Walking. Gossip. Travel.

Category: UK

  • Hull – Minerva

    Hull – Minerva

    And carrying on my tour of Hull pubs which are listed in the Good Beer Guide, the Minerva is located by the old docks area of the city. There was quite a vibrant feel (I sometime use that word to subtly suggest that there was a riot taking place, but in this instance, it was relaxed and lively) in that area of the city, somewhere that I haven’t been before.

    My first impressions were very positive, as I had hoped to get food and beer, but they looked full so I was planning to move on. However, a staff member was more than keen to assist and she found me a table that I could have for 90 minutes to myself. Although this transpired to be a table for 14 people, it more than met my needs. I sat towards one end, but on reflection I should have perhaps sat in the middle and tried to look important. The reason for seating me here was that they had the 14 people arriving around 90 minutes later, so I had a marginally limited window of time, although I was nowhere near to needing that long.

    Anyway, that welcome is also wonderful, as a pub doesn’t know why someone might be visiting on their own. They might just be on a seemingly endless tour of British pubs (oops….) or they might have made a real effort to go out so they weren’t on their own. Some pubs deal with this really badly, their set-up isn’t designed for single visitors and they don’t make it particularly easy. This pub managed to offer the perfect welcome and this sort of effort makes it much easier to encourage single diners and drinkers out, with Wetherspoons and Greene King now having apps to order at the table also making the process a little less stressful.

    I nearly added this pub to my list of the best of the year, but this beer selection just isn’t really relevant to me. They’ve got six ales on, which are all light and some of them are quite generic. They’ve lined up six sample jars in front of the pumps and I was struggling to see much difference in the colour of any of them. They did have Tetley’s best bitter on, which I’m quite partial to, and it’s the only permanent fixture here, but I was hoping for something a little different.

    There’s the only real option open to me, Marston’s Oyster Stout, and I do like the taste of this, smooth but with a taste of molasses or something similar. But, the temperature of the beer was a little cold for my liking, that was served at a chiller temperature rather than cellar temperature, and I prefer the latter. That reminds me of when a rep came to a pub I had many years ago and told me how excited they were about the new trend of extra cold beers. He then admitted that the extra cold version of his beer was proving very popular, but they themselves thought it tasted of nearly nothing as the taste had been knocked out by the extra chilled temperature. That wasn’t a problem here, but it’s why I was a little disappointed there wasn’t something more interesting in the real ale section.

    The fish and chips, which was well presented and the portion size was more than adequate. The tartare sauce was homemade and is one of the best I’ve had, it had what I think were large pieces of gherkin in and it was creamy and very moreish. The fish batter could have perhaps been drained just a little more, but it was flavoursome and the fish flaked away nicely. The chips were again home-made and the mushy peas actually tasted of peas, which is something I’ve yet to have in a Greene King pub, where I’ve wondered what they make their peas from. I think it’s flour mixed with green paint and water. Anyway, I shouldn’t be mentioning Greene King, that’s twice in one blog post.

    CAMRA mention that this pub is owned by the city council and it was built on reclaimed land in 1829. I saw the smallest pub room in the country, which is really just a small snug which can only hold a couple of people. I couldn’t really take a photo as there were two people in there eating, although I suppose I could have done a a walk-by photo and hoped they didn’t notice. Not really good to invade privacy that much, but it was a fun little part of the pub. And apparently, although I didn’t see it, they’ve got a theatre and brewery area to the side of the pub.

    Anyway, I thought that this pub was excellent, and the staff were all customer service orientated, including the serving staff and those behind the bar. Customers were served in turn, the staff were friendly and the serving staff made a big effort to find me a table. I could have done with a better selection of real ale, which seems a bizarre comment for somewhere that serves six different ones, as then I could have elevated the pub into exceptional status. As it was, it was just excellent, so all very lovely.

  • Hull – Admiral of the Humber

    Hull – Admiral of the Humber

    Along with the Three John Scotts, this is one of the two remaining Wetherspoons in Hull, since two have been sold off. It’s named after a former official job title dating back to 1447 and although it is just an honorary role now, the city’s Lord Mayor remains the Admiral of the Humber.

    My visit was at 10am, so I didn’t opt for a beer, but their selection was acceptable and, as usual, reasonably priced. Service was fine and I didn’t have long to wait, even though there was a bit of a queue at the bar.

    I had a coffee moment. Several coffees actually, so I sat in a location which was convenient for the coffee machine.

