why the Jolly is not as busy as it used to be. I’ll have to check the fixtures and see if I can make it back there this season.

    Like

    Reply

      3. That’s my understanding. I’m going there on Monday for the local Derby vs Worksop Town. I’ve actually bought a ticket for the match online – didn’t know that had reached non-league. Hope it gets me into the club, if not I’ll just have to show my Camra membership card instead.

        Liked by 1 person

Leave a comment