by Martin Thomas | Apr 13, 2020 | BBMF, Lincs Connect, LincsConnect, Louth, Pie, RAF
Easter – The Busiest Time Of The Year?
With lovely weather across the UK this Easter it should’ve been the busiest time of the year for our tourist industry. Alas, any record breaking visitor figures are all for the wrong reasons this year (2020). However, we know it won’t last so I’m still compiling my ‘wish list’ for when the travel restrictions are lifted post Coronavirus. My last blog saw me traveling to Woodhall Spa, Cleethorpes, Grimsby and Scunthorpe. #WhatsOnLincs – Louth In Lincolnshire is a blog highlighting a few things to look forward to.
There really are some fabulous places to visit in our large County so to list them all would be impossible. As a result I want to produce a wish list that’ll help me focus on our post virus future.
This is the second blog in the series ‘After the Coronavirus what have we got to look forward to?’ series.
#WhatsOnLincs – Louth In Lincolnshire
The Priory Hotel, Louth – click on the picture for a link to the website
I’ve written about The Priory Hotel before and am truly in awe of what Paul is achieving from this hotel. Employing people who may otherwise have struggled to get a job, feeding the homeless and latterly providing home cooked food for those in need during the current crisis.
I haven’t visited the hotel yet but have chatted to Paul on the phone. His enthusiasm and kindness is truly inspiring so I can’t wait to pay a visit soon. I shall certainly book for dinner and diary allowing I’ll be attending one of his many events too. Please take a look at the website to make up your own mind – I think you’ll be impressed The Priory Hotel
#WhatsOnLincs – Louth In Lincolnshire – Hubbards Hills
If you haven’t visited Louth before I strongly recommend it. Nestled in the Lincolnshire Wolds you’ll be spoilt for choice for some lovely walks. There is also the beautiful Hubbards Hills on the edge of the town too. Ideal for family days out and picnics with a car park and cafe for visitors.
Hubbards Hills nestled in the Lincolnshire Wolds is always worth a visit regardless of the weather. Picture courtesy of East Lindsey District Council
#WhatsOnLincs – Louth In Lincolnshire – Louth Market
Louth Market is normally open 3 days a week (Wednesday, Friday & Saturday) but for an up to date timetable click on the picture to go to the East Lindsey DC website
Louth is a market town that has a large selection of independent shops that are really worth a visit. I normally shop there once a month and am looking forward to visiting again very soon. It’s a treat not to be missed.
#WhatsOnLincs – Louth In Lincolnshire – Louth Pie Day
Obviously you can’t leave Louth without mentioning the Louth Pie Day. It had its first outing in April 2019 and is already set to be a permanent fixture on the local Lincolnshire calendar. The local butchers bakers and cafes all take part of course. I have no doubt that this is going to grow into something ‘very’ big in the County.
Alas, due to the recent restrictions the physical event has had to be postponed this year. However, we are all invited to join in by making or buying our own pies on 15 April. If you would like to get involved you can follow the fun on Twitter. See the link above or on Facebook from this link: #VirtualLouthPieDay
The Virtual Louth Pie Day is on Wednesday 15 April 2020
If you manage to scrabble some ingredients together to make a pie don’t forget to take a picture and post it to Justine and Kiat. They will be waiting to see your entries on the Facebook and Twitter pages. You’ll need to use the hashtag #VirtualLouthPieDay with your entries too of course. Good luck! ….. Update – At the time of revision the Louth Pie Day organisers are looking for new volunteer staff.
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RAF Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight
This is where I have to hang my head in shame! Having served in the RAF and lived in Lincolnshire for many years I’ve had the visit to @RAFBBMF on my to-do list for a long time but never actually got around to crossing the threshold. To make matters worse, RAF Coningsby is just a very short drive from where I live! However, this trip is right at the top of my ‘must do’ sites now so I’ll be there with my camera to take some pictures soon (I hope).
Coningsby is only 21 miles from Louth so make it part of a day or weekend trip.
The unmistakeable image of the BBMF Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane taken during the RAF 100 flypast over Buckingham Palace.
In my defence though, I have managed to take lots of pictures of these iconic aircraft at various air shows and even as they fly over my house on their return from air displays during the summer months.
Easter – The Busiest Time of The Year…
Well, this year things have been different but I’m really looking forward to getting out and about again soon. I have visions of the County being very busy again soon and I’m sure that will help to make up for lost time and business this Easter.
What Else Have I got To Look Forward To?
The list is huge and I’ve only just managed to touch a very small section of it so more versions of this blog series will surely be heading this way soon.