    It was raining outside, so the fire was handy to warm up a little, although to be fair, I’m hardly ever cold so it doesn’t much matter. The pub has been modernised recently and there are now hotel rooms above the pub. Wetherspoons don’t seem to have enough capacity now for the number of customers they have as this pub was full this morning soon after I arrived and I noticed a few customers leaving, solely because they couldn’t find anywhere to sit.

    A stag group who had started drinking early, off I guess to the railway station after their visit.

    I am amused by a review posted today on TripAdvisor about this pub, complaining that the staff were watering down the Magners as it didn’t taste of anything. The pub staff would be talented to water down a keg cider, but I do agree that Magners doesn’t ever taste of anything much, especially with their brand obsession of putting ice in the drink. The same customer then complained that the staff watered down her vodka and coke….. I can imagine the delight of the duty manager dealing with that.

    Anyway, there’s not much I can add about this pub, although it is in the Good Beer Guide which is a positive achievement. It’s all a bit generic and soulless given the building isn’t of much interest, but there’s not really anything wrong with the value offered and the variety of real ales and craft beers.

  • Hull – Central Library Book Sale

    Hull – Central Library Book Sale

    I visited Hull central library yesterday and mentioned that they had a book sale on which started today. I told myself I wouldn’t go as I didn’t need any more books, but like some demented homing pigeon, I found myself there by two in the afternoon. To be fair, I’m surprised that I lasted so long.

    I’m a little disappointed in the library service as well, as they were discarding books for £1 that had been in the collection for over 125 years. They were primarily from the music library where the librarian must have decided they didn’t need such heritage on their shelves, but it’s a loss to the collection that seems unnecessary for the small return they’d get. Most of the books were though more recent, but even so, I have no idea why so many are being discarded.

    I promised myself that I’d only buy one book, even though I had a feeling some books were worth a fair chunk more than the £1 that was being charged. So, I got myself this, one of my favourite series of books and they’re challenging to find, although libraries usually have their local book. These aren’t easy to locate and it’d probably sell for £5 or more, but for the moment it can fit onto one of my book-shelves. I can find space.

  • Hull – Hop and Vine

    Hull – Hop and Vine

    I didn’t pay much attention to the exterior of this pub when I went in as it was pouring with rain and I knew I wanted to visit this cellar bar because it’s listed in the Good Beer Guide. By chance and referencing something else, when I was in this pub I mentioned to the landlord that pubs could have a refurbishment, but if they didn’t change the core customer service, products and ambience, then they were wasting their money. A bit like the endless Greene King refits that some of their pubs seem to go through.

    And, this pub probably could have done with a refurbishment itself, but it didn’t really need to as its core offering was as close to perfection as I can imagine it can be. But, more on that shortly.

    I did notice this when entering and it’s a balanced selection of beers for the small size of the pub. It’s a good idea to put this sign at this particular point, very tempting for potential customers.

    A small bar and it has the advantage that the landlord can see customers as they come down the stairs. So he jumps up ready to serve them and offer a friendly welcome. That’s marvellous for a start. And what I will say about the landlord here is that he’s the best I’ve encountered in five years of pub visits and probably several hundred pubs that I’ve been to. Not only was he personable, engaging and welcoming, but it was clear from the other customers that he had also created an atmosphere where customers welcomed each other. There are nearly no pubs that I’ve been to like this, it’s an art form which seems to not even be attempted, let alone perfected.

    George Orwell set out his perfect pub in Moon Under Water, but if I was setting out my perfect pub, then it would be something like this. Glorious.

    To be honest, even if the beer choice hadn’t have been good, then I’d have still be gushing with praise about this pub. But, the beer choice entirely met my needs, the Old Moor Porter from Acorn. A drinkable beer, slight coffee and vanilla flavours to it, not too heavy.

    The one thing that irritated me about this pub is that it isn’t in Norwich, although that is perhaps just a slightly unfair criticism. But, this would be my local if it was in Norwich. They did food such as pie and gravy and some other meals, but I was neither eating and I think that the food wasn’t available during my visit. Either way, the menu options looked marvellous for when they were serving, so it made me like the pub even more.

    I’ve been to two other pubs this year that I’d consider exceptional, the Old Post Office in Ingleton, Calverley’s in Cambridge and now this one. How very lovely indeed.

