Bracing Bridlington (Bridlington)

Member Name: werewolf2

Product:	Bridlington
Date:	29/07/06 (2137 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: mainly wheelchair friendly, plenty to do

Disadvantages: land train does not go between both promenades

NAME OF LOCATION: Bridlington, Yorkshire on the east coast of the UK.

BACKGROUND: As a St John member I annually have to go on a day trip with a local old people’s group so that they have first aid cover on the journey. When I get to the destination (which in the past have been Skegness and Llandudno) I am free to do as I please until the coach returns in the evening/afternoon. The group then arranges for a stop en-route back to Chesterfield at a pub for a drink. They are very welcoming and I enjoy these trips. This year (2006), we went to Bridlington.

ATTRACTIONS
1. Bridlington Harbour Heritage Museum (The Harbour Tel 01262 608346) – this is a museum and art gallery celebrating the area’s rich maritime history and heritage. Open daily 9am to 4pm May to September. Admission 30p with under 5’s free. This was a small quaint museum and art gallery, which does not take long to visit, and this is reflected in the entry fee. However, there is a video of 1950’s Bridlington with some hardwood seats to sit and view it, which is quite interesting (it is on a loop and if it is not working ask at Reception and they will set it up). I found the seat a welcome relief from walking around Bridlington in the heat and it was quite cool in there, despite the hot day.

2. Jaws boat – Trips around the bay for £1 all riders. A 15 minute ride on a boat that has half a shark on the front of the boathouse and has painted warnings about shark attacks and blood dripping (paint you fools) on the seats. On the prow of the boat there are sharks teeth painted on. I tried this trip and it was very enjoyable although it would have been more interesting if there had been a commentary but it would have had to be loud to overcome the noise of the engine! The air was very bracing and the sea choppy but I really enjoyed this trip.

3. Boat trip – Bridlington Yorkshire Belle £4 adults, £3.50 OAP £2 Child or a family ticket of £11 for a 1 or 2 hour cruise (which may be more expensive) including 1 at 7pm to Bempton Cliff Bird Sanctuary. The others went to Flamborough Head and back. I missed the only trip I could go on without struggling to get on my coach home because I was on the Jaws boat – but something to think about for next time.

4. Powerboat trip – Speed boat £3.50 adults, under 10 £3 but pregnant women and back sufferers advised not to go. I didn’t try this as I have had back problems in the past and thought it was rather expensive as it was a similar route to the Jaws boat trip.

5. Land train – not tried so can’t really comment but on my map is shown as starting from Lifeboat Station for the South Promenade and outside Leisure World for the North Promenade. If I had found it on the North Promenade I would have got on it and visited Sewerby Hall (www.sewerby-hall.co.uk - Open April 1 to October 29 daily 10am to 5pm), as this is its end location. I got almost as far as the Leisure centre looking for Old Penny’s Memories but didn’t see the train, but I know it was running as I saw it from the boat. Land train prices are Adult Single £1.20, Child Single 70p (multi-drop tickets available ask at the Land Train) and Day Rider All day unlimited travel are Adult £4.50 and Child £3.00.

6. Beside the Seaside Museum – walked past it to get to the harbour and looked very clean and interesting but due to the hot weather chose not to visit on this occasion.
7. Fairground rides on The Esplanade – found this very noisy and dislike these attractions so avoided it.

8. Old Penny’s Memories Museum – free entry but when I tried to find this I found it was closed and was being altered into flats, but it was still advertised on literature being supplied by Bridlington Tourist information centre as I visited the TIC on the day to get a map and some idea of the facilities available.

TRANSPORT
We arrived on a coach trip and walked around Bridlington. There IS a land train but you need to walk some distance from the coach park to get into Bridlington and then some distance to either of the 2 land trains starting points. The coach park is near Tesco’s and from Bridlington is well signposted for the long walk back. Car parking is restricted in certain areas of the town and disabled visitors need to note that they have to pay to park in the Pay and Display car parks, which start at 50p per hour up to 70p per hour for all users. The On Street car parking at South Marine Drive and North Marine drive are free, to disabled users, provided you display a valid permit.

PRICE
Various see above – but I recommend you contact the Tourist Information centre and/or above attractions, as you can get discount vouchers and special offers such as Prom Pass which may benefit you financially.

Food obtained –
1. Rosie’s café on the harbour was £4.10 for a coffee and a jacket potato with cheese and bacon on it. This was a large potato and had a side salad too, so I think this was pretty reasonable. Very clean restaurant, but unsure if it had toilet facilities.

2. Copper Kitchen, 5 Southcliff Road 01262 678955 – only had a hot chocolate with cream (cup) £1. This location did have toilets but they are upstairs. Note that this was a waitress service café i.e. you sat down and they came and asked you for your order. Mentioned in Eating Out in Bridlington literature from Tourist Information centre as an English restaurant/café, this booklet has Thai, Indian, Chinese, Fish & Chip shops/takeaways, as well as restaurants and cafes with a useful map section at the back.

OPENING TIMES

Various – see above

We went on a Tuesday and although we arrived just after 11am, we only spent an afternoon there so didn’t get to see or do everything that was available. As it was such a hot sunny day, I spent as much of it as possible outside just enjoying the views and didn’t go in as many of the attractions that I originally planned on doing.

GOOD POINTS
1. Plenty to do
2. Something to pass the time in Bridlington on a Tuesday
3. Plenty of chairs to admire the views
4. Brilliant in good weather as you can go on boat trips and enjoy the scenery.



BAD POINTS
1. Not very good for disabled access in Copper Kitchen café, and toilets are all upstairs.
2. Busy in high season
3. Land train does not seem easily accessible
4. Coach park a long way from town centre
5. Expensive if wet as most attractions cost money to get in

AFTERWARDS
Would consider a Prom Pass if staying longer or wanted to visit a lot of attractions as valid for 4 days unlimited use of Leisure World, including swimming, 3B Entertainment Centre, Sewerby Hall & Gardens, deckchairs, windbreaks and the Land train for £20 per adult, £8 per child and family of 4 £48. Valid between July 1 and September 10 2006.

They can be purchased from Sewerby Hall & Gardens, 01262 673769, Leisure World 01262 606715/678258, Bridlington Tourist Information (see below), South Cliff Caravan Park 01262 671051 or the information points at North Promenade 01262 401808 or South Promenade 01262 609815. It is valid for some but not ALL 3B’s shows and events.

Have a better idea of what is available and what I would like to try next time so need to arrange another trip to Brid!

MORE INFORMATION FROM
Contact the Tourist Information Centre, at 25 Prince Street, Bridlington. Telephone 01262 673474 or email Bridlington.tic@eastriding.gov.uk Most of the leaflets I picked up were very useful and some had vouchers with 2 for 1 offers or Kids go free, which would have been useful if I hadn’t been travelling alone.

There are also TIC information points on both North and South Promenades (although I didn’t find them!).

I also went online before I went and got information from www.visiteastyorkshire.com and found out that Market days are Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, with Bank Holiday Mondays as extras.

werewolf2

Summary: Family friendly coastal town on east coast of UK well worth a visit