After sharing Part 1 of Our Favourite Local Places, we couldn’t stop there. The more we talked, the more places came to mind – the parks we love, the schools doing brilliant things, the spots that surprise visitors and make us proud to call this area home.
So, here’s Part 2 of our local love letter, celebrating more of the people, spaces, and moments that make North East Lincolnshire special.
Grant Thorold Park
Another gorgeous green space, this time on the East Marsh. There’s always great work going on here, often led by The Canopy Community Hub and East Marsh United.
We partnered with both to deliver Edible Grimsby in 2024 – a celebration of food and community. Working with national partner Emergency Exit Arts and many brilliant local community groups and artists, we brought the park to life for the day.
Franklin College
Having both had kids attending Franklin College and seen them develop skills, grow and build confidence here, we agree that it’s such a fantastic sixth-form college for the area.
The staff are incredibly committed to student success and the facilities are excellent. Earlier in the year we were invited to take part in Franklin’s Creative Conference, which brought together a great mix of local and national speakers. We hosted three workshops on organising an event – great fun and a brilliant chance to pass on our knowledge – and a theatre workshop with Moonloaf Theatre on producing one-person plays. Tutor Alison Traill told us it had really built students’ confidence.
Cleethorpes Pier
Well, it has to be the Pier, doesn’t it?
Originally built in 1873 and opened by Mr Grant Thorold – yes, the same Grant Thorold as the park – who was Chairman of the Cleethorpes Promenade Pier Company, it’s long been one of our most iconic landmarks. Over the years it’s been a seaside entertainment venue, a nightclub (shout-out to Pier 39), and now home to Papas Fish and Chips.
Who can resist that early-morning sunrise or evening sunset shot? It’s right up there among our most beloved sights.
Oasis Academy Nunsthorpe
We’ll never forget the show-stopping after-school performance that Worldbeaters gave at Oasis Academy Nunsthorpe in 2021.
We were hosting these amazing drummers for a Grimsby version of Light Gardens and couldn’t resist surprising pupils and parents with such an awesome playground show from one of the country’s leading acts. The teachers were fully on board and let parents know something exciting was happening after school.
Our challenge was finding a bus (those drums and costumes aren’t small!) to transport them from West Marsh Community Centre – only a short journey – to Nunsthorpe. Every bus seemed booked up, until Grayscroft Coaches came to the rescue with an older double-decker covered in purple stars – perfect for the act!
The kids were so excited and responsive – we’ll admit, we cried. Even the bus driver said he hadn’t known what to expect but absolutely loved it. Huge thanks to Oasis Academy for making it happen.
Clee Academy
Another educational gem on our list, Clee Academy is a school that clearly invests in its pupils.
We’ve had several positive partnerships with the academy – first, making this Dave Spud film in partnership with Illuminated Film Company. The team worked with Clee students to write scripts, create illustrations and record voice-overs, meaning the finished film is full of their work – and it now has over 130,000 views on YouTube.
Following that, Clee Academy hosted national arts company Justice in Motion for a week-long residency delivering rap, movement and writing workshops raising awareness of county lines and knife crime. Their powerful show CODE at the end of the week held more than 400 pupils spellbound – for many, it was their first live theatre experience.
The River Freshney
What’s not to love? The Freshney is being appreciated more and more these days and certainly not taken for granted as it once was.
We’ve hosted educational walks along the Freshney led by Lincolnshire Outdoor Learning as part of Festival of the Sea, and it’s also featured in an art-installation trail. More than anything, it connects us to nature right in the heart of town.
The Freshney is actually a nine-mile chalk stream originating from springs in the Lincolnshire Wolds – a rare river type fed by underground water, making it clear and rich in minerals. Flowing through Grimsby to the Humber Estuary, it supports wildlife such as kingfishers, swans and water voles.
It’s a good job the Canoe River Cleaner is so dedicated to looking after it!
The Dock Tower
And no list of favourite local places would be complete without the Dock Tower – a symbol of home. Visible from so many directions, with that straight-on view when you’re driving back from the Wolds, it’s perhaps our most recognisable landmark.
Built in 1852 to provide hydraulic power to Grimsby Docks, the Dock Tower quite literally symbolises Grimsby.
A little fact for you: in 2011 The Culture House produced the Great Grimsby Poetry Relay, featuring more than 50 participants reading lines from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner live at their chosen favourite locations across North East Lincs. It went on to be named a Top Ten National Poetry Day event by the Poetry Society – a perfect blend of art, literature, love of place and local pride.
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That wraps up our fifteen (and counting!) favourite local places. Of course, there are plenty more we could mention, from hidden gems to bustling community spaces and these hold a special place in our hearts.
We’d love to know your favourite local places too.
Share them with us on social media, tag The Culture House, or comment on our posts so we can keep celebrating everything that makes North East Lincolnshire such a brilliant place to live, work and create.
And if you missed it, you can catch up on Part 1 of Our Favourite Local Places here.