  • Hull – New Clarence

    Hull – New Clarence

    This pub only re-opened yesterday (25 October 2019) and it’s still listed on Google as permanently closed, but it was recommended to me by the landlord of another nearby pub. It was mentioned that this pub has an experienced new landlord who is successful enough to get listed in the next Good Beer Guide, but I have no idea how true that is or isn’t (although I have suggested what I think about this below….).

    The welcome was friendly and the staff member apologised for not serving me quicker, although I hadn’t actually noticed that there was any real delay. I sat at the bar as it was spacious and I wouldn’t block the view for other customers of the pump clips. The pub feels like a slight work in progress at the moment, but it was in a good state of repair and was also clean. Apparently the opening party yesterday was very well attended, so I’m sure they were still recovering a little from that.

    This is why I’m fairly confident that this pub will get into the next edition of the Good Beer Guide. This isn’t the entire range of beers, but there are two dark beers here which are both wonderful options. I limited myself just to the Cappuccino Stout from North Riding Brewery and it was just as I hoped it would be. It was creamy, coffee flavoured but not overpoweringly so and there was even some chocolately flavour to it as well. Very lovely.

    The service was attentive, the atmosphere felt laid-back, the beer options were, the staff were friendly, it was an entirely appropriate recommendation from the Hop and Vine pub.

  • Hull – Central Library

    Hull – Central Library

    A throng of people waited outside the library waiting for it to open, which isn’t surprising as the opening hours are rather limited and so there isn’t much time in the day to actually visit the library. The library’s relatively short opening hours can’t be a good investment for the future and I do wonder what Andrew Carnegie would think of this. The attendance at the library was also sadly relatively low, the main demand on the building seemed to be to use the computers.

    One aside here, one customer was using the library as his computer at home had been performing a Windows Update for six days. I was going to intervene and suggest that he needed to give up with that, but he seemed content with the situation and was happy to be at the library, so I returned to thinking about how short the library’s opening hours are.

    The outside of the original part of the library building which was built at the beginning of the twentieth century, although the bulk of the premises are now in a more modern extension which is from the 1960s. The internal signage is hopeless, but after meandering around the building I found the historical books that I had been seeking. The local history collection is disjointed, but sufficiently large in size.

    All of those boxes are books that will be for sale from tomorrow, although just in case I end up buying some of them, I’ll stay away from that. They had the books out later on in the day and I’m bemused that they’re so keen to discard some of them, they look expensive titles and it’s hard to imagine why they’re suddenly surplus to requirements.

    The library did though meet my essential requirements of being relatively quiet, feeling spacious, having table space and in stocking a satisfactory selection of books for my needs. Which is nice, because I live in Norwich and the library there is louder than a Wetherspoons and has fewer tables.

  • Hull – Amy Johnson Statue

    Hull – Amy Johnson Statue

    I did wonder at first why there was a statue of Amy Johnson in Hull, but that was just my lack of knowledge, as she was born in God’s own city of Hull in 1903. She was educated at Boulevard Municipal Secondary School in the city and was also the grand-daughter of William Hodge, a former Mayor of Hull.

    I’m not sure that this is the most elegant statue of the famous aviator, but there’s at least an interesting map nearby which shows how she was the first woman to fly an aircraft solo from the UK to Australia. The map and floral display must all be relatively new, as previous photos of the statue on-line don’t have all this shrubbery (I still can’t write that word without thinking of Monty Python) around it.

    Johnson visited Hull in June 1932, when the Hull Daily Mail reported that she would “hand over a gold cup to the boy or girl who has performed the bravest deed”, which gives me an idea for the Hike Norfolk Christmas meal and award ceremony. I’m confident I’ll win that award (in competition with Dylan, who walked six miles without complaining once). Although apparently at the end of the award ceremony there was “community singing” and we most certainly won’t be doing that at the Hike Norfolk Christmas dinner.

    Anyway, back to Amy Johnson. As the plate to the side of the statue notes, “may her fame live on”.

  • Hull by Night

    Hull by Night

    Hull feels rather atmospheric at night…..

  • Hull – Furley and Co

    Hull – Furley and Co

    I would have been unlikely to have gone into this cross between a cafe, restaurant and bar if it hadn’t been listed in the Good Beer Guide. But, it’s in, so therefore, so was I (in the pub I mean, I’m not in the Good Beer Guide).

    What a lovely thing to see on the bar when entering a pub…..