More Blogs For You:
Stay Safe
by Martin Thomas | Mar 29, 2020 | Afternoon Tea, Cleethorpes, Coronavirus, Kinema, Lincolnshire, lincolnshire Business, Lincs Connect, LincsConnect, Mother's Day, Petwood Hotel, Railway, Scunthorpe, Vouchers, WhatsOnLincs, Woodhall Spa
After The Coronavirus In Lincolnshire Part 1
After the coronavirus in Lincolnshire part 1 – What have we got to look forward to? Lincolnshire has lots to offer so get set to explore. As this is part 1, the title indicates that there are more parts to this blog and, by definition, more and more things to look forward to.
After The Coronavirus In Lincolnshire Part 1 – Let’s Socialise
The list is almost endless of course. The Coronavirus won’t be with us for ever I’m sure so it’s nice to be able to think ahead to life after ‘lockdown’. What would be your choice? Fish n’ chips perhaps? What about fine dining or a lovely pub meal? Perhaps a trip to the seaside or a visit to your local church? A really important thing to focus on is the social aspect of our lives. It’ll be lovely to just socialise again wouldn’t it.
The Kinema In The Woods
The Kinema In The Woods, Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire
Perhaps it’s not an obvious choice for some but what about a trip to the cinema? Have you ever been to The Kinema In The Woods in Woodhall Spa? If you haven’t, I can personally recommend a visit. Blockbuster movies are available but something you might not have realised is how The Kinema has maintained its history. Yes, there are some new screens but the ambiance remains the same. You can still enjoy a good movie on the big screen but you’ll also enjoy an intermission to purchase your ice cream and drinks at ‘normal’ prices. If you’re lucky you’ll be able to enjoy the dancing feet of Alan Underwood as he entertains on the spectacular organ and remote piano.
The Kinema In The Woods, Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire
Such is the fame of The Kinema that you will no doubt be able to find numerous pictures and videos of it when you search the internet. These pictures have been borrowed from their website but I’m sure The Kinema will be more that happy to see your pictures too if you care to share them on Twitter @TheKinema – I’m sure they will be delighted if you would follow them there too.
It goes without saying of course that The Kinema has suffered the same fate as the rest of us due to the Coronavirus lockdown. However, if you fancy purchasing some vouchers for birthday, Mother’s Day or any other day for that matter I can’t think of a nicer way to treat someone during our period of isolation.
You can order your vouchers by clicking here
The Petwood Hotel
Skipping across the village (just around the corner actually) you’ll be able to visit the fabulous Petwood Hotel. Yes, I know I’ve mentioned it before but it is a beautiful hotel with fabulous staff and, as the spiritual home of LincsConnect it does hold a special place in my heart.
The Petwood Hotel, Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire
The grounds and building are always spectacular and each season helps to create a special magic. Not only have I organised Nordic Walking sessions from the hotel but Emma was kind enough to host the LincsConnect networking meetings on Friday evenings too. With a bit of luck they will return in the not-too-distant future (let’s keep our fingers crossed). However, in the mean time The Petwood Hotel is a lovely place to visit for Afternoon Tea, lunch, or a delicious evening meal. The history housed in the hotel is really quite breathtaking too so if you get the chance to visit for a coffee, a glass of wine or a G&T in the gardens be sure to take a wander around inside. You won’t be disappointed whatever the weather.
The Petwood Hotel, Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire
It would be a poor show if you couldn’t get a gift voucher so the Petwood Hotel is ready to deliver (excuse the pun) there too. You can order and have a bespoke gift voucher delivered as a .PDF to your email address. What could be more convenient?
To order you Petwood Hotel gift voucher click here
Time Alone
There are so many lovely places to visit and things to do in our fabulous County of Lincolnshire so let’s not forget how diverse it is. From the beautiful towns and villages to the wide open spaces of the fens and the rolling hills of the Wolds. We really are lucky. Socialising, whether we realise it or not, is something we have (perhaps) taken for granted. It’s not until we’ve had the luxury taken away from us for a while that we realise how much we crave it.
I’m talking from a personal point of view of course but I wonder if I’m expressing the thoughts of many? I often like to be on my own; Walks alone, bike rides alone, driving alone….. ‘home alone’… but now I realise that I’m never really alone. Family is everything to me so now I realise that my periods alone are just times to reflect and rejuvenate.
After The Coronavirus In Lincolnshire Part 1 – What Next?
Being such social creatures perhaps it’s the simple things that we have missed the most? By the time this is all over will we have re-evaluated our priorities? I’m only speculating of course but will we be moving away from the big corporate organisations and move instead to the family run businesses and sole traders who will offer us the quality we want without the ‘designer label’ price tags?
