A convenient start to this pub tour is the main railway station – Grimsby Town. The first pub is located adjacent to the approach road.

Yarborough Hotel

The Yarborough was reopened by J.D.Wetherspoon in 1997. Having been closed for some time and deteriorating internally. Built as an hotel in 1848 to serve the railway, it is a fine example of Victorian architecture and is quite large. Unfortunately, in the 80’s, the premises were utilised by the Department of Social Security to house the homeless and suffered the inevitable consequence. Refurbishment was carried out in the usual ‘Spoons style but retained all the wonderful features. Although open plan, there are no less than five drinking areas, with the small room to adjacent the rear entrance being particularly fine. The extensive beer range is typical with real ale to the fore. Winner of our “Pub of the Year” title in 1998, 1999, 2008, 2009.

Upon leaving, turn right and in 200 yards or so, you will find:

Swigs

Continue right a few steps to the corner where the library is prominent. Turn left here into George Street and turn right at the corner. Here you have a choice.You will see a line of modern glass-fronted buildings fronting the river head. At time of compilation only one of these is taken and this is:

Ice Barque

Yet another J.D.Wetherspoon outlet but this time operating under its “LloydsNo.1” banner. These differ from the other Wetherspoon pubs in that they play music and in the case of this one features sport on a large screen above the entrance (internally!). Nevertheless, it sports a range of ales from far and wide which are kept in the correct manner. This is a very large pub and has a balcony area which isn’t always available for use. Nonetheless, it is there is plenty of seating and is generally quiet and pleasant during the daytime.

The Barge

No mistaking this one. As the name suggests this is a converted grain barge and the bar is located downstairs (or should I say 'below deck'?) At the time of compilation, Wells Bombardier is a regular and there is another pump which can dispense a guest beer. At weekends, you may have a job to hear yourself, since it has the best selection of heavy metal bands on the jukebox.

The Tap & Spile

 Currently closed

The Tap has had a chequered career. Located alongside the River Freshney, the bulding housed a granary which was served by barges coming through the Royal Dock. This fact is immediately clear upon entry when the low celings supported by the original beams and columns will be seen. This characterful pub was born in the 1970’s when it was purchased by the erstwhile Hull Brewery and later sold to Camerons of Hartlepool, which ran a chain called Tap and Spile in the north of England. The emphasis was on variety of real ale, which wasn’t to be found anywhere in the town. Sold to a pub company – Enterprise Inns, it continued to stock a range of good quality beers and won accolades from CAMRA. It has lost its way somewhat in recent years but at the time of compilation of this tour, there is a new, keen landlord who is tempting drinkers back with a small range of real ales from the larger regional brewers like Wells & Young.

The Friary

Formerly Showroom and offices for the Yorkshire Electricity Board, the only bill you pay now is the bar bill. Revamped and renamed in March 2010, the erstwhile DN31 has been transformed into a smart food-led establishment in the middle of the shopping area. The former dance floor at the rear is now an additional seating space and the remainder is served from a long L-shaped bar which dispenses a choice of three main ales and two changing guests from a bank of five attractive handpumps at each end. The first in a chain of “Samuel Cooper Free Houses” run by M&B which also own Ember Inns of which the Wheatsheaf is represented on this tour.

The Tivoli Tavern

As can be seen from the frontage, this pub is of some age and its history can be read on a framed description attached to the exterior. Built as a private house in the mid 19^th century, it became a shop in 1869 and extended into the premises next door. In 1880, Grimsby’s Hewitt’s Brewery (www.hewittsbook.co.uk) acquired it and sold bottled beers until it was converted to a pub by the name of The Globe around 1900. It was renamed Tivoli Tavern in the 1970’s and retains its original shop front. The Globe was known colloquially as “The Hole in the Wall”; a reference no doubt to its size. Probably opened up internally in the past, the resultant rooms must have been quite snuglike and very smoky. No such conditions today though but you do sometimes have to pass through the ‘guard of honour’ posed by the banished smokers out front but there is comfortable seating to be found.  Once a Bass pub and one which like many in the town sold large quantities of mild. This beverage has lost its appeal in recent times and no real mild is sold but it does manage to keep a couple of ales from larger independent breweries. Unlike the others in this section, it doesn’t do food.

The Parity

Another pub on this tour which wasn’t always so. This place used to be Cantor’s furniture shop whose slogan was “Cantors turn your house into a home!” Well this place turned into a pub. It has undergone a couple of makeovers in the intervening years and is now sporting a pleasing interior with lots of comfortable seating. There are a number of TV screens but don’t be put off by them as this place does some very reasonably priced food and is also a place to enjoy a range of coffees. Real ale is delivered from a bank of three handpumps although the range appears to be permanent and consists of Greene King IPA, Well’s Bombardier and Jennings Bitter.

Chambers’

This imposing building once housed the first delicatessen in the town and has retained the name. Hugely popular was the upstairs cafeteria where morning coffee was taken with the accompaniment of a palm court style band whilst downstairs, the aroma from the coffee grinder situated in the front window is legendary. Sadly long gone but the place was converted to pub use and was until recently one of the Litten Tree chain. The roomy interior matches the outside appearance with plenty of nice seating areas and most importantly the pub stocks two real ales in the form of Theakston Old Peculier and Greene King Old Speckled Hen. Exit Chambers, turn left and just a few paces down on the same side you will find:

Walter's

Once busy in its original guise of the Pestle & Mortar, it has undergone some restoration and rearrangement after a number of years with closed doors following a troublesome past. Now sporting half a dozen handpumps, it dispenses beers from a varied selection of breweries; some rare for the area.

You may wish to extend the tour and visit four more pubs that are well worth the effort to visit. Turn left upon exit and right toward the church. Directly opposite said church you will see:

The White Hart

 

A former coaching house, it traded for a time The Old Coach House before closure. It languished in this state for a considerable number of years before rescue by the same person who runs a number of other pubs in the area, including the one you may have just left on this tour. Although opened out, it retains two main drinking areas separated by the bar. The left hand room is the “public” and is bright and airy with loads of seating whilst the right hand area is the lounge. Maintaining an old tradition, there is even a “snug” area opposite the bar. On the beer side of things there are three handpumps with a varying selection of real ales
and even a pump for one of the new “craft” beers (although not considered “real”
 by (CAMRA).  When you feel like moving on, turn the corner, proceed over the level crossing and continue right. 100 yards on the left is:

The County

Nothing fancy here but is a friendly pub. Open plan with a number of drinking areas and known for its live bands. There are always several real ales on tap and a real cider. Accommodation is available.

The Wheatsheaf

Converted from a girls’ school, this is an imposing building almost hidden by trees. On
two levels, it is very well appointed, having had a refurbishment some years ago and reopened under the Ember Inns banner. It even boasts a real coal fire. An interesting selection of ales is available and food is served all day. For those balmy summer days, there is plenty of outside drinking space. If you desire to tear yourself away from here. The final stop is virtually next door. Continue along Bargate and you will encounter the wide entrance to the car park at the front of:

Millfields

This is another imposing place. Converted from a private residence to a health and sports club, it later became an hotel and bar with facilities for receptions etc. The health spa remains and is available to residents. Opposite reception is the bar area, which is smart and pleasant. Three ales are on sale, usually from regional breweries with appearances of local Tom Wood beers. Lunchtime and evening food is served along with bar snacks. If you don’t have the energy to walk back into town there are buses which stop nearby.