Jarl Russnes from Norway is a Blackpool Convention regular and can often be seen in the U.K. supporting the film collectors’ events. Here he writes about his trip to Cleethorpes and the Summer Sale Weekend held by Classic Home Cinema – one of the dealers that attend the Film Fair at the Blackpool Convention. Many thanks to Jarl for permission to print his words and pictures.
So we were headed there again, to Cleethorpes. To the town that no one in Norway has heard of, but which, in a strange way, has become our favourite place in England. And why is that? Because of Phil Sheard and Classic Home Cinema, who arrange their Summer Sale Weekend every year during the first weekend of August. It is set up for cozy socialising and good times with English collectors, dinners, quizzes, films, excursions, and, not least, unique offers on real analogue films at unbeatable prices.
Phil has been involved with real film practically his whole life. Ever since the 1980s, he has been a professional operator in the sale and distribution of this medium, but it all picked up speed after he retired from his regular job and went all in on the shop and business, Classic Home Cinema. He started first with a smaller shop in the centre of Cleethorpes and eventually moved to the current shop (which is now referred to as “The Last Ciné Shop”) on the outskirts of the town, located right by Grimsby Town FC’s home ground.
Much more about this can be heard in the interview he gave in Blackpool last year, shared via the The Humming Projector podcast (link: https://hummingprojector.com/podcast/20-special-qna-with-phil-sheard-at-blackpool-2025/). It is impressive that, at the age of 75, he still carries the analogue banner high and steadily hosts his annual summer event, every time kicking off on “the first Friday in August.” An example to follow.
But how do we fit in? How did we end up in the company of this gang of British collectors? Well, like most good things, it started by chance. In 2012, one of the collectors came across a small advertisement for the shop and wanted to visit it as a representative for the Norwegian Film Collectors’ Club (Norsk Filmsamlerklubb) when he was heading over anyway. However, the reception exceeded all expectations, and after that, the gang never looked back. Every year since (with the exception of 2021 and the pandemic), a varying delegation of Vikings has found their way over and taken great pleasure in coming there.
This is, of course, largely about the opportunity to find film treasures for a cheap price, but with the purchase, we have gained good friends, personal contact, and the opportunity to explore an England that few Norwegians visit, in a way we would never want to be without. That’s why we travel over for five days, even though the gathering itself is really only half of that time. That gives us time to wander around a bit, look in shops, eat and drink well, and go on an excursion – this time to the Time Trap Museum in Grimsby. Here, we got to see what life in Grimsby was like back when it truly was the fishing capital of Great Britain, and young boys came ashore from the sea with pockets full of money, and not infrequently met with misfortune. A Norwegian parallel is obvious here.
It was also a funny coincidence that Grimsby Town, another old great, faced Blackpool in the first round of the League Cup while we were there. This made it impossible to avoid a visit to the stadium. The match itself was nothing much to talk about, with an away win and the realization that the “hydration break” has also reached League Two, but the fierce booing from the stands when it occurred and the authentic atmosphere you get at this level in England clearly made up for it.
Friday morning, the gathering itself began. The hour of reckoning had arrived. Everyone meets outside the shop before it opens at 10 AM, and everyone is equally excited about what awaits us. Because it could be anything. A little before, Phil comes out and hands out a list of what he has, but we all know that the most exciting things are those not on the list. The shop is packed to the brim with films, and large parts are unsorted and unlisted – and that’s where you can find the very best hidden gems. What they are can surprise anyone. Like me, who found the end of a film I was missing the end of!
You don’t get this if you order from home, which you can do via the shop’s website (www.classichomecinema.co.uk). Moreover, you miss out on the unique experience and the deals you get when you are there, because the prices you end up paying in person are much lower than what is listed online. Phil always gives you a good deal on the Summer Sale Weekend if you actually make the trip to Cleethorpes and Classic Home Cinema.
But this is only the beginning. After you have put away what you bought, it’s just a matter of warming up for fish and chips at a cozy pub a little outside town with the whole gang together.
Saturday, it’s back at it with another trip to the shop to see if there’s anything you overlooked. That’s when I found the missing reel, and I got this one for free, because Phil is a nice guy and because I think he also thought it was fun that it turned up.
It’s not often you are lucky enough to find the piece you’re missing from a film; it can feel more likely to find the one you already have a second time. In the evening, we head over to Phil’s place, where there is a garden party with his traditional “Chinese banquet”, a quiz, and an outdoor screening of short films on 16mm. It was all a great joy, and this year’s weather was the best we could remember.
Sunday was set for an excursion to the Loewen Cinema in Mablethorpe (loewencinema.com) for a tour and a movie. The cinema is run by an enthusiast, and he told us that he still does screenings with both 35mm and 16mm.
Then it was over for this time, and the time had come to travel home. We are happy to experience this once again and hope we get the pleasure many more times to come. Because film is best on film!
