CLEETHORPES has been given the distinction of having three pubs featured in a new book – more than any other town in the country.
Pub, real ale and railway enthusiast Bob Barton realised there wasn't a book combining his passions.
Five years, quite a few pints and thousands of miles by train later, he has produced the lavishly illustrated Unusual Railway Pubs, Refreshment Rooms and Ale Trains.
The resort's pubs featured in the new publication are the smallest pub in the world, the Signal Box Inn, at Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway, and the Number One and Number Two Refreshment Rooms on the station.
Only the city of London has more entries.
"Cleethorpes is one of my favourite seaside resorts for a pub-crawl and three of them are in unique railway buildings," said Bob, who lives in West London.
"Others in the book range from bars in a vintage wooden carriage to palatial Edwardian waiting rooms.
"This is more than a guide to pubs on existing and former railway stations in Britain, although that fills a big chunk of the 144 pages.
"Synergies between rail and ale extend much further than public houses. Also featured are railway-themed ales, breweries in railway buildings, a calendar of beer festivals in engine sheds and goods yards, and the phenomenon of steam-hauled ale trains on heritage railways.
"And the history of the subject includes the decline of coaching inns, the birth of new types of refreshment places for rail travellers and how the 'iron horse' transformed the brewing industry.
"Even London's St Pancras station once housed a massive beer cellar. The title will be popular both with readers who want to sample some eclectic drinking places – most of which can still be reached by train – or indulge in nostalgic armchair excursions infused with hops and steam."
The book has been published by Halsgrove Publishing, costing £16.99 in hardback. It is available from booksellers.
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