Chris
4/8/2026 8:15:35 AM
-11 min read
Grimsby will be hosting the world premiere of a unique new play on 6 June. Tommy’s Long Weekend, which runs to 13 June at the Caxton Theatre in Cleethorpe Road, is a funny, affectionate and nostalgic story of a legendary Grimsby publican between the two world wars.
Tommy Taylor put behind him the horrors he had witnessed in the trenches of the Somme to become a fearless landlord of several of Grimsby’s more ‘down-to-earth’ public houses. He made his way up the ladder of success, taking on the management of the Palace Theatre Buffet in Victoria Street, the Smoker’s Arms in Albion Street and the Mason’s Arms in Silver Street. He finally landed his dream job at the Saracen’s Head Hotel on the corner of Cleethorpe Road and Nacton Street - opposite where the Caxton Theatre now stands.
The play has been written by Tommy’s grandson, John, and his wife, Victoria, both former Grimsby journalists.
They have trawled family and local history archives to shine a light on the difficult inter-war years in a town surviving the Great Depression with humour, beer, fish... and football. The second act of the play is set in the Saracen's Head bar on the weekend in 1939 when, with the threat of war again in the air, most of Grimsby set off to watch the Mariners take on Wolverhampton Wanderers in an FA Cup semi-final at Old Trafford, Manchester.
“To say Grandad was a character is putting it mildly,” said John. But he was also well-liked - if you didn’t cause any trouble. Should a customer’s behaviour displease him, the thumb pointed to the door. 'Out' was all he would say and regulars winced if the unruly fellow was foolish enough to reply: 'Can you put me out?'
“No-one called the pub by its proper name: it was always ” Tommy Taylor’s” and there are many family tales of his exploits” added John "In fact, there is even a song, written by Grimsby Folk Song Club founder Bill Meek, where the pub is referred to as ‘Tommy Taylor’s Madhouse!"
Tommy's Long Weekend is directed by Cathy Bennett-Ryan, who says she is excited about staging another “first’ for the Caxton Theatre. “We have a great script about a Grimbarian, written by local playwrights being presented at a Grimsby Theatre: it has to be an unmissable event!”
For further information and tickets visit www.caxtontheatre.com 0333 666 3366 (TicketSource)
