The Charlatans will be making their way to Cleethorpes next year to headline DocksFest 2025. The long-running indie band have had more than 20 UK top 40 singles since releasing their debut single Indian Rope in 1990. They have also had three UK number one albums – Some Friendly, The Charlatans, and Tellin’ Stories – and have become of the nation’s most beloved and enduring groups along the way with favourite hits including The Only One I Know, One To Another, North Country Boy and How High among many more. Their journey hasn’t been without immense challenges, notably the tragic losses of keyboardist Rob Collins in 1996 and drummer Jon Brookes in 2013. Yet the band – Tim Burgess (vocals), Martin Blunt (bass), Mark Collins (guitar) and Tony Rogers (keys) – have continued their storied legacy. Their most recent and 13th album, 2017’s A Different Days, achieved their highest chart position since 2001, and was hailed by The Guardian as “their best album in 20 years”. The Charlatans complete a packed lineup of bands heading to Meridian Showground next July for one of the area’s biggest live music festivals with other performers set to include Ash, Maximo Park, Corella, Coach Party, EVER and Last Of The Wonder Kids on the main stage. Will Douglas, festival founder and Director of Dirty Docks, Docks Beers and Docks Academy, said: “We’re delighted to welcome The Charlatans as next year’s DocksFest headliner. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or new to their sound, they will be the icing on the cake to what is an already fantastic line up. It gives me goosebumps to think we will be watching them bring the curtain down on Docksfest 2025 as the sun sets over Cleethorpes.” The Charlatans will headline DocksFest 25 in Cleethorpes (Image: DocksFest) Chris Gadd, festival founder and Director of Dirty Docks and Director of Stage & Light, the Stallingborough based company responsible for the festival’s staging, light and sound, added: “It’s great to see a band like The Charlatans coming to Cleethorpes to play our festival. It still amazes me that we have a destination event like this on our doorstep. We feel privileged to be bringing such a great line up of live talent to the area and look forward to announcing which local artists will be playing the VIP Tent Acoustic Stage in the new year.” Keep up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from Grimsby with our free newsletter Earlier this year more than 4,000 people flocked to Cleethorpes for the inaugural DocksFest, which was nominated for ‘Best Small Festival’ and ‘Best New Festival’ in the UK Festival Awards 2024. The 2025 event will again be hosted by Grimsby comedian, actor and presenter Lloyd Griffith. Staged by Dirty Docks Ltd, in collaboration with Grimsby brewery Docks Beers and venue Docks Academy, the festival promises to be a vibrant celebration of music, street food and great beer and should be an unforgettable experience for festival-goers. Tickets for DocksFest 25, which takes place on Saturday, July 5, are on sale now from www.docksfest.com or via SeeTickets.

Anyone who knows me will know that Nasturtium Bistro and Restaurant has been well up there with my favourite restaurants – if not my #1 favourite – in the area since it first opened in 2022. Having recently moved from Abbeygate in Grimsby town centre to Kingsway in Cleethorpes, the eatery has gone from strength to strength since it was established by talented local chef Jack Phillips. I stopped by for one of their amazing breakfasts shortly after the new restaurant opened to the public, and was eager to get down there once again when the new Lunch menu was launched. From Wednesday to Sunday from 12pm to 3pm, diners can enjoy a starter and main for just £20 each. Considering the high quality of the food, I think this price is so reasonable. Heading there one Saturday with my partner, I ordered the smoked mackerel chowder with herb oil and sourdough bread for my starter, and he went for the mushroom gyoza with wild mushroom and ponzu broth – but we decided to share both of them between us. In true Nasturtium fashion, the dishes were, as always, presented immaculately, resembling culinary works of art. The Smoked Mackerel Chowder starter (Image: Nasturtium) The taste of the chowder was just mouth-watering, and fully celebrated the rich and vibrant flavour of the mackerel. Mopping up the thick sauce with the sourdough bread just made it the perfect winter warmer dish, and I’m still craving it now. The mushroom gyoza dish was equally as delicious, with the citrus flavour of the ponzu combined with rich and salty soy sauce acting as the perfect dip for the gyozas. The Mushroom Gyoza starter (Image: Nasturtium) For our main courses, I chose the braised lamb ragu with parpardelle pasta and chive oil and my partner ordered the squash tortellini with lemon pesto, tenderstem broccoli, amaretti crumb and squash puree. The lamb was melt-in-your-mouth tender and moreish, and the pasta was cooked to the perfect consistency. As for the squash tortellini, this was one of my favourite vegetarian dishes I’ve had in a long time. If you’re looking for somewhere a bit different to eat that resembles a fine dining restaurant in a big city – but without the hefty price tag and “pretentious” feeling inside – then Nasturtium is the spot for you. The Squash Tortellini main dish (Image: Nasturtium) I’ve eaten there a few times and I’ve never once been even the slightest bit disappointed – the food just blows me away every single time, and it’s a warm and welcoming spot where the staff are always so friendly. Chef Jack is absolutely incredible at what he does, and has transformed the local food scene for the better. To find out more about Nasturtium, click here.

