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.

Yes, it's a barge with a list as mentioned below, but I soon got used to that. Toilets to the rear, bar on the right. Two hand pumps, bombardier which I hate and an Axholme brew which wasn't too bad. Doubt I'll return though.

I’ve drunk on a couple of permanently moored ships before but never a barge, until my visit here late on a recent Wednesday afternoon. A small ramp leads up to the entrance and a small seating area at the top of the stairs that lead down to the bar area. The bar, along the right-hand wall, faces seating along the left. More seating is found under the stairs from the entrance. I didn’t spot any televisions but there was a jukebox playing some background music. I noted that a weekly quiz is held here on Mondays. The bar is stocked with standard keg and the two hand pumps were drawing Wells Bombardier and Axholme Brewery’s Cleethorpes Pale Ale. Pub grub is available, the burger is priced at £10.95. I found the service to be polite, but the floor was on the piss. It is only a slight list to the right, but it made me feel queasy, I was glad to leave even though this barge was quite pleasant. If I find myself here again, I think I will stick to one of the many picnic tables on terra firma out the front.