    They had one of my favourite beers on (Turning Point’s Lucid Dream Cookie Cream Stout), but I’d had it the previous evening in the Head of Steam, and as variety is the spice of life (other than with Greggs, I don’t need variety there, I’m happy with chicken bakes every time) I asked if they had any other dark beers. They did, the Ridge Way by Raven Hill, a brand which likes to promote outdoor walking, so how ideal. Incidentally, the staff member was knowledgeable and seemed really keen to offer assistance. Oh, and, the beer selection was brilliant, they’d actually made some effort selecting some interesting and decent craft beers rather than rely on generic options.

    And as to my normal TripAdvisor reviews, even I’m bemused by a review this place got last week:

    “Craft beer menu has decreased steadily over the last few months and tonight was told they don’t do cocktails any more.”

    And of course a 1/5 rating. If this place is a 1/5 rated place for its craft beer, goodness only knows what it’d have to do to get a five star rating.

    I was also quite amused to read a review the pub had responded to with “thanks for your comments and hope you have now calmed down”. The reviewer had seemed to be absolutely livid that the pub didn’t offer table service.

    The Ridge Way is an oatmeal stout which I haven’t had before, and it was excellent, although that head is a little too large and I can’t recall (or more precisely, I forgot to check) whether that was a lined glass so I won’t overly criticise here in case it is. Rich and smooth, with a creamy taste, it was very drinkable. Prices are a little higher than other pubs in the area, but not dramatically so.

    I had accidentally ordered a sausage roll and I hadn’t quite expected them to do this much with the presentation of it. Above average and I was give the choice of having it heated up, which I did, although that did make it slightly greasy (but I’ll give them that, pastry does do that as I’ve discovered many times from reheating Greggs chicken bakes that somehow made it home without being eaten). Anyway, it went well with the oatmeal stout and full marks for the presentation.

    It was mostly busier than this when I visited, but I hadn’t taken a photo as there were children sitting in those seats.

    More of the internal decor, which was all on-trend, modern and contemporary.

    Another plus point is that the pub had decided to put a history of the buildings on their menu, a feature which I always admire. In short, Furley & Co is a name of a previous freight business which operated here before it closed in 1971, with the building then being used as the first Calor Gas showroom in the city. The building was also once the home to Newton Bros, founded by Sir Alfred James Newton, who was also the first chairman of Harrods and also the Lord Mayor of London in 1899.

    And this is yet another pub that I think absolutely deserves to be in the Good Beer Guide, there’s an element of class to it without it being too upmarket. And I don’t really do upmarket. Although if Greggs opened a Posh Greggs outlet, I expect that I’d be right in there. One more thing, this pub currently have Yorkshire Pudding Wraps, with choices including oven roasted chicken and sausage & red onion. Now, that’s the classy type of food that I can get right behind.

  • Hull – Mission Pub

    Hull – Mission Pub

    This pub wasn’t on my little Good Beer Guide pub run, but it looked interesting from the outside as part of it is a converted chapel, once part of the Seaman’s Mission.

    The interior really does have a lot of character, it’s one of those pubs that it’s exciting to go in.

    I was aware of the real ale situation before going in (primarily as I’d just read the CAMRA review), and this was the only choice. So, I had half a pint of Old Mill traditional bitter, brewed from a recipe they’ve been using since 1983. The barman seemed moderately surprised that I was limiting myself to half a pint, but he was friendly enough. Although he then poured the drink and forgot to give it to me, but he was welcoming and engaging, and this suffices me.

    I only realised that this pub was operated by Old Mill themselves when writing this, which makes the lack of real ale a little more disappointing. The brewery make a coffee porter, it’s a shame that their own product hasn’t reached their own pub….

    The beer was served in a branded glass, which is a little unusual for half pints. Despite my slight concerns, it was fine with a malty and bitter flavour, it was very drinkable.

    And some photos of the interior, which are unfortunately not very clear as the lighting impacts on the images somewhat. Anyway, it gives an idea of what they’ve done with the former chapel area of the mission. It’s a sensitive and intriguing transformation, I liked it. Actually, the major problem with this pub is that there was nearly no-one in it, despite its size.

    From the reviews, it’s clear that this is a pub which makes its money from the night-time trade (by which I mean drinks sales in the evenings, not prostitutes). The menus were on the tables, but the food service had finished, but I’m guessing that they weren’t packed at lunch. With a few more real ale options (or craft beer options, I’m not fussy – well I am – but I’m trying to get over that), a web-site that was finished and some food options throughout the day, this would be one of the most atmospheric and appealing pubs that I’ve visited. I’m pleased I went in though, a wonderful pub building with a friendly welcome.