Grimsby’s Caxton Theatre has a stage packed with diamond geezers for one of the funniest productions for years. Written by Hull East boy-done-good, Richard Bean, One Man Two Guvnors is a hilarious farce from start to finish. Not only does the crew have loads-a talent and plenty of Cockney rhyming slang to share with the audience, but they have shown that a Grimsby stage can rival anything the capital’s West End has to offer. The comedy is simply laugh-out-loud brilliant thanks to the cast and the director Robert Till, who deserves huge praise for combining the terrific actors with a script from a superb writer. The audience at the first night of the run at Caxton Theatre should also take a bow, because they helped raise an amazing £1,300 for Women’s Aid in Grimsby. The show runs until December 7 (Image: Grimsby Live) The sheer brilliance of the show was measured by the constant laughter from the generous audience, one or two of whom enjoyed unexpected roles on the stage. One woman was covered in water and squirted with cream as she volunteered to take part in lead character, Francis Henshall’s answer to Masterchef. But it was great to see Carol refreshed after a clean and in a dressing gown at the end of the show as the cast took the applause. Francis is a cunning, though sometimes forgetful character, excellently played by Stuart Stretton. His adrenaline-fuelled performance is mind-blowing in pace and he has a masterly command of his lines and acting. The first night of the show raised £1,300 for Women’s Aid in Grimsby (Image: Grimsby Live) He is especially good in the incredible interaction with the audience and that marvellous sketch filled with alliteration. How to conduct a lengthy conversation full of words beginning with the letter ‘D’ was in itself worth the ticket price. He has clearly been closely watching the equally-talented David Wrightam playing Charlie Clench, the conniving father of Pauline Clench, who is a pawn in his game and victim to an arranged marriage. Lily Catley is wonderful as the dim-witted Pauline, who is easily confused. But no wonder when she is promised in marriage to Alan Dangle, well played by Sam Brierley, but then has to be in a marriage of convenience to Rachel Crabbe, who is dressed up to stand in for her murdered brother. Beth Ramsden, who is his twin, gives a hilariously definitive account of what an identical twin is. And she is adamant she isn’t. The show has a complex and funny plot throughout, thanks to the cast who have mastered their lines with perfect timing and projection. Praise too for Debbie Till, as Dolly the bookkeeper who has the astute feminist outlook to life to attract all the “sisters” in the audience. She has amazing girl power. Top brief Harry Dangle tries to keep everyone on the right side of the law and he has a total command of his comedy script – much of it in Latin. That is not easy when Dean Wright is the Scouse-enforcer Lloyd Boateng, who organises proceedings and always sees an opportunity for himself. Hats off too for Jack Scott as Gareth and Steve Skipworth as the Alfie the geriatric waiter. (Image: Grimsby Live) Director Till and the crew have come up with an ingenious way to change the sets on stage by making it part of the comedy play. It is so cleverly done and gave some Caxton stalwarts a share of the glory of One Man Two Guvnors. Chief officer for Women’s Aid in Grimsby, Denise Farman, said: “The Women’s Refuge have to do a lot of fund raising for those in the refuge and all survivors. It is vital for us to keep that up and this has been an amazing fundraising event. We all thank The Caxtons and thank you to everyone who has made this charity event so successful.” The must-see show runs every day except Sunday until Saturday, December 7. Tickets cost £9.50 for first Saturday performances and Monday to Friday performances, £10 for second Saturday performances and £8.50 for Monday concessions. You can purchase your ticket by clicking here.

