SMOKED haddock, the Dock Tower and the Pontoon Stand are among the icons of Grimsby starring in a new national TV advert. Supermarket giant Tesco has chosen the town for its latest advert which promotes its Tesco Finest range.
The 30-second film features footage of haddock being cured in one of the town's smokehouses, Grimsby Town fans cheering their side on at Blundell Park and a view across Grimsby Docks at dusk – set to the sound of chanting from the Pontoon. It also shows customers in a cafe tucking into the fish, which is prepared for Tesco at Seachill's smokehouse, Russells, in Riby Street.
The new advert has been praised by both the town's MP and mayor and has delighted those connected with Grimsby's seafood industry and its football club.
Great Grimsby MP Austin Mitchell said: "I think it's brilliant. It tells the world what we already know – that Grimsby is best for fish. It makes me feel so hungry I want to have some smoked haddock right now!" Mayor of North East Lincolnshire, Councillor Peggy Elliott, said: "I think it's great. It shows the traditions of smoking fish being passed down the generations and the crowd yelling at the football. My husband Steve thought he could hear himself in the crowd. It is very atmospheric and it shows Grimsby in a positive light."
Steve Norton, chief executive of the Grimsby Fish Merchant's Association, which is spearheading the Traditionally Smoked Fish project, said: "To have someone like Tesco behind it clearly demonstrates that it's a good product, and it's something that the public are interested in. Hopefully it will heighten the awareness of traditional smoked fish, which is what we have been trying to do with this project. The advert talks about the tradition and the technique. It's only a brief clip, but it does capture the essence of the natural method of curing. Anything that's going to be a positive message for our industry or a niche part of it has got to be good news." John Fenty, Grimsby Town FC director and former owner of Five Star Fish, said: "Having been lucky enough to earn my living from the fish industry it's great to see Grimsby and the club again on national adverts like this. The last I recall was Young's on national TV when they really flew the flag for Grimsby.
"In this case, the club is well and truly embedded in the video, which highlights Harry the Haddock, the Pontoon and in the background the singing faithful in full voice, all topped off by pictures of the iconic Dock Tower. "The advertisement represents the best fish in the world in my opinion – haddock bearing the infamous finger and thumb prints where Jesus plucked one from the sea to feed the many, and Grimsby is still doing the same today."
The advert has particular resonance for Mariners' fan Robert Smith, as it features the "Fish!" chant he is credited with initiating at an away game at Rotherham almost 14 years ago. He said: "I thought it was quite inspiring. It has all the Grimsby icons. It's nice they are focusing on some of the positive aspects. People from outside the area don't realise what a pleasant place Grimsby is. "I won't be retiring from the day job. I do shop in Tesco so some extra club card points would have been nice!"
Story courtesy of ThisisGrimsby.
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