Secret Drinker reviews Artisan Coffee Design in Skegness

For more than 100 years the seaside has been the stuff of legend for a messy Bank Holiday knees-up.

From those saucy Victorians cutting loose and flashing a bit on ankle to the Mods and Rockers tearing it up on the pier.

In recent decades Skegness had proudly kept that tradition alive - arguably cranking things up a notch - as trains full of Midlanders headed to the coast for Butlin’s weekenders, Pleasuredome raves at Fantasy Island and Dave Pearce live sets at The Street.

But with pub and clubland in decline how was the town shaping up?

Well, spoiler alert, my night was saved. Not by a pub, but by a cafe.

The streets were pretty subdued as I arrived in Skeg, a pink-haired woman staggering on the opposite side of the road asking me if I ‘had a quid for some fags, duck?’ the only early sign of life.

I walked into one pub and carried out a swift U-turn. The place was done up beautifully, but with just two other drinkers inside and a bloke on a mobility scooter nursing a pint and smoking a roll-up round back this wasn’t the Bank Holiday carnage I was craving.

A second boozer - potentially coming to a column near you sometime in the not-too-distant future - was packed with punters who had appeared to have gone hard but were starting to go home.

But as my search for life continued I started hearing noises - noises of a retro pop variety - in the distance.

Heading down Lumley Road it wasn’t too difficult to find out where the action was.

Amongst the closed-for-the-night clothes shops, bookies, discount stores and restaurants came the bright, fairy-light glow of Artisan Coffee Design.

Think Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks, but with wide-eyed drunken smiles.

Youngsters crowded round the outside tables, chatting, vaping and running inside as one to dance when Steps’ 5, 6, 7, 8 came on the mobile disco.

Following the crowd in it wasn’t just the group of teens that were having it large; people of all ages bopped in a huge circle on the mini makeshift dancefloor, tables of pals waved their arms in enjoyment of the music and an elder couple at the back table filmed the action with big is-this-really-happening grins on their faces.

On my way to the bar I had to slip sideways and breathe in to allow a trio of ladies flying past me, busting moves and greeting me with a big smile as they breezed by.

It wasn’t until I reached the bar and these ladies came back to take my order that I realised they were actually the staff.

My pint wasn’t even poured before a young lady carrying a tray packed with vanilla shots asked me if I wanted to try one.

I didn’t, but I did know this was exactly the kind of place I had been looking for.

Well, exactly, might be pushing it because, apart from the pump from where my delightful Meantime IPA came, nothing else really screamed ‘bar’ at me.

A counter of gorgeous-looking cakes and a blackboard pricing up the caramel lattes, mochas, iced coffees and flat whites stared back at me. Even my drinks order was written down on a waitress’ pad.

This was a coffee shop in all but atmosphere - but what an infectious atmosphere it was. A brilliant disco inside Central Perk.

Bon Jovi’s Livin’ On A Prayer was now blasting out the booming speakers and the dancefloor was even busier.

Read more Secret Drinker reviews here.

Through the door one lad picked up his mate as if he was carrying a bride over threshold as another played air guitar on his elevated legs.

For the young and young-at-heart, this was shaping up to be one of those marvellous, shameless, drunken nights where inhibitions are out the door and the good times are brought back to life in the morning’s Alka-Seltzer-sponsored group chats.

For an old sod like me, I’d had my faith in a good old banging night out restored as Gen X to Gen Z - even a woman with her walker - got stuck into a Love Shack boogie and a sweaty-hug singalong to Wonderwall.

ARTISAN COFFEE DESIGN, LUMLEY STREET, SKEGNESS, PE25 3LL

DECOR: This is a beautifully-designed modern, city-style coffee shop that doubles up as a cracking, lively little nightspot. 4/5

DRINK: I had my first-ever pint of Anytime IPA (ABV 4.7%) by the Meantime Brewing Company, which was a lovely drink that went down way too well. 4/5

PRICE: I paid £9 for the pint and a bottle of non-alcoholic Peroni, which - considering both can be hideously overpriced these days - was decent value for a pub and, arguably, even better for a cafe. 4/5

ATMOSPHERE: The place was absolutely banging. Everyone was having a good time. Everyone was in on the mood. No-one was anything but 100% invested in enjoying themselves - and the revellers, DJ and staff all deserve credit for that. 5/5

STAFF: Every employee was adding to the atmosphere, throwing themselves into the party mood and serving with a smile. 5/5

Click here to follow Secret Drinker on Twitter/X.

Do you agree with the Secret Drinker or have any suggestions where he should go next? Email secretdrinker@lincsonline.co.uk or comment below.