Author: Kevin Thompson

Having been on the ’70s weekend at Butlins last year, we moved a decade on this time. 

Gordon and I decided we’d chill on the train, with a few cans of course. So, after setting off at 07:23 from Sheffield, we got down to the task. The journey was nice and smooth, just a short 15 minute change at Grantham. Our friend drove, so arrived at camp earlier, where we had to queue, and only 2 staff later in the day. 

On exiting the station in the town centre, you have a short crossing to The Lumley, it only had 2 ales, but they were OK. I had both, a Batemans – XB Bitter of 3.7%, and the Theakstons – Hairy Bikers Bitter at 4.2%. Across the road is the Red Lion, Skegness’s Wethersoons. A quick pint of standard cider, before our real goal of The Crafty Local Ale House 5 minutes walk away. 

We ended up visiting this micropub 3 times, and what a gem. The building was originally a guest house in 1929, but then underwent changes of use as a college facility, blind institute and a dental practice, among others. There’s a nice outside, perfect for the weather we had. Inside is a small room with the bar, and a larger room to the right for entertainment. 

There was 3 cask, 4-5 box ciders and a few keg. Talking to the owner, he said later this year onwards will see further improvements. My choices over the visits were Salopian’s – The Thirteenth Hat, NZ Pale, 3.9%. Milestone – Son of a Beach, IPA of 4.5% and Celtic Marches – Tutti Frutti Cider, only 3.4%, but plenty of flavour. My friends chose cider, as one likes it and the requires GF drinks. 

Although we wanted to see the music at the camp, we were thwarted as it was far busier than last year and most arenas were bursting. We managed to get room to see Kim Wilde, Marty’s daughter, after 15 minutes of Black Lace (and no, I didn’t do the actions to Piano and Agadoo). She put on a fantastic show of around 70 minutes covering all the hits. 

We covered Ingoldmells on Saturday, just drinking standard Keg as real ale only seems to be on in one pub, The Countryman, and we were informed their brewer has left to become head brewer at the recently revived Jennings. We then returned to Skegness on Sunday and visited The Three Monkeys on the front, just one ale in Batemans XB, a decent pint for £3.50. Then it was back to The Crafty, before Gordon and I went in the Red Lion for a drink. We sat in the outdoor area where I sampled a Little Valley – Tod’s Blonde, an IPA of 5%.  

Back to camp and more keg. A quieter night just chatting before retiring at a reasonable 00:00 for bed. Showered, breakfast and out. We had a quick one before the train. 5 carriages to Grantham, then someone decided only 2 on to Nottingham and Sheffield, not the best logistics planner?

Next year we plan on either a ’60s, or Soul weekend. We’re pretty sure we’ll be there though, and hopefully more people will have followed The Crafty’s idea and opened a micropub. 

The sun was out, and even at 10:30 it was hovering around 21°. I arrived at The Sheffield Tap with time to spare for a pint before the 11:37 train. The selection as ever was good, so I went for a new one to me Pentrich’s – Hollywood Forever, a nice APA of 4.5% to start the day. Nearing 11:25, I made my way to the departure board, and found it not working. On speaking to a member of staff, I found it was Platform 2.

Awaiting to board, I thought this may be a solo reconnaissance trip, but with 5 minutes to spare Graham and Paul turned up to join me. The 30 minute journey on a relatively quiet train passed quickly, and before we knew it we were alighting at Worksop. Through the main doors we went to pop in for a drink at The Mallard. This is a fantastic little bar has a legendary status with 4 cask ales from varying regions. My tipple of choice was Welbeck’s – Elder Maria, a pale of only 3.9% but packed with flavour, there was also Badger and The Great Divide on the bar. Graham and Paul opted for the darker bitter on offer.  

