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ONE PUB ONLY?
No 2 Refreshment Room
CRAWLING FROM RAILWAY STATION TO THE GROUND?
Walk along the sea front to Willy's, then Smugglers, No 2 and then No 1 Refreshment Room
SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT?
Willy's Pub and Brewery
|  |  No. 1 Refreshment Room
Station Approach, Cleethorpes, DN35 8AX T 01472 691707
G Colin Coleman
CP SK JB D
O 12 to 1a.m, 12 to 11 Sun
This converted station waiting room usually serves six or seven real ales in a light and spacious two - room pub. It should not be confused, though it often is, with the Number 2 Refreshment Room further along the platform. You could always get double refreshment but I preferred the larger size of this version. The obvious railway theme is complemented by saucy postcards, pool table and views of the platform. The pub is a town local whose landlord goes to great lengths to find variety. In addition to the owners’ Highwood ales the choice usually includes a mild. My two visits, on different days, were equally pleasant, especially the post match pint where a programme could be quietly read or conversation struck up with similar footie fans heading away from town or back to the seafront hotels. The lounge is rather more genteel than the larger public bar where the fun is to be found.
UPDATE: Sky is now available, food no longer served. A new beer, named by the regulars will arrive soon. On the day of my visit their pub team lost 2 -0 to the No.2 Pub!
BWV 16.10.04: Bateman Combine Harvest, Everards Tiger, Tom Wood Bitter, Bomber County, Dark Mild
BWV 5.11.05: Bateman XXXB, Everards Tiger, Tom Wood Bomber County, Old Timber | |  No.2 Refreshment Room
2 Station Approach, Cleethorpes, DN35 8AX T 07732 888400
G Paul Rowntree and Darren Sparkes
MP TV D
O 9 to 1a.m., 10 to 12 Sun
The No. 2 Pub has won the CAMRA Pub of the year for N.E. Lincolnshire in recent years. It has also established itself as literally the first port of call for real ale trippers using the rail line to Cleethorpes. The pub couldn’t contrast more to its near neighbour, and former sister pub, further along the platform. The only similarity is in the good quality real ales on offer.
The smaller No. 2 has really been rescued from oblivion and has, believe it or not, been extended to its present tiny size. It now has toilets as part of the building and room enough to swing the proverbial cat. The décor is totally reminiscent of what was to me, a modern dining room in my house in the early nineties, even down to the dado rail, venetian blinds and curtains. It many be small but its reputation is great, the beers usually include something from Cottage brewery and the guests change every two days or so. The visits I made over two days found a great place to chat, either listening to the satellite music or with the regulars revelling in their post - playing pint. The beer patio is plastic glass only, and this may well come into use on bigger match days. There is rarely a free seat to be found until the next group head off for a train or a walk along the seafront. No. 2 is a great little bar, well worth the wait for the next train.
BWV 4.11.05: Archers Golden, Hardys and Hanson Olde Trip, M+B Mild, Stones Bitter, Worthington Cask Bitter | |  Smugglers Inn
12 High Cliff Rd. Cleethorpes, DN35 8RQ T 01472 200866
G Pat Hallam
MP SK JB
O 10 to 2a.m.
This is a large low - ceilinged pub that is more spacious than immediately thought. You enter down some steps to find several wooden - screened drinking areas off a central bar. It feels and looks a bit like a cellar bar but then morphs into a typical farmhouse style, carpet and lounge, pub. I visited both before and after the game and the staff certainly encourage football fans with TVs in every nook and cranny. All ages and types of pub users are catered for by careful subdivision into different drinking areas. So it was that a group of away fans took up a place in the central area before the game, no problems at all just good humour and even beers served with the sparkler removed for southern tastes. Post match it was the locals who revelled in a good win without any ritual humour, more an interest in the next beer to become available.
UPDATE: Beer range is more reflective of local tastes.
