A popular street food stall on Freeman Street Market has recently launched its new menu featuring classic Italian food with a modern, messy twist. Fork In The Road was officially opened back in November by Toby Jack, who was inspired to launch a street food business in his hometown of Grimsby after being inspired by the cuisines he tried while travelling. Beginning his venture with a festive-themed menu with the likes of the Gobble Gobble burger and the Merry Mac & Cheesemus, and following with a Cheap Eats menu to lighten the load for people during a dreary January, I was definitely curious to see what would be next on offer at Fork In The Road. READ MORE: Last month, the street food stall launched its new Italian-inspired menu, featuring Poutine alla Carbonara, described on the menu as deep fried pasta ‘fries’ topped with carbonara sauce, mozzarella and pesto balsamic, and Spaghetti and Meatball Arancini, described as a marinara sauce and mozzarella-filled breaded meatball served on a fried spaghetti nest. But heading there on a quiet Thursday morning, it was the Hamburger alla Bolognese that really caught my eye. It’s described on the menu as a 5oz Italian sausage patty with beef bolognese sauce, carbonara béchamel, pesto sauce, bistro salad, tomato and Italian cheese, on a confit garlic brioche bun – served alongside gnocchi fries. Poutine alla Carbonara at Fork In The Road, Grimsby (Image: Fork in the Road) Being a huge fan of the Gobble Gobble burger, I was keen to give the newest burger on the menu a go. What I will say right away is that the burger was probably one of the messiest things I’ve ever eaten, but considering it had literal bolognese inside, that’s to be expected. Prepare to use a generous handful of napkins while tackling this beast – just a pre-warning. Overall, I loved it though. The bolognese was absolutely delicious and not too tomato-ey at all, which I also found to be the case when eating authentic bolognese in Bologna a few years ago – they barely use any tomato flavouring at all in Italy. Toby Jack at Fork In The Road (Image: Donna Clifford/GrimsbyLive) The béchamel sauce combined with the melted cheese, patty and bolognese offered such an amazing combination of flavours and textures, and the brioche bun was perfectly soft. It truly was the ultimate comfort food. I didn’t think I’d like it as much as I did – but I can safely say that bolognese in a burger works. If you’re still not convinced, get down to Fork In The Road and give it a whirl for yourself. Join the FREE Grimsby Live WhatsApp Community Get all the latest stories, sent straight to your WhatsApp – all you need to do is click the link. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our .

To many, a time before American fast-food chains is now as alien as a time before the internet is to the kids of today. Even those in their 30s and early 40s might struggle to remember the days before Big Macs and Happy Meals. There were other chains such as Wimpy – a once-popular brand that will mean little to today’s kids – but nothing quite on the scale of the Golden Arches. It’s been 40 years since McDonald’s arrived in our area and, for better or worse depending on your views, it changed the takeaway landscape forever, being arguably the biggest influencer in the relentless rise of Americanised fast-food culture. READ MORE: The mega-chain’s debut was followed by an array of other imports over the years, and wasn’t the first as KFC came before it, with some only arriving more recently including Subway around 18 years ago and Taco Bell in 2016. Meanwhile, one or two British takeaway giants also became increasingly familiar on our high streets. Here we look back at when some of our favourites first rolled in to North East Lincolnshire … McDonald’s It took a whole ten years after the largest of America’s fast food giants arrived on British shores before Ronald and the gang came to Grimsby. The chain’s first restaurant opened in Woolwich, London, in November 1974, but it wasn’t until December 3, 1984 that Grimbarians finally got to ask for a Big Mac meal at the firm’s 152nd outlet in the UK. It now operates more than 1,400 stores in the country. The town’s first McDonald’s, in the former Savoy Theatre, came at a time when American-style