Halloween is on the horizon and the pumpkin fields for picking your own spooky specimen are open. It’s time for all the family to step into wellies and get out into the fresh air for some perfect pumpkin foraging. October is a busy month for farms dedicated to pumpkin growing and although the conditions this year have been testing for producers, there are plenty of pumpkins of all shapes, sizes and hues just ripe for the picking now. A day out pumpkin picking is a hugely popular excursion for families across the northern Lincolnshire area. While you can buy pumpkins from the supermarket or greengrocers, there is more excitement to be had getting out into the pumpkin field and spotting just the squash or squashes you want for your Halloween festivities. Lots of pumpkin growers offer other pumpkin-related activities into the mix too, to add to the fun of the search. Then it’s time to get carving and decorating your perfect pumpkin. Here is a selection of the best places to go pumpkin picking across the northern Lincolnshire region. Please note some locations may charge entry fees or need pre-booking, so please check before arriving. Pumpkin Bumpkins PYO Pumpkins as far as the eye can see at Pumpkin Bumpkins PYO, Cliff Road, Spridlington (Image: pumpkinbumpkins.co.uk) With 12 different varieties grown across ten acres, you’ll be sure to find your perfect pumpkin growing here, ready for you to pick fresh from the patch. The perfect autumnal adventure for the whole family, there are thousands of examples to choose from – Goosebump Pump, Polar Bear and Pink Porcelain anyone? The pumpkin patch is free to enter – pay for what you pick – and coffee, crepes and wood fired pizzas will be available to buy on the day. Pumpkin Bumpkins is open over the weekend of October 12 and 13, and from Saturday, October 19 to Monday, October 28, and again on Halloween, Thursday, October 31, 10am to 4pm Pumpkin Bumpkins, Cliff Road, Spridlington, LN8 2DN Nunny’s Farm Pick your own pumpkin, perfect for a spot of spooky carving, from Nunny’s Farm, Grimsby. Open to the public from Saturday, October 12, from 10am, there are pumpkins available to pick from the farm-grown specimens and priced according to size. Nunny’s Farm will welcome pumpkin pickers daily right up until Thursday, October 31, when everyone’s Halloween activities get into full swing. Nunny’s Farm, 17a Wootton Road, Grimsby, DN33 1HE Peaks Top Farm The pumpkins are lined up in the fields and ripe for the picking at Peaks Top Farm, New Waltham. The farm will be open daily for PYO visitors, until the pumpkins have sold out, from Saturday, October 19, from 10am and last entry will be 3.30pm. With visitors urged to wear suitable clothing and wellies or outdoor boots for combing the fields for pumpkins are in the field, Peaks Top Farm also recommends bringing something to protect the inside of your vehicle from any residual mud that may still be on your pumpkin prize find. Peaks Top Farm, New Waltham, DN36 4RS Pink Pig Farm Pink Pig’s Pumpkin Festival is running on the weekend of October 12 and 13 and then from Saturday, October 19 right through until Thursday, October 31. Festival entry includes all indoor and outdoor play so there is even more to do after loading up your wheelbarrow with a pumpkin and carving your spooky lantern in the barn. There is a free pumpkin for every paying child, while Windle the witch will be on hand to teach you how to make potions and there will be spooky food and cakes. The pumpkin patch runs from 11am to 3pm. Pink Pig Farm, Holme Lane, Scunthorpe, DN16 3RE Lings Farm Come and pick your own pumpkins against the lovely backdrop of the Lincolnshire Wolds. Lings Farm, near Caistor, is offering PYO pumpkins PYO pumpkins over the weekend of October 12 and 13, and then from Saturday, October 19 until Thursday, October 31, 10am to 4pm. There is free entry with no pre-booking needed. Lots of varieties of pumpkin, all grown on the farm, are available, with wheelbarrows to borrow and pumpkin washing facilities so you don’t grubby-up your car – and there could be a free little gourd for the best fancy dress spotted while out on the spooky stroll. Lings Farm, Croxby Top, Caistor, LN7 6BN Hall Farm Park Plenty of pre-Halloween fun is to be had down on the farm, with the pumpkin patch open from Saturday, October 12, until Thursday, October 31 (park closed Wednesdays 16th and 30th). During your visit in half-term, be sure to look out for the black cats hiding around the park to win a small prize. Hall Farm Park will also be offering its usual activities, including indoor and outdoor play, woodland walk, goat walking, tractor rides (for an extra charge) and more. Hall Farm Park, Caistor Road, South Kelsey, LN7 6PR Uncle Henry’s Pick your own pumpkins and carve on site if you wish, leaving with the perfect pumpkin lantern all ready for your celebration. Borrow a wheelbarrow and browse the classic orange and spooky white pumpkin ranges – pay for what you pick, depending on size – and take advantage of the range of photo opportunities in the patch and garden, as well as a chance to enjoy the farm’s Jumping Pillow! The pumpkin patch will be open from 10am to 4pm over the weekend of October 12 and 13 and then from Saturday, October 19 until Thursday, October 31. If you want a full Halloween experience, you can pick your pumpkin and enjoy all the spooky offerings that Behind the Garden Wall has to offer, including three maize mazes. Uncle Henry’s, Grayingham Grange Farm, Grayingham, Gainsborough, DN21 4JD Rand Park Farm Meet the cuddly animals, explore the toddler-friendly play areas, and enjoy a stroll through the pumpkin patch with loads of adorable photo ops – plus, every paying child receives a free pumpkin. During the Pumpkin Festival 2024

Every visit to Venney’s at the Granby in North Thoresby is a celebration. Whether it is for the excellent meals, outstanding service and the friendly atmosphere or, in our case, an anniversary meal, the venue is a must for those seeking the ultimate in eating out. The new menu at Venney’s at the Granby is a feast of satisfaction to please everyone. The choice of mains ranges from traditional fish dishes of seabass, halibut, haddock and scampi, through to steak and ale pies, sausage or steaks. There is also an appetising range of lasagnes, stroganoff, a chicken tagine or Katsu curry that cannot be missed. The stunning transformation of the former Granby Inn, which was the Halfway House for many years, is remarkable. It has brought a touch of Kensington or Chelsea to the village, but at half of the price and even more of an excellent dining experience. There is more to come too with the opening of The Granby Grill, shortly, so watch out for more news. Inside Venney’s@ The Granby (Image: Donna Clifford/GrimsbyLive) A visit to Venney’s at the Granby is a salute to owners Sara and Peter Venney for starting up their business in the existing economic climate. They are flying the flag for true entrepreneurial spirit and started their first venture in the catering industry with astonishing and well-deserved success. The achievement is measured by the number of returning visitors and those, like us, who are first-timers, since opening in June. The reason is quite simple. The food is brilliant and the service excellent, in superb surroundings. And it is all at a reasonable price. I had a delicious starter of smoked salmon from Grimsby’s Alfred Enderby with sauce gribiche (£8.95). It was lovely and won the day over a choice of ribs, fried pigeon breast, prawns or goats cheese croquettes all around the same price. My partner’s chicken tagine, with dried fruits, steamed rice and mini-poppadums (£18.95) was fantastic. The spices had quite a kick to them complemented by the dried fruits and mango chutney. She thoroughly recommended it in between enjoying a lime and soda. The drinks came with crushed ice, which is a classy touch and came with plenty of lime, unlike other watered-down versions at other venues. Chicken Tagine (Image: Grimsby Live) My beef fillet stroganoff with chestnut mushrooms and spinach and rice (£17.95) was a joy from the first mouthful to the last, and filling. Scores of other diners looked impressed with their meals from the new menu and there was a lovely atmosphere to the plush and spacious venue. The owners have taken on around 25 new staff and they all have a cheerful and friendly way, giving an added sparkle to the restaurant. It is spotlessly clean and the facilities are first class. The patio area and corridors are elegantly lit and introduce visitors to a special place which has all the highest of standards of Lincolnshire’s finest eating out places. Beef Stroganoff (Image: Grimsby Live) There was a pleasant break before the biggest thrill of the evening, the homemade desserts. Take a bow ‘Little Chef Lily’, daughter of chef Ant Cron, for the best selection of desserts the county has to offer. Dark chocolate tart with raspberry sorbet, fresh raspberries and clotted cream, cinnamon creme brulee, with cookie dough ice cream and homemade biscotti and the sticky toffee pudding looked magnificent. The Biscoff tart with caramel syrup (Image: Grimsby Live) My partner chose the Biscoff tart with caramel syrup, crushed Biscoff and salted caramel ice-cream. She raved for a long time about its perfection. My lemon curd posset was equally perfect. The blueberry sauce, crushed pistachios and homemade shortbread on top made it heaven on a plate. They tasted even better at £6.50 each. Lemon Curd Posset (Image: Grimsby Live) The restaurant has a private dining suite for use for conferences and meetings or parties. Here’s to many more anniversaries at Venney’s at the Granby. The venue is open 11am to 11pm Monday to Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 9am to midnight and Sunday 9am to 10pm. Booking is advised on 01472 514838 or check out venneysatthegranby.co.uk.