Award winning night out Bongo’s Bingo is making its highly anticipated launch in Grimsby. The mix of traditional Bingo in a nightclub setting has made Bongo’s Bingo one of the most sought-after nights out in the UK. Attendees can expect rave rounds, dance-offs, mass karaoke sessions, and the chance to win crazy prizes such as Henry vacuum cleaners, giant pink fluffy unicorns, and much weirder rewards. Since starting in 2015, the event has sold out venues across the country. The idea behind the unusual hybrid of clubs and bingo halls was to “take something that can be a bit stale and boring and throw a new lease of life into it and a bit of creativity’ from creators Johnny Bongo and Joshua Burke. Jonny Bongo, Bongo’s Bingo’s co-founder and original host, explains: “We’ve got lots of new destinations for Bongo’s Bingo on our radar and Grimsby is one of the batch to open up 2025.” “We can’t wait to bring the magic and mayhem and I’ve got a sneaking suspicion it’s going to go off big time. We love bringing Bongo’s Bingo to new locations and Grimsby is going to be absolutely class.” Bongo’s Bingo is heading to Grimsby in February (Image: Bongo’s Bingo) Bongo’s Bingo will be in the Grimsby Auditorium on Saturday, February 22. Tickets can be found here.

There’s no place like Cleethorpes this Friday with the cast of the resort’s Wizard Of Oz panto set to kick off the festive season in magical style. The Christmas lights switch-on will take place at 6.15pm on November 29 outside St Peter’s Church – but there’ll be plenty going on before that too. Those attending will get the chance to meet characters from Parkway Cinema’s dazzling panto with the cinema also sponsoring this year’s centrepiece Christmas tree. From 4pm, the Evening Christmas Makers Market will take place in the church hall, organised by Original Emporium Cleethorpes. Open until 8pm, it will feature plenty of fantastic items from local makers and artists. Some of the resort’s independent businesses will stay open late for the festive event too. Meanwhile, there will be live entertainment including stilt walkers, street entertainers, and quite a few elves! The RNLI are set to come along too. Part of St Peter’s Avenue, between Albert Road and Mill Road, will be closed from 4pm until 8pm so the switch-on can take place. The Wizard Of Oz, from TaleGate Theatre Productions, is being performed live on stage at Parkway Cleethorpes on a number of dates from Saturday, December 14 until Monday, December 30. Keep up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from Grimsby with our free newsletter