fast food was considered to be revolutionary, with McDonald’s managers aiming to serve customers within three minutes. A spokesperson said: “This was Grimsby’s first McDonald’s. The restaurant opened two years after the breakfast menu launched, which was in 1982. “The Happy Meal and McChicken Sandwich would not have been available on the menu when the restaurant opened. They launched in 1986 and 1989 respectively.” Grimsby Telegraph’s news coverage of McDonald’s opening in Grimsby in 1984 (Image: Grimsby Telegraph) The Grimsby Telegraph’s news coverage on McDonald’s opening in Grimsby in 1984 said: “Shed a tear for fish, chips and tea … American hamburgers arrived in Grimsby today. “McDonald’s, the worldwide chain, opened its 152nd British outlet in Grimsby’s Top Town creating 50 jobs and the first of thousands of hamburgers in the process. “The doors of the former Focus Cinema in Victoria Street opened 20 minutes late at 10.20am. By 10.22 the first quarter-pounder was being eaten by a customer. By 10.25 he was gone. “He did not want to be named – because he should have been in a lecture at Grimsby College of Technology. Fast food, American-style had arrived. “‘Our specifications are for the customer to wait no more than two minutes in line, and one minute being served before he has his food,’ said the manager.” McDonald’s on Victoria Street South (Image: Rick Byrne / Grimsbylive) As we know, this McDonald’s was followed by more restaurants over the years. Next was the Grimsby Road outlet, near Blundell Park, which was the first in the area to be built using the company’s famous modular design. It was constructed on the site of the former Ritz cinema, which had opened as “the most lavish and luxurious cinema ever to be built” on July 31, 1937 before eventually being demolished in 1993 to make way for McDonald’s. For years, it was just those two restaurants but three more came in fairly quick succession, beginning with the Birchin Way outlet on the Bass Brewery storage yard site in Grimsby, opening in January 2000. It wasn’t long before Cleethorpes got its second McDonald’s, and North East Lincolnshire’s fourth, with the Meridian Point restaurant welcoming its first customers in June 2001. This was the chain’s 1,179th UK outlet. Celebrating the opening of the latest McDonald’s to arrive in the area at Morrisons, Laceby, in 2002, are manager Sue Gilmore, staff member Ashley Robinson, second assistant manager Clive Burrell, staff member Michelle Pearson and McDonalds marketing manager Helen Simmons (Image: Grimsby Telegraph) Less than a year later, the area’s newest restaurant was constructed next to the Morrisons supermarket, near Laceby. Opening in February 2002, a little bit of McFatigue was starting to kick in with a few local people but, on the whole, it was welcomed. One shopper said: “To be fair, there are a lot of them already in the area, and it is only a 10-minute drive from each one. But on the whole it is a good idea, I like McDonald’s food.” Burger King The ‘Home Of The Whopper’ first arrived in Britain in 1977 but Grimbarians hankering for the Miami-based chain’s flame-grilled taste would have to wait more than 20 years before they could sample McDonald’s arch rival on their doorstep. The company’s first foray into North East Lincolnshire came in December 1998 when it opened a counter at the Little Chef site on the A180 approach to Grimsby town centre. Special customer Stuart McLauchlan cuts the ribbon to open the Burger King on the A180 in Grimsby watched by the manager Sue Metcalf, right, and assistant manager Zoe Simpson (Image: Grimsby Evening Telegraph) There was a time when Burger Kings were often seen next to Little Chefs as the latter’s owner, Granada, attempted to stem the decline of the oft-seen roadside diner by giving customers a fast-food option as McDonald’s and KFC spread rapidly. The Little Chef site ended up closing down in the mid-2000s but the building remained dormant. The Burger King site at Lockhill in Grimsby before construction began on the restaurant and a separate building featuring a Blockbuster Video store. Both eventually opened in November 2000 (Image: Grimsby Evening Telegraph) The Burger King drive-thru restaurant we all know now at Lockhill roundabout was first announced in 1999. At the time, the site was occupied by a former nautical school where thousands

