The Barge, Grimsby

A quiet midweek afternoon when I boarded the Barge, the empty spaces below deck providing both an opportunity for some photos of the very well presented bar area and a chance to chat with the lass who was serving. She told me the present owner has had the Barge for over 30 years and that the similar barge bar on the River Trent at Newark is exactly the same as this one. The two hand pumps had Bombardier at £3 a pint and Castle Rock Harvest Pale at £3.95. I went for the Bombardier and it was probably in the best condition I have ever found this beer (NBSS 4), so I decided to have a Harvest Pale as well, on the basis that the other pubs in Grimsby didn't seem likely to have anything this good. (I was right.) The HP was a bit livelier and might have benfitted from a little longer before making it onto the bar, but I wasn't complaining and it was a pleasant drink anyway (NBSS 3.5). This pub would be a good reason to make another trip to Grimsby.