July 2025
Cleethorpes
12/07/25 14:22 Filed in: Real Ale
For the second consecutive year I went over to the east coast to Docks Fest at Cleethorpes. This’s time I stayed in a better location ie in Cleethorpes rather than the somewhere at the edge of Grimsby and Cleethorpes, which was neither one place, or another.
Welcome
I actually stayed in a Greene King pub; the WellowHotel. It supposedly had just one ale on according to the pump clips—Abbott Ale—but they actually didn’t have any in the cellar. I ended up with a couple of Guinness over the two nights I stayed. The food was good in terms of price and quality though (for tea and breakfast). And less than a mile from the venue.
Over the few days I was there though I did get to a few pubs that sold—and actually stocked!—ale: no more Guinness required.
On my arrival, before checking in at the hotel a few bus stops away, I went to the Old Vic, which is just outside the station and close to the beach front. They had an ale on from the festival peeps themselves; Docks Beer, ‘Cleethorpes Pale Ale.’ Following an on time train, it was a good start to the weekend.
Cleethorpes Pale Ale in the Old Vic
Headed to the bus stop and on to the hotel. The check-in was quick and smooth and then I headed to Docks Brewery itself, in Grimsby. Handily there was a stop right by the hotel. Landed there in good time and was soon trying both cask and keg there (they had more keg options than cask). I’d luckily timed it, by accident, for Happy Hour—should have bought a lottery ticket that day (an on time train and Happy Hour—and things happen in threes don’t they?). I was recognised by one of the guys there from the year before. I don’t know how to take that.
There’s nowt really to aim for in Grimsby other than the brewery (or the way out) so I headed back to Cleethorpes. The bus goes along the prom so getting your bearings there ain’t no problem. I headed to the excellent Willy’s Bar for a couple of Roosters ‘Yankee’s. I got the bus again (the stop was just outside, and I was protecting my dodgy knees) for the weekend (and the stop for the Wellow was right opposite too). Maybe that was my third win and a Lottery ticket purchase would have been wasted on me).
After some scran—and a Guinness—at the Wellow it was time for an early night before the festival on Saturday. On Saturday I went once again to Willy’s and to Nottingham House. Despite the scaffolding outside, it was open. It was like going to Dr Duncans a few months ago. People walking in asking if the place was open. Think the (few) customers and the staff should have suggested the obvious. But hey!
Willys Brewery at Willy's
The Nottingham House
The rest off the day was supported by Docks Beer ie it was served in a plastic glass at the music festival. Pubs would really wait until Sunday. Though I did have one before the festival at the Signal Box Inn—the tiny place at the Cleethorpes Light Railway—beside the entrance to the festival. Unlike last year it didn’t have any Docks Beers on.
Docks Brewery, Grimsby
Docks Brewery
After a great day at Docks Fest I had a day in Cleethorpes before heading back home. Ended up going to five ale pubs. It was a bit damp: another win (the rain coming after the festival, not before or during).
I walked (yes, walked not bussed) to Willy’s from the Wellow and had some more Yankee, before heading up to the Nottingham House again (it was still open despite the scaffolding). The staff there were nice on both days. I was comforted too by the Oakham ‘Citra’.
I had another lucky break. I looked up ‘second hand book shops’ on Google Maps, and thanks to a slightly dodgy algorithm it showed me ‘Message in a Bottle.’ A craft ale venue-=and the current CAMRA pub of the year. Apparently there used to be second hand book shop there. If I hadn’t looked up books I would have missed out on the place. How lucky is that!!?
I timed my arrival at The Message to perfection. The rain came with a vengeance just I walked in. It is mainly a bottle/can and keg bar but they had one my fave—and very dependable—breweries on cask: Arbor. Result. Chatted to a few people in there. The hot food from a visiting—first time—vendor looked and smelled lovely. I probably should have got in there. But hey, me and food have a strange relationship when it doesn’t come in a pint sized glass.
Message in a Bottle
Message in a Bottle
The rain disappeared quickly and after speaking to the staff at the Message I decided my next ports of call would be No. 2 and No. 1 pubs/bars beside Cleethorpes station, which is where I was heading to anyway. I was once again struck by the apparent summertime takeover by the ladybirds. They were everywhere in great abundance. They are evidently our new overlords. I didn’t vote for them. But hell, they are preferable to Reform candidates. Long live the ladybirds.
Walked past the Old Vic, as I wanted to check out the places I hadn’t visited before.
First up was No. 2, not far from the Old Vic, at the end of the station. It is a pretty small bar, and the choice of beers were all predictable national brands. A bit uninspiring. The doors to the back where the toilets are were labelled Staff Only. Not that funny if you were in a rush. Not that funny anyhow.
No,2
Left there to go the few yards to No.1. This was a much nicer place; and a pub not a bar. The Sunday dinners looked amazing and assaulted my nasal passages. They’d just stopped serving as I arrived. Darn. But the beer choice was much better than No.2 and I ended up with a couple of different pints of Batemen’s. It made me feel much better after missing out on the Sunday roasts. If I get back to Cleethorpes I’ll he’d to No.1 again, but I’ll give No.2 a miss. I’m talking the bars and not toilet visits there. Two pints later it was time to get the Liverpool train. It left on time and I arrived back home on time too. Result again.
