A trip to Goole part 2 - The Briarcroft, Blithe Spirit then off to The Deep in Hull

The Deep, Hull

When we had finished with Cleethorpes we headed back to Goole to find The Briarcroft.  It was easy to find nestled behind the main town, with plenty of on road parking.

After a warm welcome we found our way up to our room - the family room. I didn't take pictures, the website does a good job of showing you around. Up the main stairs, then another tiny staircase and we arrived. Through the door and we were into what I would describe as an apartment (though no catering of course!). An impeccably clean and bright bathroom to the left with toilet, basin and  shower over the bath. We also had complimentary toiletries and plump white towels. Next down the corridor was a little single room ideal for Lauren with a proper bed, a chair, a bedside cabinet and lamp and an area for hanging a few clothes (most notably Lauren's coat, which we never "unhung", thanks for it's safe return Briarcroft!). Then finally down into the double room, again some hanging space, a nicely dressed bed, drawer space, tea and coffee facilities, TV. Cleanly decorated and comfortable. I really loved it that a family room had a separate space for the single, so the TV didn't keep Lauren awake and she had a proper bed. I also really appreciated the free wi-fi, you should get it everywhere but so often you don't.

We freshened up and had a shower, the water pressure was good and the shower had a good range of temperatures, so often you only get a luke warm dribble of water, but whilst the shower didn't blow you away, you did get a decent amount of water to wash in and you didn't have to stand on the taps to enjoy it.

At 7 o'clock it was down to the bar for a pre-performance drink from the bar. I was quite excited to know what it was going to be like, I couldn't imagine where the little theatre could be and Lauren was excited at being allowed to stay up late to see a grown up play (about a man whose naughty dead wife comes back as a ghost to pick on his new wife - she would explain!).

The bar filled up with expectant audience members and then a door opened at the side of the bar and we were let in to the theatre. It was a large function room which had been cleverly customised, with a ground level stage at one end and some tiered seating at the other. We were last in and the tiered seating was full, so we sat on some additional seating at the front to one side with a perfect view of the performance.

The play started and all in, it lasted nearly 3 hours including 2 intervals. Lauren was totally captivated by the whole affair, it was quite wordy to start with and I worried that she would grow bored or it would go over her head, but I needn't have worried she sat good as gold for the whole thing and never shouted anything out! The cast of the St. Paul's Players did a good job, there was the odd forgotten line but I only heard one propmt, it was amusing in all the right places, the delightful Edith, "yes m'm" and the over the top Madame Arcarti. Elvira stole the show as far as Lauren was concerned, she was transfixed (probably learning lots of ways to be mischievious!). The scenery and costumes were really good and the props all worked. It wasn't without incident poor Ruth was injured when the incorrigable Elvira threw a book at her and little Daphne ended up with a limp, but all in all it was a very enjoyable evening. The players are set to start work on their next performance "The Goodbridge Million" and I have it on good authority that they also put on an annual pantomine.

So, it was a weary lot that headed back up the stairs for a good nights sleep and refreshed bunch who packed up and headed down for a full English in the lovely, airy breakfast room. You could have any combination of eggs, bacon, sausage etc., along with toast and/or cereal, fruit juices and tea and coffee.

One of the Green Sawfish at The Deep

A toothy greeting

Soon it was time to check out and head off to our next destination, The Deep at Hull. It's a very good variation on a Sea Life centre, but not a Sea Life centre. You start at the top of the building and work your way down. To start with down through time and a history of the evolution of the creatures of the sea.

Once at the bottom you get into the exhibits, the lagoon with it's rays and small sharks and the amazing Cow Fish. A touch pool for the children to stroke or hold a star fish or urchin or crab or snail. The coral wall full of exotic creature. Individual tanks including my favourite axolotls, some amazing luminous deep sea fish to be viewed behind a dark curtain, piranha of course. Things we missed like a 3D movie, amongst other things. The best thing though is the Endless Oceans, a huge 10m deep tank filled with weird and wonderful creatures, large sharks and rays and Europes only pair of Green Sawfish, like underwater unicorns. The tank has several really high viewing windows, a tunnel, but the most unusual feature is a glass lift which takes you up through the tank and is well worth a little bit of queueing. It takes 2-3 hours to go round and take in everything, it saved the day for us as the rain had come again, we had a good time but were able to get back early enough to get ready for school and work the next day.

The Lagoon of Light