A short hop through the car park and we were at the Station Hotel, a nice decorated pub with 2 wickets. One being Glamorgan’s Ffresh EPA, a beer I had never seen before, but throughly enjoyed in the nice beer garden outside.  A short walk downhill saw us enter town and the very strangely named Wetherspoons – The Liquorice Gardens. The choice was the usual 4-6 cask, I went for the Titanic -Raspberry Pale, a weighty 4.7%. 

On most of our trips, we have a little issue with Google Maps. This time is was finding the Millhouse. The sat nav took us in a circle again, before a lady told us it was way down the road the other way. Some 15 minutes later, we arrived at a smart outside and inside pub with 3 cask. You don’t see Everards much around Sheffield, so I gave the Tiger – Bitter, 4.2% a punt. I’m glad I did, as it was a nice biscuity, malty ale. 

Worksop Rugby Club was indicated as being round the corner, and this time the map worked, which was handy as a deluge was threatening. Luckily we missed it both arriving and leaving, thus ensuring dry shirts and shorts for the trip home. This bar advertises 2 changing ales on Worksop’s CAMRA website, but needs changing. We arrived after the walk through a private housing estate, to find no real ale. There was an explanation on enquiring of “We had some yesterday,” but that was of little use for us. Graham and Paul had bottled ale, while I went for a reasonable pint of Belhaven – 80/-, not bad to say it was keg. If visiting, I would give them a ring to check on cask beer availability. 

Hunger was creeping in and we’d spotted a chippy on the way, so we popped in. I had a fishcake, and again the contentious issue was that it was really a rissole, but we weren’t in Yorkshire, so I suppose you have to cut them some slack.  So food consumed we took the lengthy road back to the station. 

A walk to town again, and a slight uphill to the station saw us get a return train fairly promptly. We had intended to hop off at Kiveton Park for the Tap, but we’d had a long day and decided to finish in the Sheffield Tap and in no time we made our farewells. 

Despite it only being the 3 of us, we had a nice tour, and a laugh. At least next time, we know the route, and could possibly add one or two more. 

Stockport was once described by Friedrich Engels as “the duskiest, smokiest hole.” However, when I arrived at the station, it was bathed in sunshine and was a few degrees warmer than the Sheffield I had left 40 minutes ago. Having no romantic interest on the day, I consoled myself with beer.

The town has a history for hatting, but was also one of the first centres of the Industrial Revolution with the River’s Goyt and Tame merging to form the Mersey for transportation. 

Walking down into town, my first establishment was the White Lion on Gt Underbank. A nice ornate pub serving 3 cask ales. Mine being a Weetwood Chesire Cat, a blonde/Golden 4%. 

On exiting I tackled the short, steep cobbled hill to the Market Place.  A 12th century feature, which contains the Angel Inn. A small bar selling 3 cask of which the Beartown Best Bitter 3.7% session strength, was partaken, as I had not tried this one before. It was here I met Stephen Oakes and his Cockapoo, Boo. Who was very friendly, and recommended a few establishments some of which were on my GBG list. 

Armed with this info, I set off up the town and over a colourful bridge to reach the Petersgate Tap, a micro bar which was busy with locals. The bar has capacity for 6 cask and I had the Horwich-based Blackedge Blonde at 4.5%. Followed by a Small World Beers Barncliffe Bitter, again sessionable at 3.7%. 

I was OK for time, and decided on the longer walk towards the A6 Manchester Road to The Magnet on Wellington Rd. This pub is atop the incline and is overshadowed by the railway’s arches. Inside is a treasure trove of cask and keg, displayed on a TV screen. I had my first stout of the day, Riverhead’s Winter Stout. A lovely dark-roast brew, thinner than usual but a reasonable 4.8%. Enjoying this pub I twisted my own arm to have a Mallinsons Nectaron, a pleasant 4.1% pale. 

A walk back down to the towns Frenchgate Centre, saw me at the Swan With Two Necks, a Roninsons pub on Princes St selling Unicorn, a 4.2% Bitter which is pleasantly hopped. I had a great conversation with an older couple who had similar tastes in music, and who travelled Europe extensively on their motorcycle. 

