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.