There are so many food choices at Hull Fair it can be hard to make a decision. When I went for my first wander down Walton Street, having not been to Hull Fair for 12 years, I was taken aback by how much there is to choose from these days. There are still the classics like roasted chestnuts and brandy snap, but I was also spotting bao buns, apple crumbles, and other delights. I decided to stop at a food area set slightly back from Walton Street at the Spring Bank end. There is a bit more space to eat your takeaway further away from the crowds and black refuse bags serve as bins. My choices were limited by not having any cash on me – a lot of places still have signs with “cash only”. Eventually, I decided on a cute-looking stand called ‘The Authentic German Sausage’ by Diamond Dogs which has a five-star food hygiene rating. Diamond Dogs advertised dirty fries among its food offerings and said its hot dogs are “crafted by multi-award winning butchers, using the highest welfare British pork, natural casings, and smoked over English fruitwood”. This did sound very tasty. I think the last time I bought a hot dog from a stand was in 2016 so I was curious to try one again. The menu at Diamond Dogs at Hull Fair (Image: Hull Live) It was only about a five-minute wait for the food, even though people were waiting in front of me and order processing, payment, cooking and packing was all done by the same person. There was a choice of crispy onions, or fresh caramelised onions which I adore. Naturally, I chose the latter and finished with a generous dollop of yellow mustard. Keep up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from Grimsby with our free newsletter It was good quality – that was undeniable. I liked the onions but I’d have been happier with an English mustard option to add a peppery kick to it. That being said, the ‘hot hot dog’ option on the menu lets you have the addition of jalapeno peppers, chipotle mayonnaise and a house hot sauce if you want some extra heat. The prices were similar to other Hull Fair vendors but I think some fries on the side would have made it more of a generous meal. As it was, it was good for a snack or light lunch and is definitely recommended.

How I’ve reached the ripe old age of 30 and still hadn’t gone to Hull Fair until a couple of days ago is beyond me – but there’s a first time for everything, right? On Friday, October 4 at an earlier starting time of 4pm, the iconic and much-anticipated travelling fair – one of the largest in Europe – opened to the public on Walton Street for its 730th year. The fact that the fair has been running since Medieval times actually blows my mind – I knew it had been going for a long time, but I didn’t realise we were talking more than 700 years! With more than 250 attractions – from some of the craziest, white-knuckle rides in the country to more tame ones for the kids, classic fair games and delicious food to boot – it’s easy to see why Hull Fair attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors, year after year. So, keen to see what all the fuss is about, me, my partner and four-year-old daughter made the trip across the Humber Bridge on Saturday afternoon to visit Hull Fair, which was a first for all three of us. Whether you’re travelling with or without kids, I would definitely recommend doing what we did and using the Park and Ride service. Until about an hour before setting off I was intending on driving into Hull and finding a parking spot close to the fair, but I soon discovered that this would be near enough possible. Hull Fair has returned to Walton Street for 2024 (Image: Hull Live) Luckily, there are two Park and Ride services which run from both the Humber Bridge car park and Priory Park. I was worried that the Humber Bridge car park would be super busy, especially with it being a Saturday – but the whole process was actually really easy. We did have to park in the overflow car park, but then it was just a two-minute walk from our car to the number 22 bus, which drops you off just a stone’s throw away from the fair entrance. It cost £4 per person for a day rider ticket, and under-fives travel for free. From the Humber Bridge car park, buses run every 10 to 