BRIGG PUBS HAVE SEEN SOME UPS AND DOWNS IN THE PAST 10 YEARS

The changing fortunes of Brigg pubs have been chronicled at length on this blog, with much more news to come, as posts about licensed premises are are very well read.
But ten years ago, in December 2008, we reported that three pubs had reached crossroads in their long histories.
A decade ago we said that a 'for sale' sign had gone up at the Dying Gladiator, on Bigby Street, the pub having closed several weeks earlier "with the economic climate a factor behind the shutters going up."
In December 2008 the White Horse Inn, on Wrawby Street, was still trading but available to let from Punch Taverns.
The Brocklesby Ox, on Bridge Street, was also on the market as Christmas 2008 drew near.
"There have been hopes of a new owner, with some people taking a look, but so far no sign of its doors re-opening to Brigg drinkers," we reported 10 years ago.
Thankfully, the uniquely-named Dying Gladiator was bought locally, refurbished and reopened to drinkers.
The White Horse was eventually acquired by national chain J D Wetherspoon and is still going strong in December 2018.
However, the Brocklesby Ox was subsequently demolished, with nice new homes built on the site.
Since 2008 Brigg has also lost Grammar School Road's Ancholme Inn, knocked down with a housing development on the site of the pub and its extensive car park, and (earlier this year) the Nelthorpe Arms, on Bridge Street, turned over to purely residential use.
Still trading in the town as we enter the Christmas 2018 period are:
BRIDGE STREET: The Yarborough Hunt.
MARKET PLACE: The Woolpack and the Lord Nelson.
WRAWBY STREET: The Black Bull, Wetherspoon's White Horse and the Britannia.
BIGBY STREET: The Exchange and the Dying Gladiator (with Stables Bar recently added).
We are hoping to give Brigg Blog followers an update about the White Hart, on Bridge Street, which is closed while the new owners undertake refurbishment.
Brigg also has licensed clubs - the Servicemen's, on Coney Court, and The Hawthorns (Brigg Town Football Club), near Hawthorn Avenue.