retiredmartin

December 2023. Grimsby.

I actually played “Caribou” in the car on the way down to Waterbeach yesterday.

It’s actually not as bad as contemporary reviews of Elton’s stellar run of early ’70s albums suggest, but those titles ! Who puts tracks called “Pinky”, “Grimsby”, “Solar Prestige A Gammon” and “Stinker” on a Number 1 album ?

Those songs could all have been written about my trip to Grimsby, where I’d ended the pink ticking of Lincolnshire.

and with an hour till the train back to Sheff before the sun set down on me was unwisely considering a 5th pub of the day.

Look at the full pub listing on What Pub;

That collection looks a little less healthy when you tick “Real Ale only” (as you must, being CAMRA Life Member leech), and you realise that virtually every cask outlet in town is in the Guide (see also : Gainsborough, there’s a theme here).

The Hope & Anchor serves Bombardier, the Haven Arms a changing beer (ugh), Chambers (formerly Berni) was keeping its counsel, the Tivoli (top) returned you to the joy of Bombardier.

I think these lads were doing the “Bellyful of Bombardier by Bike” challenge.

I came to my senses, realising none of those pubs were gracing GBG25, and took a photo of Walters, thankfully now without ambulance in front.

And then attempted to get to the architectural heart of this noble old town. It’s tough.

Usual issue; decent buildings, modern frontage.

Decent parish church,

plain street art offer.

The focal point of the town used to be Freshney Place shopping arcade, presumably built on the site of more interesting old buildings. In the early ’90s on visits to Blundell Park the fish and chips in Freshney’s food court made a visit to Grimsby Town an away fan’s highlight, but it’s gone, replaced by a Costa.

In fact, culinary offerings were thin on the ground, which I guess is why Spoons cleans up in towns in north Lincolnshire.

Bramley apple pie and ice cream is one of the reasons for Tim’s knighthood.