15 minutes from 5pm to 8.30pm Monday to Friday, and from 2pm until 8.30pm on Saturdays. Buses run back from the fair from 5.30pm to 11.05pm Monday to Thursday, from 5.30pm to 11.20pm on Fridays, and from 2.30pm to 11.20pm on Saturdays. When we arrived at the fair at around 4pm on Saturday, it was actually a lot less busier than I thought. My little girl was so excited and eager to go on one of the rides, so she had a go on the Disney Mania ride close to the entrance, and loved it. I believe I paid on card, and it was either £3 or £4. I then bought a hot dog for her from one of the nearby stalls (another £4) and we made our way past the food stalls to the rides. I couldn’t believe just how much choice there was when it came to food options – don’t get me wrong, there was definitely an excess of things like chips, burgers and hot dogs – but there were also some eclectic choices and cuisines from across the world, which I loved. As soon as she noticed the candyfloss and popcorn, the hot dog was quickly discarded. Eager to avoid a tantrum, I bought her a bag of the good stuff and a tub of popcorn, which I believe set me back around £7. My daughter Minnie with her bag of candyfloss (Image: Hull Live) The first ride we went on together was the Disney Teacups ride, which cost £3 per person, cash only. It’s such a small ride – miniscule in fact, compared to the others – but it was so much fun. My little girl was in fits of laughter because of how dizzy I was getting – I had to actually take a minute before I got off the ride because I would’ve fallen off otherwise! I’m clearly getting old. Next, after making our way through the ever-increasing crowds and stalls with an array of fun fairground games (and having to say ‘no, Minnie’ at least 20 times), my partner took her on the Crazy Circus Funhouse attraction. It cost £5 each, and accepted card payments. Unsurprisingly, it all looked a bit manic – the stairs to get onto the first floor move up and down as you’re climbing them – but the little one enjoyed it, especially with the huge clown slide at the end marking the end of the experience. The Crazy Circus Fun House (Image: Hull Live) Next, she and I went on the Runaway Train ride, which was so much fun. If you ever visited the former Pleasure Island theme park in Cleethorpes, it was like a more scaled-down version of the Mini Mine Train ride. I did worry she might not like it as it’s quite twisty and jolty in places, but she absolutely loved it. I believe this one cost £4 each, and it was cash only. Last but not least, the three of us went on the Crash Test ride, which cost a steep £18. It was obviously ridiculously expensive, but the ride itself was fantastic. It reminded me a bit of the iconic Grand National ride at Blackpool Pleasure Beach at first with the high ups and downs, but then added something extra in the form of the circular cart we were in, spinning, at the same time. This was definitely the highlight. Hull Fair attracts crowds in their hundreds of thousands (Image: Hull Live) After about two-and-a-half hours, it was time to head back home. By this time, the fair was absolutely heaving, and it took us about 45 minutes just to navigate our way through the stifling crowds where the food trucks were. My little one insisted

Popular pub and restaurant The King’s Head re-opened to the public last week following an extensive renovation – boasting a refreshed bar, enhanced dining area, new soft furnishings and an array of modern and contemporary additions. Keen to see the new look for myself and give the food a try, I headed down to Waltham High Street with my family last Saturday, one day after the special ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to officially unveil the pub’s makeover. We were greeted by the friendly staff and shown to our table, a lovely little booth in the corner of the dining room. The first thing I noticed was just how amazing the pub looks after its renovation, with its fresh carpet, contemporary new furnishings, dim and relaxed lighting and pops of colour in the form of neon word signs and modern pictures on the walls. After browsing the new menu, it’s safe to say I was absolutely starving, especially after I saw the