No.1
A pint of Bateman's in No.1
The Cleethorpes pubs I visited on this trip:
Willy’s
Nottingham House
The Wellow
Message in a Bottle
Old Vic
No. 2
No. 1
Those in bold are the ones I’d most recommend.
Welcome
I actually stayed in a Greene King pub; the WellowHotel. It supposedly had just one ale on according to the pump clips—Abbott Ale—but they actually didn’t have any in the cellar. I ended up with a couple of Guinness over the two nights I stayed. The food was good in terms of price and quality though (for tea and breakfast). And less than a mile from the venue.
Over the few days I was there though I did get to a few pubs that sold—and actually stocked!—ale: no more Guinness required.
On my arrival, before checking in at the hotel a few bus stops away, I went to the Old Vic, which is just outside the station and close to the beach front. They had an ale on from the festival peeps themselves; Docks Beer, ‘Cleethorpes Pale Ale.’ Following an on time train, it was a good start to the weekend.
Cleethorpes Pale Ale in the Old Vic
Headed to the bus stop and on to the hotel. The check-in was quick and smooth and then I headed to Docks Brewery itself, in Grimsby. Handily there was a stop right by the hotel. Landed there in good time and was soon trying both cask and keg there (they had more keg options than cask). I’d luckily timed it, by accident, for Happy Hour—should have bought a lottery ticket that day (an on time train and Happy Hour—and things happen in threes don’t they?). I was recognised by one of the guys there from the year before. I don’t know how to take that.
There’s nowt really to aim for in Grimsby other than the brewery (or the way out) so I headed back to Cleethorpes. The bus goes along the prom so getting your bearings there ain’t no problem. I headed to the excellent Willy’s Bar for a couple of Roosters ‘Yankee’s. I got the bus again (the stop was just outside, and I was protecting my dodgy knees) for the weekend (and the stop for the Wellow was right opposite too). Maybe that was my third win and a Lottery ticket purchase would have been wasted on me).
After some scran—and a Guinness—at the Wellow it was time for an early night before the festival on Saturday. On Saturday I went once again to Willy’s and to Nottingham House. Despite the scaffolding outside, it was open. It was like going to Dr Duncans a few months ago. People walking in asking if the place was open. Think the (few) customers and the staff should have suggested the obvious. But hey!
Willys Brewery at Willy's
The Nottingham House
The rest off the day was supported by Docks Beer ie it was served in a plastic glass at the music festival. Pubs would really wait until Sunday. Though I did have one before the festival at the Signal Box Inn—the tiny place at the Cleethorpes Light Railway—beside the entrance to the festival. Unlike last year it didn’t have any Docks Beers on.
Docks Brewery, Grimsby
Docks Brewery
After a great day at Docks Fest I had a day in Cleethorpes before heading back home. Ended up going to five ale pubs. It was a bit damp: another win (the rain coming after the festival, not before or during).
I walked (yes, walked not bussed) to Willy’s from the Wellow and had some more Yankee, before heading up to the Nottingham House again (it was still open despite the scaffolding). The staff there were nice on both days. I was comforted too by the Oakham ‘Citra’.
I had another lucky break. I looked up ‘second hand book shops’ on Google Maps, and thanks to a slightly dodgy algorithm it showed me ‘Message in a Bottle.’ A craft ale venue-=and the current CAMRA pub of the year. Apparently there used to be second hand book shop there. If I hadn’t looked up books I would have missed out on the place. How lucky is that!!?
I timed my arrival at The Message to perfection. The rain came with a vengeance just I walked in. It is mainly a bottle/can and keg bar but they had one my fave—and very dependable—breweries on cask: Arbor. Result. Chatted to a few people in there. The hot food from a visiting—first time—vendor looked and smelled lovely. I probably should have got in there. But hey, me and food have a strange relationship when it doesn’t come in a pint sized glass.
Message in a Bottle
Message in a Bottle
The rain disappeared quickly and after speaking to the staff at the Message I decided my next ports of call would be No. 2 and No. 1 pubs/bars beside Cleethorpes station, which is where I was heading to anyway. I was once again struck by the apparent summertime takeover by the ladybirds. They were everywhere in great abundance. They are evidently our new overlords. I didn’t vote for them. But hell, they are preferable to Reform candidates. Long live the ladybirds.
Walked past the Old Vic, as I wanted to check out the places I hadn’t visited before.
First up was No. 2, not far from the Old Vic, at the end of the station. It is a pretty small bar, and the choice of beers were all predictable national brands. A bit uninspiring. The doors to the back where the toilets are were labelled Staff Only. Not that funny if you were in a rush. Not that funny anyhow.
No,2
Left there to go the few yards to No.1. This was a much nicer place; and a pub not a bar. The Sunday dinners looked amazing and assaulted my nasal passages. They’d just stopped serving as I arrived. Darn. But the beer choice was much better than No.2 and I ended up with a couple of different pints of Batemen’s. It made me feel much better after missing out on the Sunday roasts. If I get back to Cleethorpes I’ll he’d to No.1 again, but I’ll give No.2 a miss. I’m talking the bars and not toilet visits there. Two pints later it was time to get the Liverpool train. It left on time and I arrived back home on time too. Result again.
No.1
A pint of Bateman's in No.1
The Cleethorpes pubs I visited on this trip:
Willy’s
Nottingham House
The Wellow
Message in a Bottle
Old Vic
No. 2
No. 1
Those in bold are the ones I’d most recommend.