About Cleethorpes
As traditional as a stick of rock and as modern as a Dyson - that's Cleethorpes, an unsung hero among our seaside resorts because it has moved with the times yet still has all the ingredients of that special British holiday. No wonder it attracts thousands and thousands of visitors from all over the country and even from overseas.
"Cleethorpes is a real old-fashioned seaside resort - you don't have to put plastic gloves on to eat your fish and chips," said Ken Dodd, who has appeared many times at the North Lincolnshire holiday town. "You can stand on the prom and breath in the North Sea air while listening to the mewing of the gulls and the whizzes and buzzes of the amusement arcades."
Doddy is not alone, all the great names from The Zutons to Roy Orbison and Freddie Starr to Max Bygraves have appeared at Cleethorpes and, like the thousands that flock to see them, they just love it.
"I think Cleethorpes is great," said Russell Watson, when he appeared for the first time in the resort's brand new arena. "I had a chance to look round the town and I was delighted with it. It's got everything, even tropical plants thriving on the promenade."
Having won the Britain in Bloom competition, Cleethorpes is very keen on keeping its beautiful gardens and magnificent trees up to a very high standard. There is more to the resort than pretty flowers though.
Andy McCluskey of Kingsway Kiosk has been in the resort for some years.
"When you get to know Cleethorpes you just can't helping falling in love with it," he said. "We get quite a few people coming back year after year from childhood and then moving here when they retire. That speaks volumes about the resort."
So, what is it about Cleethorpes? Could it be the famous pier with its entertainment venue? Could it be the massive beaches? The donkey rides on the beach?
Could it be the brilliantly-themed Crazy Golf? Perhaps it is the night life? Maybe it's the great selection of fish and chip shops and all kinds of other restaurants? Some might say it is the Jungle Zoo or the Pleasure Island theme park. Whatever it is, it has attracted a great many investors as well as the thousands of visitors and it is still growing.
"We haved added the new arena, craft centre and all kinds of other attractions in recent years and we have all the main retail stores, famous fast food restaurants and a multi-screen cinema as well as bowling centre, a great leisure centre and far too many other attractions to be able to mention," said Andy McCluskey.
"There are many, many people who simply love Cleethorpes," said Andy. "We try to make their wishes come true, whether they are here for a few hours or a couple of weeks. Visitors to Cleethorpes want to have some fun and to have great surroundings. That is what we try to give them. We have all kinds of schemes and events and new ideas are being added all the time.
Of course, the best way to find out is to come and have a look. The sea goes out a very long way when it is low tide so walking or riding on the beach is very popular as well as football and cricket matches.
"They say that on a clear day you can see the sea," said Bobby Ball who, along with Tommy Cannon, starred in several summer shows at the resort. "It's actually great," he added. "When it is high tide you can watch the water-skiing and those water scooter things while in the distance you can see the ships passing on their way to the docks of Grimsby and Hull. If you go, you must have a crack at the crazy golf, it's a bit special.
"Cleethorpes - it should be called Gleethorpes - it's a lot of fun."
There are so many different elements to Cleethorpes and on this site we try to cater for everyone - visitor, resident, potential resident or business person, very young. youngish, middle-aged or elderly. Actually there is no such thing as "elderly" in Cleethorpes. You are either young or "experienced". Enjoy your tour - enjoy Cleethorpes.
-Bernard Bale
Terry puts the T in CleeThorpes!
Meet Terry Procter who not only has the best crazy golf on the east coast but also makes sure that you are never far away from a nice cup of tea and a fantastic ice cream - not bad for a bloke who once travelled the world as a skilled welder.
"I am a local lad, I was born in Grimsby," said Terry with pride. "My wife, Julie, is from Cleethorpes so we know the area well and we have seen many of the regular visitors come here as children grow up, get married and then bring their own children. It is really nice to see because there are many people who are loyal to Cleethorpes even though they live some distance away."
Terry began his working life as a welder and his skill led to him being in demand in various parts of the world.
"It was a great experience, the world is such a wonderful place but I think when I was working in a very cold Russia it suddenly occured me that while the work was enjoyable and the money was good, I really missed being permanently at home in Grimsby and Cleethorpes so I decided to start a new life."
That new life began with a crazy golf in the Pier Gardens. Not long afterwards came Julie's cafe kiosk. Terry had the opportunity to buy it and today it is one of the best in the resort. Terry still runs the Pier Gardens crazy golf and putting green and the more spectacular Oddballs Crazy Golf next to his kiosk on the Promenade. Further along the road near the Lifeboat Station is Jade's Ice Cream Parlour which is also part of the family business and a must for ice cream lovers.
So it can truly be said that Terry puts the "tee" or "tea" in CleeThorpes.
"I love the place and coming back from my travels to stay here was the best decision I ever made - apart from getting married of course," said Terry. "Cleethorpes has so much to offer whether you are a visitor, a resident or a businessman or woman. I think a lot of people who have never been here underestimate its beauty. On a nice day it is a real picture with lovely beaches, a great part of the North Sea, views, the traditional pier, the gardens, it's just a brilliant place to be. Even in the winter Cleethorpes never loses its character.
"We have quite a lot of events on here but I think we could have even more. I am a great believer in lots of entertainment and really big events. I am looking forward to seeing the proposed air show. From what I hear, it should be a real spectacle."
Terry is no stranger to organising events and has promoted many music events in the resort including a slightly bizarre one when he had local band The Lowdown, performing on the roof of Jade's Ice Cream.
"The lads practised in the back and I have always felt that we need to support the local bands so we put them on the roof to play one afternoon, threw in a barbecue and its was a great gig. They were excellent the people flocked to hear them. That's the sort of thing I like to do and it is the sort of thing Cleethorpes is good at."
One of Terry's great delights is meeting the regular visitors who travel to Cleethorpes each year and often several times each year.
"They become friends and to be honest I often know who is coming and which week even before they get here because they are so regular. The people who come to this resort come determined to enjoy themselves and make sure their children have a great time. Some of them don't have a lot of money but they spend wisely and thoroughly enjoy their visit. You don't have to be a millionaire to have a good time in Cleethorpes, though millionaires are always welcome of course. "
Terry Procter is a man who clearly enjoys his work and enjoys Cleethorpes. To think it all started with a cup of tea.
