Grimsby: Static Hum and Salt Air
okay, so, grimsby. seriously. i’m pretty sure i just aged ten years. it’s… a thing. i landed here yesterday, fueled by lukewarm coffee and the desperate need to escape the relentless beige of my life. my phone’s already on 87% battery, which is basically a miracle.
I’m talking about the kind of place where the rain smells like seaweed and regret. the air itself feels heavy, like it’s holding onto something it doesn’t want to let go of. i just checked and it's...there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. 1009 pressure, 87 humidity - feels like you’re wrapped in a damp wool blanket. it’s not bad, per se. just… profoundly present.
My gear list is a disaster, obviously. i’m rocking a vintage Burberry trench i snagged from a flea market in Prague (don’t ask), a pair of Converse that have seen better decades, and a camera that’s probably older than my landlord. i’m pretty sure i left my charger at home. again. I need to invest in a portable power bank, like, yesterday. Seriously, though, the light here is insane. It’s this weird, diffused grey that makes everything look… cinematic. Like a forgotten noir film.
I wandered around the docks this morning - it’s a proper mess, all rusted metal and crumbling brick. Someone told me that the fish market is the best place to grab a bite, but i’m still wary. I heard that they don’t bother with hygiene standards. Let’s just say i’m sticking to the overpriced pastries from that little bakery on Abbey Road. It’s a lifeline.
I stumbled across this tiny pub called ‘The Salty Siren’ - it’s practically falling apart, but the locals are… interesting. They’re a weathered bunch, mostly fishermen and retired shipbuilders. They speak in grunts and cryptic pronouncements. I overheard a conversation about a smuggling ring operating out of the old lighthouse - seriously. It’s wild.
Someone at the bar said, ‘Don’t trust the seagulls. They know more than they let on.’ I’m not sure what that means, but it sounded ominous.
I’m trying to find a decent coffee shop, but it’s proving difficult. Everything seems to serve instant. I need a proper espresso, stat. I’m thinking of hitting up that place near the harbor - Yelp says it’s ‘surprisingly good’ but honestly, i’m skeptical.
If you get bored, Hull is just a short drive away, and Scarborough’s not too far either. But honestly, i’m perfectly content getting lost in Grimsby’s weirdness. It’s a strange, beautiful, slightly unsettling place. It’s like stepping into a faded photograph. I’m going to try and find some street art later - i heard there’s a decent scene down by the docks.
Pro-tip: wear waterproof shoes. Seriously. And maybe bring a flashlight. You never know what you’ll find lurking in the shadows. Also, don’t ask about the lighthouse. Just… don’t.
Here’s a map of the area:
And if you're looking for more info on the local seafood, check out this TripAdvisor page: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g186698-Grimsby_Lincolnshire_East_Midlands.html
And for a local's perspective, this Reddit thread might be useful: https://www.reddit.com/r/Grimsby/
Finally, a good place to grab a bite: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-salty-siren-grimsby
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