As we become more ecologically aware will we be less inclined to travel so far and more inclined to value what we have on our doorstep? Let’s face it, we have so much on our doorstep that it’s difficult to decide what we want and what we are looking forward to the most. Personally I’m looking forward to getting back outside with my Nordic Walking groups to enjoy good company in the ever changing environment that Mother Nature serves to us.
After The Coronavirus In Lincolnshire Part 1 – The High Street Is Changing
The High Street is changing and will probably not change back to what we had become used to. Perhaps now is the time for the sole traders and small businesses to step up to the mark and become the national or even global kings and queens of the future. Could we do it? I’ve seen things change around me in a very short space of time. Politicians of all persuasions are talking to each other like never before while at the same time big High Street shops are closing their doors with little or no likelihood of them re-opening again.
All of this makes me ask the question; What have we got and what are we looking forward to…?
Fish and chips? How about Fish and chips at the seaside? A family day out with happy people making the most of our lovely coastline. Am I allowed to have a favourite? Skegness, Mablethorpe, Sutton-on-Sea, Anderby Creek…. They are all fabulous seaside resorts but my personal favourite is Cleethorpes. There is just something about it that has a draw for me and makes me want to be there. Lovely walks along the sea front eating my fish and chips from @PapasFishNChips located on the pier, crossing the light railway and spending time around the boating lake with a coffee from the cafe in the Discovery Centre
Boating lake & cafe at the Cleethorpes Discovery Centre. It’s always a ‘must visit’ place for me. Find them on Facebook and Twitter and give them a follow.
Grimsby & Cleethorpes – Two ‘Must Visit’ areas of Lincolnshire
Just a short drive away form Cleethorpes is Grimsby. If you get the chance to visit there please make a point of going to the Grimsby Central Hall. I have visited there several times and can highly recommend it. I once saw a performance of ‘The Armed Man’ (A Mass For Peace) performed by the Grimsby Philharmonic and was extremely impressed by the performance and also by the acoustics of the Central Hall.
Grimsby Philharmonic led by Susan Hollingworth BEM – if you get the chance to hear them perform you’re certainly in for a treat. Click here to visit their website.
The Grimsby Central Hall is really worth a visit. I was lucky enough to be given a tour once and was really surprised at what I saw. I’m not going to give too much away as I think the Hall is worthy of a blog of its own. However, in addition to being a fabulous building on the outside with a grand staircase on the inside and superb acoustics for performances, it also houses a Fishermans Chapel dedicated to local fishermen & Merchant Seamen who lost their lives at sea.
I’m not a historian or an architect but I really do love learning local history and taking in the architecture around me. If you see me walking around somewhere new I’m usually the one looking up. If you haven’t done it, I recommend you give it a try. Look up above the boring flat glass shop windows and doors and marvel at the fantastic building above. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Grimsby Central Hall – It’s not the best picture but it does show the grandeur and size of the building. Click here to go to their Facebook page
Scunthorpe
I know Scunthorpe has a lot to offer but right at the top of my list of things to do and places to visit in the area is the Appleby Frodingham Railway Preservation Society (Find them on twitter as @AFRailway). I’m not an avid train enthusiast or train spotter but this has really captured my imagination. I’m looking forward to the end of the Coronavirus restrictions so that I can pay a visit here. If you haven’t heard of it before I suggest you take a look at their website www.afrps.co.uk. You can email glenn@afrps.co.uk who I suspect will put you on a mailing list to let you know when their services begin again. In short, the trip involves a rail tour around the steel works at Scunthorpe. I have a feeling that it’ll be extremely interesting.
Appleby Frodingham Railway Preservation Society
How Long Should A Wish List Be?
In a County as big as Lincolnshire I think this wish list could go on and on! Perhaps it’s best if I pause for breath now though. I still have walks in the Wolds, expeditions in the Fens and outings in Grantham (the canal springs to mind) and lunches in Stamford to fit in. I think I’m going to have to do a series of blogs on the subject don’t you?
After The Coronavirus In Lincolnshire Part 1 – Any Recommendations For Part 2?
My list of things to do and places to visit after the Coronavirus restrictions are lifted is very long but not by no means complete. I know there will be many things that I haven’t visited but really ought to so if you have any suggestions please let me know.
“Stay Home Save Lives”
Have a good week everyone and keep smiling. We shall get through this pandemic if we work together. Don’t forget that #LincsConnect is here for you 24/7
https://www.whatsonlincs.co.uk
