Grimsby v Palace - Sat 12th April 2003
Grimsby Town v Palace Saturday 12th April 2003
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Blundell Park, Cleethorpes, DN35 7PY
Main Telephone No: 01472-605050
Ticket Office: 01472-605058
TICKETS
17.00 for adults - 11.00 for concessions.
Tickets will not be available at Selhurst Park. All away fans will be able to buy tickets at Blundell Park on the day of the game.
Away fans are located in the Osmond Stand, at one end of the ground, where just under 2,000 supporters can be accommodated. One downside of this stand is that there are a number of supporting pillars which could impede your view of the game. Remember to wrap up warm as there can be a biting wind coming off the North Sea.
PALACE COACH TRAVEL
Coaches depart Holmesdale Road at 7.30am. prices - Gold members 19.20, Season Members / Club Members 21.60 & Guests - 24.00.
*TRAVELLING BY CAR*
M1 to Junction 32. M18 to Junction 5. From ALL locations follow M180 / A180 into Grimsby. Go straight over first roundabout (signposted Docks,Cleethorpes A180).
Then follow signs for Cleethorpes, A180 onto the Grimsby Road. The ground is on the left after a couple of miles, behind MacDonalds. Parking shouldn't be a problem, as the town centre is only a bit further on and you should find something there quite easily.
An alternative route 'might' be to follow the A1 to Newark, and then follow A46 into Grimsby, go straight on at roundabout after duel carriageway, following signs to Cleethorpes. At Grimsby College, get in right hand lane and keep following signs for Cleethorpes. At Isaac's Hill roundabout turn left onto Grimsby Road, ground is on the right hand side behind the Drive Thro' MacDonalds.
Palace Train Travel - - all sold
*DIRECTIONS FROM RAILWAY STATION* (CLEETHORPES)
Either walk along the prom to the ground- come out of the station and turn left and left again(a footbridge crosses back over the railway line near the ground), or walk up the Grimsby Road (passing pubs, food, shops, etc.). For the latter, come out of the station
and turn right and right again (walking parallel to the rail line). Where road becomes a 'No Through Road' into a backyard, turn left into Poplar Road. At T-junction, turn right into Grimsby Road.
You can walk towards the ground along the sea front, it's about ½ a mile on the left (because on the right is the sea).
Taxis from the station are approx 2.00
Buses 45 3F & 9X run along the Grimsby Road
*INFORMATION FOR DISABLED FANS*
Wheelchair spaces: Large enclosure in the NE corner of the Main Stand, and no problem accommodating visiting fans Cost: Disabled fan and helper seven quid each.
Booking: essential (although if supporters turn up on the day, every effort will be made to accommodate them) Parking: None available Blind facilities: Eight seats available with hospital radio commentary. (Cost 5 pounds each)
*EATING AND DRINKING* (Also see the section at the end for up to date local info!)
There are a couple of pubs close to the ground, but these aren't recommended because of the home fans. There are plenty of pubs, bars, clubs, cafes, restaurants, curry houses, etc. in Cleethorpes ('a smaller, cheaper Southend!'), similar to many seaside resorts(even though it might be a bit out of season). Fish and chip shops
along Grimsby Road (between town and stadium), as well as 'Leaking Boot' It’s a pub which is large and footy friendly providing a large back room just for the away supporters - good if you’re wearing colours!!. , the police typically warn away fans to stay away from all pubs except The Leaking Boot This is sound advice and was rammed with Palace last season but generally you’ll also be OK in The Bootlegger in Cleethorpes High Street and The Submarine, near the pier.
It also has a large car park and allows in children. It’s en route from Cleethorpes station to the ground. It also offers 2 course meals for a fiver. Plus there is a separate restaurant with a la carte menu. Open from 11-4 and 7-11
The Punchbowl at 195 North Promenade is also recommended. It has a pool table, good food (fish & chips has to be done in Cleethorpes) and it was empty out of season. There's never any trouble according to the bar staff.
Steels corner house is in the A.A good food guide but people may need to book tel 01472692644. for the best indian food in town try Indigo in the market place opposite Steels again very popular so ring first on 01472603720. All these are within 2 minutes of the suggested digs on foot, also within walking distance are some good bars try Schuberts again in the market place, or the Carousel in the dolphin hotel. The bars are not recommended on match day as a small minority of the locals tend to be hostile
The Submarine near the station for a drink. Most pubs in the town centre should be pretty safe before the match (practically opposite the pier in Sea Road and two minutes from the station) and is recommended as a safe place for away fans. It’s not the prettiest pub but there’s plenty of room, plenty of big screen TVs with Sky and a pool table.
The Bootlegger (in the High Street) and Schubert’s (Market Street, which runs parallel with the High Street) were happy to advise (last season) that they’ll welcome Palace fans in. The Bootlegger also does a reasonable line of food as well, although of course, when you come to these parts then the only food you should really go for is the fish and chips. Beckett’s (Market Street) is a great fish and chip shop but if you walk the extra 3-4 minutes you’ll find Suthies in St Peter’s Avenue, which was voted Best Fish & Chip Shop in the region for 2001.
Don’t bother trying to get into Mitchell’s Bar on Cleethorpes High Street, which is generally home fans only before games although it is one of the main pubs on the pub crawl circuit on a night time.
Those of you driving in off the A180 will come across The Imperial near the ground but again it’s best not to drink in there…..unless you’re Jean Claude van Damme!