Ultimate Plates that were on offer. These are essentially just huge plates of food that combine a range of different elements into one meal. For example, the Curry House Feast includes chicken tikka masala and a tandoori chicken skewer drizzled with cucumber yoghurt, naan bread, basmati rice, poppadoms, samosas, mango chutney and a mixed salad. The Chicken Feast, on the other hand, combines crispy chicken wings, salt and chilli chicken fries and crispy buttermilk chicken, stacked with bacon, American cheese and BBQ sauce, with grilled corn, coleslaw, baked beans, Southern States gravy and skin-on fries. The Short Rib Platter (Image: Grimsby Live) I was torn between these two and the Short Rib Platter, which is a succulent two-bone BBQ beef rib served with mac ‘n’ cheese, grilled corn, grilled tomato, onion rings, coleslaw and skin-on fries. In the end, I went for this one. Staff were more than happy to swap my grilled corn and tomato for a side salad. My other half went for the Mega Mixed Grill, and my little girl chose pasta, cheesy garlic bread and peas from the kid’s menu. Staff were really ‘on it’ and asked straight away if anyone had any allergies, and when I explained that my daughter has an egg allergy, they showed me a special menu with all the allergens in each element of her dish. I’m pretty clued-up on what she can and can’t have now, but it was lovely to have that extra reassurance. The pub was practically heaving, with it being just a day after it re-opened, but our meals were served in really good time. My Short Rib Platter was presented beautifully, with the ribs oozing with BBQ sauce and topped with spring onions and fresh chillies. Inside The King’s Head (Image: Dean Atkins Photography) The other elements were served in little bowls alongside the ribs, and I dug in. It was probably one of the best dishes of its kind I’ve ever had – the ribs were packed with rich and moreish flavour and the chilli just gave them that extra kick, which I love. Combined with the creamy and comforting taste of the mac ‘n’ cheese and generously dunked in coleslaw, they were just absolute heaven, and I’d order this dish again in a heartbeat. If you’re in the mood to treat yourself and put any healthy eating or diets aside for one lunch or dinner this week, I’d highly recommend the Short Rib Platter. The King’s Head is a lovely place to visit for a meal out with family, and has so many different options on its menu to choose from. Staff are pleasant and friendly, it’s an accommodating venue to bring kids, and the new look is just fantastic.

A young local entrepreneur is hoping to bring exciting nightlife to Cleethorpes. Liam Pungi, 21, is following in the footsteps of his father, former nightclub owner Kash Pungi. Liam has transformed Platform in Station Road and will shortly be opening Pool Bar in Sea Road, previously known as the Litehouse/Nokturnal nightclub. Platform has been under Liam’s management for the past few months. He said diverse acts, including circus performers, DJs, and themed nights, had brought fresh energy to the area, offering a much-needed departure from the repetitive club scene and turning the bar into a hotspot for 18-25-year-olds With events such as, “Ibiza Comes to Cleethorpes,” “Greatest Showman,” and “Ladies Night,” Liam has a mission to bring a city-style clubbing experience to Cleethorpes. Liam is now turning his attention to Pool Bar which he recently acquired. It’s undergone a £10,000 refurbishment and Liam plans to transform it back into a bustling nightclub. He said: “We want to have four really large, bigger than ever events and just fill it. I’ve set it up to be absolutely perfect for these events. I’m not looking at every weekend and I’m not looking to take anyone’s trade. “I just want to have these perfect put-together big nights, something people will remember forever.” Pool Bar’s opening night will take place with its first residency, Octave, on Saturday, October 12. With over 30 talented local DJs, both established and emerging, and a free entry policy, Liam said he aims to create an unforgettable experience. Below are pictures of Platform after its renovation. All photographs taken by Donna Clifford for Grimsby Live.

