A look back at Cleethorpes' Pier 39 during its partying heyday

Judge Jules plays Pier 39 in Cleethorpes in 2004
-Credit: (Image: GrimsbyLive / Jon Corken)


Today, it's the smell of fish and chips that fills the air inside Cleethorpes Pier but a few years ago it was all dry ice and dance music!

The Pier has changed ownership and look several times since it originally opened on August Bank Holiday Monday 1873. It's hosted everything from summer shows, wrestling, coin & stamp fairs and dance festivals.

But a £300,000 investment saw the seaside pavilion transformed into the Pier 39 nightclub on September 4, 1985. The venue shared its name with the famous pier-based entertainment complex in San Francisco, California, that opened in the late 1970s.

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The mid '80s were the height of blue shadow, pink blusher, shoulder pads and loud shirts - a time to party and dance the night away. As silk shirts, chiffon and mock flares took over in the 1990s - with mini skirts and crop tops prevailing through the Noughties - the pier attracted a fair few celebrities.

Superstar DJ Trevor Nelson entertains the crowd at Pier 39 in July 2004
Superstar DJ Trevor Nelson entertains the crowd at Pier 39 in July 2004 -Credit:Grimsby Telegraph

A variety of guest DJs arrived almost on a weekly basis, with the likes of Gatecrasher DJs or mainstream DJs such as Judge Jules, Trevor Nelson, Sonique, Lisa Lashes, Tim Westwood all taking a turn on the decks.

In August 2004, as part of a whistle-stop tour of the UK before jetting back to the clubbing island of Ibiza, Radio One DJ Judge Jules had the Pier bouncing with a reported 1,300 attending.

The DJ, who got his name after studying a law degree at college, told the Grimsby Telegraph: “It is really good to be here. I try and experiment with playing at different clubs around the country.

“I have played in Hull before but I cannot believe I have never played in Cleethorpes or Grimsby.”

He then returned in June 2005 and promoter Daz Flatman said: "When he played last year it went down so well that he asked to come back this year.

“We had the biggest crowd of people we’ve ever had before when he came, and we’re hoping to repeat that.”

DJ Judge Jules at Pier 39, drew massive crowds during his set
DJ Judge Jules at Pier 39, drew massive crowds during his set -Credit:Jon Corken

DJ Jules commented: "Cleethorpes was one of the few seaside towns I had never been to before and I didn’t have any expectations.

“I’ve learnt now if I have perceptions of places and think it’s going to be good you’re disappointed but it was certainly a good atmosphere."

He was back to spin the tunes once again in November 2006 alongside local DJ Dave Beeson for a major relaunch of the club and again in August 2008, dubbed The Big One with headliners Judge Jules vs Matt Hardwick vs Dave Beeson.

DJ and singer Sonique, who appeared at Pier 39 in Cleethorpes in November 2004. Eastenders star Howard Antony and Hollyoakes star Gary Lucy also entertained the crowds on other nights
DJ and singer Sonique, who appeared at Pier 39 in Cleethorpes in November 2004. -Credit:Abby Ruston

DJ and club favourite Sonique (Best Female at the 2001 Brit Awards) made her first appearance in Cleethorpes too in November 2004, after three years out of the UK dance limelight.

“I really enjoyed it,” Sonique told the Grimsby Telegraph.

“It’s strange because you never know what a night is going to be like. I was lucky tonight though, it was good.

“I remember when I was on the dole, paying my money to go into clubs. All I cared about was that the DJ made me enjoy my night.

DJ and singer Sonique, who appeared at Pier 39 in Cleethorpes in 2004
DJ and singer Sonique, who appeared at Pier 39 in Cleethorpes in 2004 -Credit:Abby Ruston

“That’s why I always try and put so much into every set I do – I want to help the audience enjoy themselves.”

When asked why she didn’t play her upcoming single Another World or the number one hit It Feels So Good, she admitted she gets embarrassed.

“I like other people to play my songs, that’s just what I’m like,” she explained.

Then it was the turn of soap actors such as EastEnders star Howard Antony, Hollyoaks star Gary Lucy, Paul Usher who played Barry Grant in Brookside, TV reality stars such as Victor from Big Brother and members of the British Chippendales making guest slots.