A popular cocktail bar near the seafront wants to help out the homeless and people struggling the most with the cost of living crisis by offering food this weekend. Blonde Toast, a cocktail lounge in 17 Seaview Street, Cleethorpes, will offer free roast dinners for those who really need it between 2pm and 4pm this Sunday, March 17. Jamie, the manager, said families and the homeless are welcome. He told Grimsby Live: “The owners decided basically that we can give back to charity. Lots of families are struggling and we are only giving it out to those who need it. READ MORE: “They can come in no questions asked and have a meal on us. It’s for families or anyone struggling. Times are tough and as a business we know it’s difficult. “If it [the lunch] becomes successful, we may do it on a weekly basis if we get support from other businesses.” Jamie said the community spirit in Seaview Street made it a special place to have a bar. “It’s a great place, there are lots of lovely of lovely restaurants and bars,” he said. “We just want to do our bit.” He added: “It’s only a little thing we are doing and it will help a lot of people. Just pop in and say you are here for Sunday Lunch and we have a couple of options, including vegetarian options” Blonde Toast opened in December last year, and quickly racked up five-star reviews for its cocktails and service. Owner Josh previously told Grimsby Live about the inspiration behind the name. “The name Blonde Toast came about when I was sending my coffee order to a friend and ‘blonde roast’ accidentally autocorrected to toast. I thought it was a great name for a bar and toast also has the meaning of raising a glass during a celebration,” Josh said. Join the FREE Grimsby Live WhatsApp Community Get all the latest stories, sent straight to your WhatsApp – all you need to do is click the link. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our .

With three months still to go before North East Lincolnshire’s biggest crowd-puller, the organisers of Cleethorpes Armed Forces Weekend are already busy making plans for an action-packed programme with something for all the family. A highlight of the huge event will be the return of the Red Arrows, who are performing a new, nine-aircraft show at locations across the UK this summer. The legendary air display team are due to appear on Saturday, June 29, over Cleethorpes front. Alex Baxter, managing director of the Armed Forces Major Events Team North East Lincolnshire, said: “There is no doubt the Red Arrows are an attraction and will be a very significant part of the day. These guys are so good and so professional – they have their own following rather like a pop band. READ MORE: “They won’t just be doing a flyover, they will be doing a full display. There will of course be plenty of other attractions over the whole weekend, we are always very fortunate in the assets we have.” Mr Baxter said: “More people come to this than exist in North East Lincolnshire. We are very proud of the high numbers of visitors we get and we have to manage that with the great team of volunteers that I head up. On parade for Armed Forces Weekend in Cleethorpes last year (Image: GrimsbyLive/Donna Clifford) “We bring together the civil and military communities to ensure the Armed Forces are recognised. It is an opportunity to come along and say thank you for all of the work they do.” Mr Baxter said the weekend will open on Friday, June 28, with the carnival – now in its third year – which is a big attraction in itself. “The more the merrier,” he said, “people love a carnival. “We hope to bring back the firework display after what we tried last year, the light show, which wasn’t entirely what people would expect. But we tried it, for a variety of reasons that were forced upon us.” The weekend will be a mix of military parades with bands, air displays and military ground assets, markets, community activities and entertainment across the whole seafront of Cleethorpes. “This year is significant in that we will be recognising the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings, without the success of those we would be living in an entirely different world.”