A cast of players will set sail for a laugh-out-loud panto at Louth Playgoers in the New Year. Dick Whittington and the crew of Marlin Monroe, will thrill audiences thanks to the depth of talent which will bring the show alive. It is a first time for directing a panto by the talented, Rich Precious, who is a regular mainstay on stages in Louth and Grimsby. He has directed before, including the popular, John Godber play, Bouncers, which he toured around local venues. However, it is a debut in the panto director’s chair. Not that there is any sitting down, as creating a cast, lights, music, action and the whole shooting match is a skill which has required full-on direction. Rich, often seen as the best panto dame this side of Blundell Park, along with co-director Felicity Warren have knitted together an amazing patchwork of skilled crews responsible for chorus, sets, sound and lighting, musical performers, dancers, actors, young and not-so-young, a ship and even a Sultan’s Palace. The Marlin Monroe, which takes its name from the Hollywood bombshell, will be part of the set at the Playgoers Riverhead Theatre on Victoria Road. Audiences will enjoy how Richard Whittington sets out on his adventures with his cat, Tammy. The show, written by the talented by Philip Marshall Jnr has also put a new spin on an old show and sees our hero, Dick, heading to seek his fortune slightly further afield from the traditional London Town. The cast has a real depth of experience, with new faces and old helping create and bringing the exciting project to life. Panto debuts include Emma Wighton, who leads the line in her role as Dick. Emma is fresh from her leading role in Beauty and the Beast at Retford and is no stranger to the Riverhead stage either having played the lead in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s one woman show Tell me on a Sunday last year. Jed Spittle and Louise Ray, who have only just arrived in the area, take on the role of the Sultan and Queen Rat respectively and both bring a wealth of performing experience with them. Everyone is excited to see the return of hugely experienced, Jamie Smith bringing Dame Hela Hooternanny to life. But be warned – he/she is a little unpredictable and isn’t afraid to encourage audience participation. In the mix is also the experienced Georgia Pearson and writer Phil Marshall Jnr bringing laughs aplenty with comedy duo Snicker and Gaffaw, Laura Harris is coming out of retirement and donning her Fairy gown again and Sophie Browne comes straight from playing Bet in the company’s show Oliver in May to be Dick’s love affection, Alice. Ellie Johnson is now an experienced and regular face at Louth, From panto last year to Oliver and now panto again, she gets to bring Dick’s dim-witted brother Dom to life, and how well she does it! The all important unsung hero, Tammy the cat will be a shared role for Halle O’Hare and Evelyn Lovelle. 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 Privacy Notice. A chorus of 35 including 23 youngsters, and choreographed by the professional Alice Murray, help create that special panto atmosphere with the juniors being in two teams, performing on alternate nights. If that wasn’t enough to cram onto the stage, bringing in even more colour and movement to the show is Studio 2000 with fantastic choreography by Nicky and Chloe Goldby. Rich said: “Everyone brings so much to their parts and all the cast have put in an exceptional amount of work since we started rehearsals in September. I am delighted to have such a core strength of principal characters. Having that strength at the centre of your cast is vital and you can see how everyone else gains from that strength and in turn helps them develop their own characters and roles.” “It doesn’t matter what role people have got or play. Whether it is in the chorus, a smaller role with a few lines, or a lead role, pantomime is a huge team effort and relies on every single member to bring it alive.” He thanked parents and carers for bringing the performers to rehearsals, sometimes twice each week. “Young people are often presented as always on their home devices and tech. But coming to the theatre to experience being part of a team and feel the energy of the stage is amazing. I remember walking up the steps to the Caxton Players stage when I was 11-years-old in a Don Wringe production of Zodiac. Feeling those nerves and excitement is something that stays with you forever and I hope for the younger members being a part of this project will be something they remember too.” Richard said: “For me, it’s important to recognise that a project on this scale is simply not possible without a good team being in place from the very start and I’m indebted to Des Smith my producer and Nikki Law our Musical Director to help make it work. The work, effort and hours spent that goes on in the background is phenomenal. However, even now, that effort is evident with what I’m seeing in rehearsals.” Richard also wanted to highlight the unsung heroes of the show. “The set builders, painters, props, lighting and sound operators and those working back stage. They are all so massively important. Without them, there is no panto. As performers you get to see the audience, hear the applause and take a bow. However there are others that don’t get to do that, but they are all just as important and a part of that team”.

Ella Henderson has announced a huge homecoming show for 2025. The Tetney born, multi-platinum artist is set to return to her Lincolnshire roots next summer for an exclusive show at the Meridian Showground in Cleethorpes. Ella is no stranger to showing her roots some love. In October, she was seen around Cleethorpes, giving her social media followers a glimpse of life growing up in the region, even picking up a fish supper whilst filming the music video for her latest single Filthy Rich. Ella first came into the public eye in 2012 when she appeared on The X Factor. In the following years, she has worked with superstar DJs such as Kygo, David Guetta and Sigma. Ella Henderson is returning to Cleethorpes for a special homecoming show (Image: Pop Live) Ella will play at the Meridan Showground on Friday, June 13, 2025. Hosted by Pop Live, the show will mark a milestone for the 28 year-old before she joins One Republic on their UK tour. Tickets go on sale on Friday, November 29 via www.gigantic.com. A pre-sale is available on November 28, and is exclusive to those who sign up.

Storm Bert may have brought misery to much of the country yesterday (Saturday, November 23) but it did not halt the Great Grimsby Christmas Festival in its tracks. Organisers North East Lincolnshire Council pulled out the stops to ensure families had plenty of festive fun to enjoy, without being blown away or getting soaking wet in the process. The council hastily made alternative plans, for safety reasons. Inside Grimsby Minster, spectators were entranced by Luma, the gentle robotic snail and there were craft traders selling their wares as part of a Festive Market. Freshney Place and Top Town Market were buzzing with activity as some of the planned outdoor events moved inside. DJ workshop sessions, run by Freestyle Academy, were relocated into Top Town Market, alongside Christmas at the Beach, run by La Cuna. More music and choral singing helped everyone get in the mood for Christmas and to forget about the stormy conditions outside. At Freshney Place there were hands-on craft activities to keep everyone occupied in Christmassy tasks, and facepainting was also on offer at the centre. Grimsby’s glorious Christmas tree also shone out into the darkness after its lights were turned on to mark the start of the Christmas season – check out the pictures below. READ MORE: Have your say – should Christmas songs only be played in December?