It was time to climb the cobbled hill again, to Bakers Vaults in Market Place, a spacious venue with a good choice of cask. Among these was the Staggeringly Good Forward to the Past, an American IPA, a tasty 5.2%. With around 75 minutes remaining, I had the walk back towards the station to Ye Olde Vic, a very traditional pub with an older charm. It boasted 3-4 ales and I plumped for the 4Ts S.P.A. at 3.8%. 

A short hop, up and down to the station saw a prompt train return me to Sheffield, with time for a couple of halves (a Derby Rheingold, 3.8% and a Prime Pacific, 4.2%) in the Two and Six Micropub to end the enjoyable day. 

After a good night watching an Oasis tribute in the local WMC, but with no real ale. We were looking forward to our Bridlington trip to seek out some GBG establishments. It was nice to see since my last visit to see The Stone Eoses, the place has received a bit of a spruce up, and pubs have embraced real ale.

A timely train got into the station at 12:05, just 25 minutes before the Owls lunchtime KO. Heading into town, many of the pubs were only showing the Man City game. Until we happened on the Three Brass Monkeys on Prince Street. 

The bar is spacious and long with multiple screens showing 3-4 games. A decent choice of 3 ales, White Rat, Old Peculiar and Black Sheep Bitter. My friend started on the Old Peculiar, a dark, fruity beer packing a 5.6% ABV. I chose Ossett’s White Rat, a triple hopped pale at a more sensible 4%. As we watched the game, which to be honest wasn’t going great, we decided to have another pint and see it out. Both of us plumped for the Black Sheep Bitter, a nicely hopped, Amber beer of 3.8%. 

Despite a last minute winner for the opposition, we weren’t dispirited and set out to the well respected Three Bs on Marshall Avenue. Easy to find in a quite compact town centre, the pub has a distinctive red frontage. 

On entry, there was a warm welcome from the owner, Mark. The choice of 3 handpumps had us choose  Shiny’s Disco Balls, an American IPA, one of the nicest hazy pales I’ve had and weighing in at 5.3%. The bar is very similar to our favourite Sheffield micro pubs, decked out with old photos of Bridlinton, beermats of the now 978, and counting, beers since opening and beer posters. The conversation with Mark and different customers was friendly, informative and useful. Mark has plans to move shortly, to a venue round the corner in town. The pub will be slightly larger, but not have the small seated lounge currently available upstairs. So if visiting, keep an eye on where he is.

Armed with a couple of recommendations, we set off again. This is when we discovered The Brunswick Hotel, Manor St, a nicely decorated, warm pub which had 4 pumps, although only 3 were on. The two we tried were both Wold Top, a local Driffileld brewery. A Wold Gold, a nice blonde, almost wheat style beer with Golding and Syrian hops in at 4.8%. We followed this with a Scarborough Fair IPA, British style and quite citrusy, full bodied at 6% too. 

Hunger was now taking hold, so we went in search of a chippy. We found a decent one a few minutes away, and here is where a contentious issue arises. We in Sheffield class a fishcake as 2 slices of potato with fish in the middle, and deeply fried, not Bridlington! I ordered one in a butty and was deeply disappointed to find it was a rissole. Yes, the mashed potato and fish version in breadcrumbs. Now I know it is in the East Riding of Yorkshire, but oi Bridlington, noooo!

Right, rant over, we then had little time for the trip up to The Board, Pack Horse or Old Ship Inn.  The train is cheap enough for a summer/autumn month trip, we will definitely go again to this vastly improved seaside destination, starting at the above venues around 25 minutes from the station and working back to town. 

Shame it’s outside our regional social event time restraints at 2hrs, but for individuals and friends, it’s an ideal day/overnight trip with a good choice of ales and chippy teas.  

Northern operate regular train services from Sheffield to Scarborough via Hull that call at Bridlington, there are often cheaper tickets available if you buy in advance to travel at a set time – see northernrailway.co.uk.