The Festival Of The Sea is set to return to Grimsby this summer with a “programme co-curated by local people who know and love this town”. For the past three years, the family-friendly event has attracted thousands of people to the town centre to take part in activities, discussions, and see performances about Grimsby’s historic, sea-faring past. The Festival Of The Sea, which is set to take place on Saturday, June 22 between 11am and 5pm, will not only celebrate the town’s special relationship with the sea throughout history, but also look towards the future. READ MORE: Swans Events has worked alongside a steering group of local people who are passionate about Grimsby’s history and community spirit to help with programming for the festival. “Festival Of The Sea is a celebration of all that makes Grimsby unique,” said festival organiser Noemi Antonelli from Swans Events. “We’re thrilled to have a programme co-curated by local people who know and love this town.” The festival aims to engage, entertain, and inspire residents and visitors, and bring together the community for a day of fun, entertainment, and interactive learning. Cllr Hayden Dawkins, portfolio holder for culture, heritage and the visitor economy at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “I am absolutely delighted that this festival will once again provide a true showcase for Grimsby and North East Lincolnshire. It will be packed with family entertainment, and is a perfect way to show how our past, great heritage can be brought into the modern day using the creativity and talent that now exists.” The council says there has been an “overwhelming response” to the 2024 event, with a packed programme of activities, performances, guided walks, installations, and projects being lined up. Among the highlights this year will be the creation of a new contemporary dance performance inspired by local people’s stories to turn our community connections to the water into ‘MOVEMENT’. This new creation will be facilitated with several workshops prior to the festival, led by Grimsby arts and heritage organisation Our Big Picture. Join the FREE Grimsby Live WhatsApp Community Get all the latest stories, sent straight to your WhatsApp – all you need to do is click the link. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our . Turntable Gallery will also join the festival with their Message In A Bottle installation featuring tales from rescue pleas to a sailor looking for love. People will also be urged to get involved and help gather bottles to write their own tales and “explore the magic discovering the journeys of messages delivered by the sea”. More details on how to take part and the rest of the programme will be announced soon. The project has received £25,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025 with the aim of improving pride in place and increasing life chances across the UK by investing in communities and places, supporting local businesses, along with people and skills.

There is a new artist in Town and his name isn’t Banksy. Paintings of seagulls are popping up around Cleethorpes, with some in full view and others a little harder to find. The seagull trail is a street art initiative designed to encourage people to get out and about in the town. The paintings will be appearing from now until the middle of April. An interactive online map, soon to be published, will help people find the locations. READ MORE: To keep it fun, some of the artworks will remain hidden along the route, for curious people to find. So far, there are 11 seagulls to spot with five more coming soon. A good place to start is The Brew Stop in Meridian Road where you will find a painting of a boy with a gull perched on his telescope. The seagull trail is being developed by Dogma_art, in association with the Arts Council England and in partnership with Create North East Lincolnshire. A summer exhibition will follow with paintings on display at a location within Cleethorpes If you own or run a business in Cleethorpes and would like to take part in Cleethorpes Seagull Trail, email dogma_art@outlook.com . Taking part is free. Join the FREE Grimsby Live WhatsApp Community Get all the latest stories, sent straight to your WhatsApp – all you need to do is click the link. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our .