The iconic Chesney Hawkes is bringing his UK tour to Grimsby next year. With his era-defining smash hit ‘The One and Only’, film star good looks and boy next door charm, Chesney Hawkes was one of the UK’s biggest pop stars of the 90s. Three decades on, the national treasure kick-starts a new stage in his career with a show at Docks Academy on Friday, 4 April 2025. Tickets – priced £25 plus booking fees – go on sale on Friday at 10am. Chesney’s Grimsby show is part of a UK tour in support of new single ‘Get A Hold Of Yourself’ – his first all-new music in more than a decade which will be taken from his forthcoming album due in 2025. ‘Get A Hold Of Yourself’ finds Chesney applying that famous voice to a classic, high energy pop-rock sound – but with a bright modernist edge that brings him back up to date without losing the essence of what he’s best known for. Chesney started his career at the age of 19 when he appeared in the film Buddy’s Song , which featured his best-known single ‘The One and Only’ which topped the UK Singles Chart for five weeks and reached the top 10 in the United States. Follow-up single I’m a Man Not a Boy’ peaked at 27 in the UK, with subsequent singles including What’s Wrong with This Picture?Stay Away Baby Jane and Another Fine Mess also charting in the top 100. Tickets for this standing event go on sale from www.docksacademy.com and See Tickets from 10am on Friday. 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 collectors fair is returning to Cleethorpes after a highly successful trial run. Cleethorpes and Grimsby Toy and Train Fair is coming to Cleethorpes Memorial Hall on Saturday, December 7 from 10am until 3pm. The larger venue will offer more traders and a greater variety of items on sale, with hot and cold refreshments available too. Christopher Johnson, one of the organisers, said: “We’ve got vintage toys across all subjects: trains, planes, cars, boats. We’ve got board games, Action Men, Star Wars, Pokemon, a bit of everything, all sorts of vintage and retro and new toys as well such as Lego. “We don’t charge an admission fee but we ask, if possible, that people folk make a donation to Lincolnshire Air Ambulance or The Lincolnshire Wolds Railway. We’re going to have a table by the door. “It’s only our second event, we did one in September in a much smaller venue to see what the call was for it in Grimsby and Cleethorpes because all of the model shops apart from one have closed over the years. Chris added: “There is one left in Grimsby but it doesn’t stock model railway and doesn’t stock pre-owned toys across the board. There’s a lot of demand for model railways especially so we thought we’d put the fair on ourselves.” A poster for the Cleethorpes and Grimsby Toy and Train Fair sponsored by DigiTrains The first event was held at The Crescent Community Hub and was so popular it became “swamped” which made the larger venue at Cleethorpes Memorial Hall a necessity. Chris said feedback was “completely positive” and visitors to the fair were “really happy and couldn’t wait for the next one” If you are interested in coming to the event, you can follow the Cleethorpes / Grimsby Toy & Tarin Collectors Fair on Facebook where updates are regularly posted about the traders who are attending. The event is sponsored by DigiTrains.

If you live in North East Lincolnshire and are looking for something fun to do that’s a bit different – I’ve got just the place. Situated within the Meridian Retail Park in Cleethorpes, Roll the Dice Café opened its doors to members of the public at the end of July following an extensive refurbishment of the building. Providing possibly every board game under the sun, the café is a unique place to visit for a range of occasions, whether you’re having a day out with the kids, a get-together with friends or a date night with your other half. It costs £2 per hour to play board games and provides food and refreshments. Speaking previously to Grimsby Live, owner Michelle Andrews said: “I think since lockdown, board games have become more popular because people were spending time at home together and needed things to do. “There’s something for everybody. I’ve got retro games from when we were growing up, like Kerplunk and Buckaroo, all the way up to games that are only just coming out. The outside of Roll the Dice (Image: Donna Clifford/GrimsbyLive) “Some of the new ones are really expensive but people have asked for them. There’s plenty of Monopoly games, chess, and card games for people who don’t want to play board games.” Looking for something a bit different to do before going out on a Friday night – me and my partner decided to go down and give the place a try. We arrived at around 6pm, and walking in, I was instantly struck with how bright and colourful the café is. It’s clear that so much work went into creating it and putting it all together. Brightly-coloured chairs and tables fill the main space, with a bar area in the corner offering an array of sweet treats and drinks options, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Across from the bar is a huge shelf area