The Fish & Chips in Cleethorpes are legendary and there are some good outlets located near to the ground. Hobsons fish and chip shop near to the Leaking Boot and the ground comes recommended. Other recommendations include the Blundell Park Hotel, which if you arrive early serves some good food at reasonable prices (expect to pay around £5 for a good portion of fish and chips). The Rutland Arms is also recommended for both home and away fans to mingle, however this a little way from the ground and doesn't allow in children. (it is about half a mile before Blundell park, turn left at Ramsdens superstore and left again, and you'll see the pub at the opposite end of their carpark. If in coaches, then from where you will be parked, head back the way you came, along the sea wall for 5 mins and you'll see the pub). The Imperial pub by the ground is not recommended for away fans. There is also a McDonalds situated right by Blundell Park.
Also the first turning left off of St Peters Avenue is Short Street - leading to Market Street which has several takeaways & restaurants. Near the ground is Avon Fisheries & the Picnic Basket.
For those making a weekend of it there is an italian restaurant that stays open until 3 am, which is unlicensed:- good food, plus go and fetch the vino you bought at the offie earlier = extended night out
If you're travelling a fair way to Blundell Park, then why not a weekend of it by staying in the seaside town of Cleethorpes? It has all that you would expect from a small seaside resort.
Cleethorpes Tourist Office can be contacted on 01472 323111
*Staying in Cleethorpes*
The stadium is just north of the town centre / seafront. There are
plenty of B&Bs and Guesthouses for anyone planning to make a weekend
of it. ISAACS HILL is good for ridiculously cheap B & B's Here are a few phone numbers:
The Priory Guest House on 01472 200914
-Cliff Lodge Hotel, 10/11 High Cliff, (on seafront, about 10 minutes
from town centre. Couple of decent pubs close by including a
micro-brewery. Recommended! 01472 691583)
-Aavon Court Guest House, 4 Isaac's Hill, (All facilities, 01472
698706)
-Ascot Lodge Guest House, 11 Princes Road, (Small, but at the top of
town towards stadium,01472 290129)
-Burlington Guest House,2-4 Albert Road, (Near railway station &
centre,01472 699071)
-Dovedale Guest House, 18 Albert Road, (More rooms than average,
01472 692988)
Gladson Guest House, 43, Isaacs Hill, Cleethorpes 01472 694858 / 239642 john.pearce@diamond.co.uk
-Holmhirst Hotel, 3 Alexandra Road (Central, 01472 692656)
St Ives - guest house on Isaacs Hill tel 01472 691852
Vines guest house also on Isaacs hill tel 01472 690524.
Camelot guest house again on Isaacs hill tel01472 691433.
Dolphin Hotel on the sea front 01472 204711
Wellow hotel on Kings road 01472 695589
all the accommodation is within walking distance of the ground and a large selection of bars,
clubs and restaurants
The better Crazy Golf course is the one next to the large amusement
arcade...(!)
Local update from Cris Lehmann
Clee nightlife took a hit this winter after Grimsby had millions pumped into it and attracted many of the locals. In recent weeks I've been quizzing my guests these past few weeks and it seems that Clee is pumping once again. Certainly from the numbers we see walking up Isaac's Hill each week, things certainly seem to have picked up considerably.
For those of you who stayed here last year, there has been little change to the order of things in Cleethorpes. There are still plenty of people coming in from out of town (mainly South Yorkshire and the surrounding villages in NE Lincs) all looking for a good time.
As for the night, walking along Cleethorpes High Street the first bar you’ll come across has changed since last year. What was The Voodoo Lounge has become The Lifeboat Bar, adding to the town’s ‘seaside theme.’ Not the biggest boozer in the would but not a bad place to get started. Going along the High Street you’ll come across the Bootlegger, Baton Rouge (nightclub-style place) Mitchell’s, Bar Racuda (on the corner) and The Swashbuckle (has a disco on Saturday nights and always very lively.) One pub on this stretch that was here last year was Dominic’s. After spending some money doing the place up the owners have shut it down. Just yesterday work was being done to outside of the building but it’s unlikely to be open in time for this Saturday.
This lot are all on the one strip and virtually next door to each other. In addition you’ve got O’Neill’s (opposite Bar Racuda) Flares (which will be familiar to those of you who go round Croydon these days) The Dolphin and Schubert’s (which in effect is two pubs in one – one side is a traditional pub, while the other half saw many Palace fans in there last year, sampling the nightclub-style atmosphere.)
One other bar worth mentioning is The Art Bar – a unique bar for this area, in that it’s actually got a smidgeon of class! ‘Eating, Drinking, Viewing’ is the slogan in the door as artworks’s up on the wall and if you like what you see, you’re able to buy it there and then! It’s situated on Alexandra Road just 150 yards from The Dolphin. It’s slightly out the way but worth a look. Also a good bar for having a relaxing pint during the day.
To round things off, many of these places stay open until 2am (Flares is the most popular these days) but you also have long term stalwarts of the club scene in NE Lincs: The Barcelona (favoured by the older crowd ahem MUCH older crowd Park Lane (25-35 age group The Paradise Club (25-35 again) on the pier and Pier 39 (also on the pier funnily enough,) which is in the Blue Orchid mould.
For people who aren’t heading back first thing Sunday morning, there is always the famous Wonderland Sunday Market. The bonus (given the UK weather) is that it’s indoors.
Fans looking for lunch on Sunday before heading home may be interested in fish and chips, given the reputation the area has but there are also deals about if you fancy something different. Valentino’s Italian restaurant does three courses for four quid and it’s ‘fantastico’ nosh. You’ll also find pubs doing offers on drinks linked to live football so keep your eyes peeled to get cheap beers.
Finally, if crazy golf’s your cup of tea then be sure to try the ‘Arnold Palmer’s Golf Course’ near the pier – a full 18 holes and the same money as the ramshackle rip off 9 hole course 200 yards away on Alexandra Road.
Thanks to Cris Lehmann for all the info this year and last year!
All information is correct to the best of my knowledge, apologies in advance for any mis-information.
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