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Cleethorpes beach

Cleethorpes’ popularity grew in the 19th century because of its excellent beaches and miles of beautiful golden sand. We work hard to ensure that the beaches are maintained to a high standard, and that the seafront remains a pleasant place for visitors and wildlife.

The North East Lincolnshire Coast is recognised internationally as a special site for wildlife, migrating birds, and unusual plants.

If you want to know more about the Cleethorpes resort and the activities available go to the Discover North East Lincolnshire website.

Dogs on the beach

There are seasonal restrictions in place for dogs on Cleethorpes beach. From Good Friday to 30 September (each year) you must not take your dog on to the beach between the Wonderland Slipway and Cleethorpes Leisure Centre. Please check the signage along Cleethorpes promenade when walking your dog.

This area is also visible on our Seafront map (PDF, 2MB) .

Enforcement of these restrictions is undertaken and those found breaching the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) will be fined £100.

Details of the PSPO can be found on our Dog mess and dog control page.

Internationally important birds

The Humber Estuary supports internationally important numbers of wetland birds.

For this reason, the Cleethorpes and Grimsby coastline, including the wildlife and physical environment, are protected by UK law.

More than 150,000 wetlands birds rely on the estuary for safe feeding and roosting grounds, especially over the winter and during spring and autumn migrations.

After covering vast distances from places such as the Arctic and South Africa, they arrive in vital need of food and rest. The food provided by the estuary is vital to their survival when they arrive, and to build themselves up for the return journey.

The bird populations are so important, the estuary is designated as a Special Protected Area, Special Area for Conservation, European Marine Site, and is recognised by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands as a wetland of international importance.

Birds are easily disturbed and use essential energy when they take off and fly. If they are repeatedly disturbed, many of these birds may not survive the winter or make their journey back to their summer breeding grounds.

If your activities are causing birds to fly away, then you are causing a disturbance. Please enjoy yourself responsibly.

Ways you can help

  • Avoid disturbing resting and feeding birds during recreational activities on the water
  • Keep activities away from large numbers of birds on the beach
  • Keep dogs under control and prevent them from chasing the birds
  • Move further away when birds are disturbed

You can view today’s tide times on the BBC website.

March to October

the beach is raked and litter-picked daily from Wonderland, past the Pier and Leisure Centre to the Fitties. The area through the sand dunes from the Leisure Centre to the Fitties is litter-picked.

October – March

The beach is raked and litter-picked on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Resort Hub staff monitor the levels of litter, so additional Street Cleansing staff can be allocated if required.

The Resort Hub team operate 365 days a year,

  • 9am to 6pm between April and September
  • 9am to 4pm between October and March

We can provide educational talks on our roles, and welcome individuals, groups, clubs, societies or organisations who wish to take part in Beach Litter Clean Ups. Please contact us for more details on these events.

The Resort Hub team use 4 CCTV cameras to monitor the beach and ensure public safety.

Contact the team by calling 01472 323453.

We encourage the use of small pleasure craft off the resort, however, we are keen to ensure that vessels are used safely and user’s respect the rules, for their own safety and that of the user’s around them.

Please make sure you read our Beach Safety – Vessels and Small Craft Guide (PDF, 3MB)

For information about the rules for slipway access and how to book a launch for your vessel, please see the Slipways access tab below.

All members of the public wishing to launch their craft from one of our slipways must register with the Resort Hub team and get a permit.

The only exceptions to this rule are those members of the public who already belong to the following groups:

  • Cleethorpes Inshore Commercial fishermen

We will issue fully paid up members of the above four groups with a key and identity disc for their boats, trailers and cars.

Members of the public who wish to day launch will still be able to do so. They need to give us 48 hours notice and provide the following:

  • A valid Insurance certificate for the craft in the current owner’s name.
  • Datatag or ID number in the current owner’s name.
  • Relevant proficiency certificate (in the owner’s name, minimum RYA Powerboat level 2 or an internationally recognised equivalent or for a PWC, a proficiency certificate). Note: This is temporarily suspended for the 2020 season
  • Proof of identity (Driving licence, ID card or passport)
  • Photograph of person, craft, towing vehicle and trailer.

All members of the public must also carry mandatory safety equipment.

Contact the Resort Hub team by phone on 01472 323356.

North East Lincolnshire Council is a Maritime Authority, and has delegated powers under the Coast Protection Act 1949, to provide and maintain coastal defences to prevent the erosion of the shoreline.

The coastal defences we maintain include timber and rock groynes, rock filled gabions, earth embankment, sand dunes as well as the vertical sea wall at Cleethorpes.

Condition surveys are carried out twice a year to inspect the coastal defences to ensure that they are fit for purpose and provide suitable protection against flooding and erosion.

Report issues with coastal defences 

To report a problem with drainage or our coastal defences complete drainage and costal defences.

Check the water quality in Cleethorpes on the Environment Agency website.

The area from the Cleethorpes Leisure Centre to the county boundary made into a Local Nature Reserve. For a number of years there has been concern that the saltmarsh is spreading north of the Cleethorpes Leisure Centre and that it would spoil the beach for tourists.

We agreed with Natural England that there would be a six year period of monitoring of the saltmarsh with research into life-forms that are dependent on this habitat. It provides a vital staging post for migratory birds with over 150,000 feeding there during the winter months. Habitats include saltmarshes, mud flats, sand dunes and sand banks. These all add to the wildlife of the area.

The importance of the estuary was recognised in 1988 when some areas were designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This has been endorsed by European Directives which have made it a:

  • Special Protected Area (SPA)
  • Special Area for Conservation (SAC)
  • European marine site

The Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Studies, at the University of Hull, are also monitoring the area. This work includes repeated fixed point photography and mapping of the saltmarsh.

Occasionally large marine life, such as dolphins or whales, can be washed up or stranded on the beach. If the stranded animal is alive, the response speed of a rescue team is vital.

If the cetacean (a collective term for whales, dolphins or porpoises) is alive then please let us know as soon as possible on 01472 313131.

Related documents

Seafront map (PDF, 2MB)

Related content

Dog mess and dog control

Related websites

Discover North East Lincolnshire

BBC – Tide Times Cleethorpes

Environment Agency – Water quality Cleethorpes

Contact details

Resort Hub, 139 Central Promenade, Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, DN35 8SE

Telephone: 01472 323453

Opening times: The Resort Hub team operate 365 days a year – 9am to 6pm between April and September and 9am to 4pm between October and March

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