retiredmartin

August 2026. Skegness. Lincolnshire.

We stayed at The Vine, as we did back in 1999 when our 6 month old cried through Roger Protz’s dinner in the oak panelled dining room. A week later we found out James had a hernia, bless him.

I’m not sure if this Best Western even is the smartest place in Skeggy; as I mentioned the Premier Inn was £200, but its position in the wooded area just off the road down to the golf course gives that impression.

Best Westerns often aren’t that smart, and the Vine is unfussy (big bouncy castle, rather than petanque out front) with a proper public bar.

8 years ago Curry Charles joined me for, obviously, curry night with the locals.

A bit quieter Sunday night, but there’s real character here, exemplified by the old tourist posters and the Anthony Bourdain quote.

In a world where Bass is rotated with something you’ve never heard of as if it’s A Good Thing, you can be assured there’s always be XB and XXXB on here,

and if I say it was “GOOD”,

then you’ll know that in Lincolnshire that means “AS GOOD AS YOU’LL GET ROUND HERE”.