Following a hugely successful debut year – Docksfest will return in 2025, and its first round of acts have already been announced. Last year, the debut Docksfest had over 4000 people attend. The festival was also nominated for “Best New Festival” and the “Best Small Festival” in the UK Festival Awards 2024. This year, organisers are hoping to build upon their almost instant success and deliver a better festival. Hosted by Grimsby-born comedian Lloyd Griffith, the 2025 Docksfest will be held on Saturday, July 5, 2025 at the Meridian Showground – in partnership with Dirty Docks Ltd, Docks Beers and Docks Academy. Six bands have already signed up, with the headline act and more yet to be confirmed. Ash, Maximo Park, Corella, Coach Party, EVER and Grimsby’s own Last of the Wonder Kids are already signed up for next yea’rs event. Last year, headline acts included the likes of Razorlight, Frank Turner and Lottery Winners. Docksfest is back in 2025 following a hugely successful first year – with over 4000 people attending (Image: Dockfest) Will Douglas, festival founder and Director of Dirty Docks, Docks Beers and Docks Academy, said: “Building on the incredible energy of this year’s festival, we’re thrilled to bring DocksFest back in 2025 for its second edition. DocksFest 24 was so well supported. “ “People came from all over the UK to enjoy the amazing atmosphere and outstanding live music performances. It showed beyond doubt that North East Lincolnshire deserves its own major live music festival. We’re doubling down with an artist line up for 2025 which will make next year an unforgettable destination event.” Organisers say that The second Docksfest promises to be a celebration of music, street food and locally brewed beer. Docksfest is back in 2025 following a hugely successful first year – with over 4000 people attending (Image: Docksfest) Chris Gadd, festival founder and Director of Dirty Docks and Director of Stage & Light, the Stallingborough based company responsible for the festival’s staging, light and sound, added: “We’re really looking forward to announcing our headliner. As well as chart topping acts, we will shine a light on the local music scene with the talents of Grimsby bands EVER and Last Of The Wonder Kids on the main stage, plus we will have acoustic performances from other local musicians on the VIP Tent Acoustic Stage. These local artist names will be confirmed early in 2025.” Tickets for Docksfest 25 are on sale now from www.docksfest.com or via SeeTickets.

Those who missed out on tickets to the much-anticipated Coldplay concerts in Hull will get another chance this week – at affordable prices. A limited number of ‘Infinity Tickets’ for the August 2025 shows at Craven Park are set to go on sale this Friday (November 22) at 12pm via Ticketmaster. Coldplay are releasing these tickets for every show on their Music Of The Spheres World Tour to make the concerts accessible to fans for an affordable price. They will be priced at just £20 each, plus booking fee, though they must be bought in pairs. Though the paired seats will be located next to each other, they could be anywhere in the stadium. There was huge excitement when, during the summer, it was revealed the A-list rock band will perform two shows in Hull on August 18 and August 19, 2025. As well as six dates at London’s Wembley Stadium, the east Hull venue is the only other one in the UK that Coldplay will perform at on this world tour. Tickets initially went on sale in late September with presale and general sale tickets quickly selling out, including a number that were exclusively available to people with HU, YO, DN or LN postcodes. Ten per cent of all of Coldplay’s proceeds will be donated to the Music Venue Trust. This is a charity focusing on maintaining grassroots venues around the country. Keep up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from Grimsby with our free newsletter Mark Davyd, CEO Music Venue Trust said: “Coldplay are the perfect example of a UK band who came through the grassroots circuit on their way to worldwide stadium-filling success. It’s fantastic to see them celebrating their own pathway to Wembley by giving back to the grassroots music venues that supported them and recognising the artists and promoters that are struggling more than ever to build their own careers. “Through our partnership with Save Our Scene – who introduced us to Coldplay last year – this money will go directly into work that ensures communities right across the country will continue to have access to great live music on their doorstep. The band’s support really will stop venues closing, make tours happen and bring the joy of live music to thousands of people.” Coldplay released their latest album, Moon Music, in October. Infinity Tickets will be available from noon on Friday, November 22 via Ticketmaster.