A popular pub and restaurant that’s always busy despite being on the outskirts of Grimsby has recently undergone an extensive refurbishment throughout – so I was keen to get down there and take a look for myself. Part of the Farmhouse Inns franchise, Beechwood Farm on the Europarc has been a top dining spot for people in the area for many years. The eatery re-opened to the public in November last year after having a six-figure refurbishment, with a makeover of the inside combining modern and chic yet cosy décor and updated furnishings, as well as a refreshed children’s play area and a new self-serve drinks machine. READ MORE: Having never visited the restaurant myself, I was curious to see its new look and try the food – so my partner and I made our way to the Europarc earlier this week. My first thoughts were just how great the interior looks and how warm and inviting the atmosphere is. After being seated by a member of staff and having a browse of the menu, my partner opted for a good old-fashioned carvery, and I decided to order an 8oz sirloin steak with peppercorn sauce. The 9oz Ribeye steak (Image: Grimsby Live) This wasn’t available, however, so I ended up having the 9oz rib eye instead. Described on the menu as ’28-day-aged seasoned beef steaks cooked to your liking with chips, grilled tomato, button mushrooms, garden peas and crispy onion rings’, I couldn’t wait to try it. Being a Monday evening, the restaurant wasn’t overly busy, so my food was served pretty quickly. The steak itself was tasty, albeit a little on the fatty side, and a bit too rare for my liking, but I still enjoyed it. To be totally honest, I wasn’t a big fan of the mushrooms – they looked and tasted like they’d come from a tin, and I would’ve preferred fresh ones. The dish came with plenty of peppercorn sauce, which was delicious. The carvery at Beechwood Farm (Image: Grimsby Live) My partner enjoyed his carvery, which was made up of turkey, gammon, Yorkshire pudding, stuffing, red cabbage, cauliflower, mashed potato and roasties, and a generous helping of gravy. The only downside was that the roast potatoes were quite burnt. For pudding, we shared a piece of the Caramelised Biscuit Cheesecake – served alongside vegan ice cream – which I’d definitely order again. I’ve found that cheesecake can often taste a bit on the rich side, but this one was perfectly light and moreish. I did order a coffee and was assured twice that it would arrive once they’d sorted the machine out, but it never came. (To be honest, I forgot all about it until we were in the car on the way home). The interior of Beechwood Farm is lovely (Image: Grimsby Live) My verdict: There’s no doubt that so much work has been done to Beechwood Farm during its refurbishment, and it really does look lovely inside. The atmosphere is warm, cosy and inviting, staff were friendly, and there’s plenty of choice on the menu. If you’re a big fan of classic pub comfort food, this is the place for you. But in my experience, considering the steak cost near to £20, I just would’ve expected more. If it was a steak dish in Wetherspoons that cost between a fiver and a tenner, I wouldn’t have batted an eyelid – but I’d just expect more for something of that cost. But nothing is perfect, and I will be back at Beechwood Farm to give it another chance.

Sir Geoff Hurst is coming to Cleethorpes for photographs with fans and to talk about the goals that led England to victory over Germany in the World Cup final in 1966. The 82-year-old is conducting his final tour of the country this year. He will be greeting fans next month at the Cleethorpes Pearl on Saturday, April 13, courtesy of Nor-Lait Sporting Events. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet Sir Geoff and hear his extraordinary footballing tales. He was the first player to score a hat-trick in the Men’s World Cup final and remains one of the biggest names in England’s footballing history. READ MORE: Simon North, the director of Nor-Lait, said: “This year is his last year doing a tour. He is the only survivor from the squad and he is the one who scored the hat trick. The chance to meet him is unbelievable. “It’s great to meet someone who has done so much for the country. He will talk about his footballing career, a lot will be about the lead up to the final, the atmosphere in Wembley, and his goals.” Prices start at £41.50 for the bronze tier ticket which is for the talk and the opportunity to enter the auction and raffle to win signed memorabilia. A silver ticket, priced at £66.50, also gives guests a meet and greet with Sir Geoff, including a photo. There is also the £325.00 platinum option which gives guests a signed shirt, front-row seats, wine on the table, a champagne reception on arrival to the sponsor’s lounge, and a hot buffet for VIP guests, as well as the photo with Sir Geoff and opportunity to enter the raffle and auction. Meanwhile, platinum VIP guests pay £376.50 for all of the above, plus a signed boot from Sir Geoff Hurst. There are also VIP sponsorship packages on offer for companies providing a table for 10 people. If you can’t make these events, Sir Geoff Hurst will also be appearing at the Double Tree By Hilton in Lincoln on Thursday, April 11, and at Country Park, Hessle, on Sunday, April 14. See Nor Lait’s website for details. Join the FREE Grimsby Live WhatsApp Community Get all the latest stories, sent straight to your WhatsApp – all you need to do is click the link. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our .