BWV 16.10.04: Banks’s Bitter, Bass Draught, Courage Directors, Jennings Cocker Hoop, Gale’s Mild, Marston’s Old Empire, Wicked Witch, Shepherd Neame Bishops Finger.
BWV 5.11.05: Banks’s Bitter, Camerons Creamy, Jennings Sneck Lifter, Marston’s Pedigree, Wicked Witch, | |  SWIGS
21 Osborne St, Grimsby, DN31 1EY T 01472 354773
G Bill Parkinson
MP BM D
O 9 to 2 a.m, 10 to 1 a.m. Sun.
“Second Willy’s in Grimsby” has been here for about fifteen years and has drifted in and out of real ale lovers’ affections. I am totally fond of the bar, its simplicity, and the way the locals are fiercely proud of it’s social club status. The food is legendary, being cheap and wholesome.
At lunchtimes it will be busy with regulars from nearby offices. In the evening the regulars turn up and renew conversations that are probably as old as the pub itself. Jeanette runs a pub for “PLU”. The atmosphere is very jovial yet friendly towards those you just wish to sit and contemplate life while waiting for a train or bus. When the rest of the town gets livelier then SWIGS is a place to find a bit of normality, i.e. the usual real ale effect is in operation. As Grimsby town centre is well away from the ground it is rarely busy on matchdays so it offers an alternative for those staying in town, or wishing to miss the Cleethorpes bracing wind. I hesitated when Jeanette suggested the locals choose their own music by bringing in c.d’s of their choice, then thought of the merits as it only serves to continue the “it’s our type of pub mentality.” Breakfast time opening may be on the way, and then the cafe feel of the former dress shop will become more evident. As for me it was a return later, after the game, to chat about the match with some new found friends. It is that sort of place.
BWV 4.11.05: Filstow Angry Pumpkin, Tom Wood Bitter, Shepherds Delight, Willy’s Original, Wold Top Mars Magic | |  Willy's Pub and Brewery
17 High Cliff Rd. Cleethorpes, DN35 8RQ T 01472 602145
G Bill Parkinson
MP BM D
O 11 to 11.30. 2.30 a.m. Fri. and Sat. Seasonal variations
Willy’s has been a long standing favourite of mine and a visit to Cleethorpes isn’t complete without a visit to the bar to see how the place keeps up its reputation for real ale innovation. White painted walls and tiled floors with industrial pipe work give this a café / brewery tap room feel. This is obviously enhanced by seeing the brewery in situ and knowing the ale is top dog, while the restaurant is also important. “They also do reasonable value food, and you can see the brewery”. The pub has won a string of local CAMRA awards, including pub of the decade!” Willy’s is always busy with a varied clientele. On the lunchtime visit it drew people from miles away, after the match I encountered the early evening couples setting out for a night in town by visiting this ale house for some quality conversation over a beer. If on your first visit then brave the sea breezes to get here and talk of beer, as much as life, in this unique, trend modifying, pub.
UPDATE: Watch out for beer festivals in National press.
BWV 16.10.04: Bateman XB, Cottage Flying Duck, Filstow Objections, Willy’s Last Resort
BWV 5.11.05: Bateman XB, Marston Moor Cavalier, Rudgate Dual Hop, Willy’s Original | | | GRIMSBY CAMRA | | 
BLUNDELL PARK
LOCAL BREWERY
Tom Wood's Beer
Melton High Wood Farm
Melton High Wood
Melton Ross
N Lincolnshire
DN38 6AA
T: 01472 255500
www.tom-wood.com
| | WETHERSPOONS
The Yarborough Hotel 29 Bethlehem Street Grimsby DN31 1JN Opening Times: Sun-Thu 9am-midnight; Fri/Sat 9am-1am
Ice Barque Unit 4, Riverhead, Frederick Ward Way Grimsby DN31 1XZ Opening Times: Sun-Wed 9am-midnight; Thu-Sat 9am-2am
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