stacked full of board games, from classic favourites like Scrabble, Monopoly, Cluedo and Trivial Pursuit, to more modern options that I’d never even heard of. There’s also a section nearby featuring hilarious card games like Cards Against Humanity and What Do You Meme. It has an impressive library of board games (Image: Donna Clifford/GrimsbyLive) It’s pretty fair to say that no matter your age, tastes or preferences, you’re almost guaranteed to find a game here you’ll enjoy playing – even if you’ve never really been a big board game fan. I must admit, we do have a bit of a competitive streak between us when it comes to Scrabble and keep score (sadly, I’m currently losing), so after ordering our drinks and choosing a table, we had a game of that first. Embarrassingly, I lost by quite a lot. We do love a good quiz, so we figured we’d choose a trivia-themed board game to play next. We wanted to play one we’ve never played before, so we chose Smart Ass – a very aptly-named game that features an ass (the animal, that is) as its mascot. The game features four lots of card types, and on the back of each one are a set of clues The Who Am I cards relate to a well-known person or celebrity, the What Am I cards relate to things and objects, the Where Am I cards relate to places, and the Hard Ass questions are the tricky ones. A selection of funny card games are also available (Image: Donna Clifford/GrimsbyLive) Based on the colour you roll on the coloured dice, the other player asks you the questions on the card with the corresponding colour. If you guess what/who/where it is based on the clues given, you get to roll the numbered dice and move further along the board. It was such a fun game and I’d definitely recommend it for anyone who loves a bit of trivia. Whether you’re an avid board game fan or have never really played, this one-of-a-kind café that’s the first of its kind in Cleethorpes is a fun place to visit to try something a bit different, and really does have something for everyone to enjoy. Roll the Dice Café’s opening times are as follows: Tue 9am -10pm Wed 9am-9pm Thur 9am -9pm Fri 9am -9pm Sat 9am -11pm Sun 9am -11pm

Situated in a little country lane on the outskirts of Louth is a hugely popular pub and restaurant, The Royal Oak. Known by most people as ‘The Splash’ because of the gigantic puddle/ford – situated on the very aptly named Watery Lane – that you have to drive through to get to it, the eatery has long been a renowned spot for locals of Louth and those of us who live a bit further afield in good old Grimsby. After having spent a couple of hours in Louth one Sunday earlier this month, me and my family decided to make the short drive over to The Splash for our tea. One thing I absolutely love about this place is that it never seems to change, which I think is part of its appeal. It has a homely, cosy and comforting vibe that you can only find in those quaint little country pubs that have been around for generations. Or, in the case of The Splash, 400 years! We’d booked in for 5.30pm, but arrived about 45 minutes early so we could sit in the bar area and have a drink before being shown to our table. For my starter, I went for the Burrata Cheese (£7.50), which was absolutely amazing. The cheese was served atop a bed of fresh red and yellow vine tomatoes on a thick slice of bread and generously drizzled with olive oil, garlic and herbs. The Burrata Cheese starter (£7.50) (Image: Grimsby Live) It’s been a couple of weeks on and my mouth is still watering just thinking about it. The creaminess of the burrata cheese combined with the tangy taste explosion of all the tomatoes – and the delicious, indulgent combo of bread and olive oil – just worked so well together. It’s the sort of thing you’d eat for a light lunch in Italy, and I’m so here for it. For my main, I was spoilt for choice. Having looked on the Royal Oak website, I couldn’t see what I ordered on the online menu, so I’m not sure if it’s still on the physical menu at the restaurant or not. I went for the Chicken Satay Poke Bowl (£14.50) in the end, which sounded lovely (and very healthy) on paper – but, I’ll be honest, didn’t look the best when it was served. The whole dish combined satay chicken with rice, cucumber, edamame beans, avocado, carrot ribbons, seaweed strips, lettuce and more veg. The Satay Chicken main (£14.50) (Image: Grimsby Live) Sadly, I just felt the dish as a whole was a little lacking in flavour. I’ve had satay chicken quite a few times, but this one just didn’t quite hit the mark for me – I didn’t feel there was enough seasoning or sauces. Saying that, every other time I’ve been to The Splash I have never been disappointed – and I thoroughly enjoyed my starter. I’d never seen the poke bowls on the menu before, so whether it was a new or temporary addition that just didn’t quite work for me, I’m not sure. I’ll definitely be visiting The Splash again to try some of the items on the Winter menu. The food has always been top-notch here in my experience, staff are friendly and welcoming, and the atmosphere of the place is entirely of its own.