A tea room that opened at Grimsby Crematorium almost two years ago is going from strength to strength. Reflections Tea Room is seeing regular groups and customers visiting, week in week out. It recently had to close due to flooding on the crematorium site, but has now fully reopened and is performing better than ever. Daniel Intress-Franklin, deputy bereavement services manager, said: “It’s been really good recently. Over the last year, we’ve continued to grow and we’re really building a head of steam. READ MORE: “It’s going so well that we’re now starting to get regular customers and groups. We have a book club and even a veterans’ support group meeting here every week.” The tea room first opened in summer 2022 in what was formerly the disused Crematorium Lodge. The café offers a range of hot meals and drinks as well as cakes and sweet treats. A selection of cakes and sweet treats on offer at Reflections Tea Room (Image: nelincs.gov.uk) There is also an upstairs meeting room that can be used for meetings, wakes and other gatherings. Daniel said: “If you’d have asked us when we first opened, I don’t think we would have ever thought we’d be at this point. We’re making great progress at the minute and we just want to continue with that.” He admits that there have been some teething problems along the way. “We had a couple of issues like everyone does, but the team have worked hard to quickly overcome them and they are why the tea room does as well as it does. “We all pull together to help where we can and this success is a testament to them.” The public are also grateful for how understanding the staff are. Daniel said: “Working next to a cemetery means people are sometimes upset when they come in, but everyone here does their best to make them feel welcome.” Now, Daniel hopes to get more community groups through the door. “We want people to know that we’re here and that they are more than welcome to come and use the space. We’re not just a business, we’re a community asset too.” Reflections Tea Room is just one new addition to the site, with a pet crematorium opened in June last year. For more information, please email reflections@nelincs.gov.uk or call 01472 324869 and press option 4.

The owner of a new bun shop on Freeman Street is so confident in the quality of his coffee that he boldly claims it is the best in Grimsby – and that his would win “hands down” in a competition. John Bottomley has opened 5 Two 2 Bites next to The Angel pub, after having dreamed of opening a bun shop or deli for many years. His new takeaway offers an array of breakfast and lunch options at cheap and cheerful prices. He came up with the unique name after he woke up at 1.55am one morning with a vision of a happy crocodile – which he decided to name ‘Bites’. Not only does 5 Two 2 Bites offer food, but visitors can also enjoy hot drink for £2 each, including a range of fresh coffees. READ MORE: John is so confident in his coffee that he says it is “the best money can buy” and he will “match it” against any other coffee. Speaking to Grimsby Live, he said: “Nobody will beat my coffee on taste, flavour and cost. I don’t like cheap, nasty, horrible coffee – I will match mine against anybody’s coffee on the market, even the big brands, and mine will win hands down.” When asked what it is about his coffee that makes it so special, John said: “I only purchase top-quality beans and I don’t have any mixed with chicory. It’s just pure coffee, top-quality bean, top-quality cream and top-quality chocolate.” John Bottomley of 5 Two 2 Bites says his coffee is ‘hands down’ the best (Image: Grimsby Live) My review of the coffee at 5 Two 2 Bites It goes without saying that I was keen to go down to 5 Two 2 Bites and try the coffee for myself after listening to John’s claims, which I’m sure I won’t be alone in thinking were rather bold. To be completely honest, I didn’t really think much of his claims at first – I was just more curious to see for myself what was so special about the coffee. I mean, it’s just coffee after all, right? So, after making my way along a bustling Freeman Street on a Saturday afternoon, I arrived at the new bun shop and ordered my usual go-to coffee drink, a latte. I often find that a lot of places serve their coffee really hot, which I hate, because then you’re having to wait for ten minutes for it to cool down just so you can take a sip. But I can honestly say that the coffee here was served at the absolute perfect, drinkable temperature. There was nothing visually spectacular about the coffee at 5 Two 2 Bites – but it certainly tasted good (Image: Grimsby Live) The next thing I noticed is just how smooth and silky the coffee was. It wasn’t weak and watery, and it wasn’t strong and bitter either – it was just the perfect in-between and it went down a treat. There were no frills or fuss – it was just served in a simple paper cup – but the coffee really was delicious. It’s not every day you head to a cheap and cheerful, no-nonsense bun shop in the heart of Freeman Street claiming to serve the best coffee in Grimsby, but on this evidence John is certainly a contender. So is it the very best? Well, you’ll have to go down and sample it for yourself – and for £2 a cup, you can’t really go wrong. Join the FREE Grimsby Live WhatsApp Community Get all the latest stories, sent straight to your WhatsApp – all you need to do is click the link. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our .