FIRST CHRISTMAS FOR BRIGG WITHOUT OUR 'FAIRYTALE' PUB - THE NELTHORPE ARMS

For many Brigg people, paying a visit to the Nelthorpe Arms used to be part and parcel of the Christmas period.
But Christmas 2018 will be the first since this historic watering hole closed.
The last pint was served in May - see pictures here - and the building has now been turned over to purely residential use.
It looks the same from outside - apart from the removal of the pub signage - but many of us who walk past the three-storey building on Bridge Street over the coming days will recall "the craic" enjoyed inside the premises during and after the long tenure of genial mine hosts Myles and Mary Scanlon.
With the coal fire warming their extremities and some Christmas spirits doing likewise internally, customer after customer would make for the traditional jukebox.
Top of the play list during the festive season was always the classic Fairytale of New York.
This song by The Pogues - featuring the vocal talents of Kirsty MacColl - became something of a theme tune for the historic hostelry.
But other Irish songs - by bands like The Dubliners - were also selected from the playlist, again and again.
The Nelthorpe Arms is still known affectionately to older Brigg residents as Scanlon's - and that will never change.
The economics of operating pubs in the 21st century, with so many closing across the UK, finally caught up with the Nelthorpe Arms.
So let's raise a glass to some great Christmas period sessions of the past enjoyed at this homely hostelry.
Brigg Blog regrets that we never took any festive period pictures inside Scanlon's when Myles and Mary were in charge of the bars.
We put that down to too much Christmas spirit!