Even the cat from Dick and Dom made an appearance!

Up and coming bands also used the Pier as a way of gathering new fans , with appearances from Madison Avenue, Smoke 2 Seven and The Crazy Dollz.

One of the biggest crowd pullers came in 1995, with Indie chart-toppers Blur rolling into the resort at the height of their fame. They launched a seven-date "Seaside Extravaganza" tour.

Blur lead singer Damon Albarn arrives at Cleethorpes Pier for the band's Seaside Tour gig on September 12, 1995 -Credit:GrimsbyLive
Blur lead singer Damon Albarn arrives at Cleethorpes Pier for the band's Seaside Tour gig on September 12, 1995 -Credit:GrimsbyLive

It was September 12, 1995, a day after the launch of their album The Great Escape, and just weeks after the group had won the famous "Battle of Britpop" by beating Oasis to number one.

Hundreds of fans camped outside the Cleethorpes nightclub for hours to get their hands on tickets and a chance to see Blur up close in a tiny local venue.

Pier 39 spared no expense in putting on a show to remember. Four huge searchlights were installed outside to light up the late summer sky while scores of lights were set up on the beach.

Fans go wild For Blur's Damon Albarn as he performed At Cleethorpes' Pier 39 in September 1995.
Fans go wild For Blur's Damon Albarn as he performed At Cleethorpes' Pier 39 in September 1995. -Credit:Grimsby Telegraph

The NME was less charitable, describing, in colourful terms, the venue as a "ritzy discotheque at the end of the pier" in a "far-flung and fish-stinking suburb of Grimsby that cunningly masquerades as a seaside resort." - ouch.

But 800 fans disagreed, crowding into the seafront venue. For frontman Damon Albarn, it was also a family affair as he was watched by his cousins the Drings from Market Rasen, where he used to stay when escaping the limelight.

After arriving with a police escort, the band walked out on stage to the sound of horns playing the movie soundtrack from The Great Escape to wild cheers from the audience. They ran through a string of their hits, with the biggest cheer reserved for their single Parklife.

Another popular visit came from another boy band - Five - who were headliners at the Viking FM Party On The Pier event in July 2000. The event also saw Billie Piper, Sid Owen, Girl Thing, A1, Shaft, Bomfunk MCs, and Damage to name a few.

The then Pier 39 manager Graham Franklin (second right) with the pop group Five.
The then Pier 39 manager Graham Franklin (second right) with the pop group Five. -Credit:Duncan Young

In 2005, there was a management buyout, when CanDu bought the club as a management buy-out from Luminar Leisure. CanDu rebuilt the former Paradise Club and a new Waterfront Bar was opened.

In June 2006, the Pier was purchased by local businessman Kash Pungi and the first 24-hour drinking licence in the area was granted.

Foam party madness descended in May 2007 when the free 'On The Terrace' event took place, bringing Ibiza’s beach and terrace music to the resort.

Music groups Goodtimes and UltraSonic joined the line-up of entertainment. The Bank Holiday foam parties at The Pier proved popular with revellers enjoyed the foam cannon, powered by a 1,000-litre tank, and fired in the club to create a giant bubble bath.

In May 2010, Bryn Ilsley, owner of Ultimate Angling in Holton-le-Clay, and ten other local businesses bought the iconic landmark. Around £200,000 was spent transforming the venue inside and out. It was leased to a new management team headed by new marketing director Michael Emery.

Mr Ilsley said: "Everyone has been cladding, welding, putting new ceilings up, new carpets in, new toilets, lighting, everything. The layout is the same but it is totally changed inside and out."

Chart toppers Ultrabeat, famous for their track Pretty Green Eyes, spun the tracks at the re-opening night in November 2010.

The Pier night club underwent a major refurbishment in 2011
The Pier night club underwent a major refurbishment in 2011 -Credit:Abby Ruston

However, due to problems it closed on September 2, 2011 and re-opened on December 1, 2011 with the front section being renamed the Tides Bar & Restaurant.

Just a year later it went back up for sale, eventually reopening in August 2015, under new ownership, as a Victorian style tea-room and fine-dining restaurant, with function room and ballroom for weddings and events.

It was later reinvented as Papa's Fish & Chips, which opened in 2017, and has been serving up countless battered haddocks ever since.