ONE PUB ONLY? Whalebone CRAWLING FROM RAILWAY STATION TO THE GROUND? Wellington and then the Pave SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT? Ye Olde Black Boy                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Buccaneer  47 Station Rd, Brough, HU15 1DZ   T 01842 667435   G Rob Johnson    F Excellent, good value, all home-cooked menu 12 to 2, 6 to 9    CP   BM O 12 to 11           The Buccaneer is a large, comfortable station hotel-style pub in a village that has good rail access to Hull. Its history, however, predates the railway and it is well worth chatting to the locals to find connections with the crossing of the river, local aeroplane manufacture and Dick Turpin. “Trains leave regularly from the nearby station directly into Hull city centre.” With this in mind it offers a good alternative to the drag of parking in the city centre. This pub is for those who wish to avoid the crowds yet get good ale served to discerning locals. The food is important here so I would recommend this to those who wish to eat well, rather than chance footie food. Have a leisurely lunch and “let the train take the strain.” My visit found one such lunchtime session in full flow, regulars sipping their usual, married couples out with parents for lunch and the local lads and ladettes in full banter about national footie events. All was very country village localish. UPDATE:  This pub is at its best when small groups meet up with the locals on a matchday. They are made very welcome. The pub may well have accommodation later in the season. BWV 15.10.04:  Black Sheep Bitter,  Tetley’s Cask Bitter BWV 26.1.05:  Bass Draught,  Black Sheep Bitter,  Tetley’s Cask Bitter, Dark Mild                                                 Wellington Inn  55 Russell St, HU2 9AB   T 01482 329486   W www.thewellington-hull.co.uk  G Richard Gant   CP   TV   BM O 12 to 11            The Welly comes to this guide courtesy of recommendations from fans and Alex at the Whalebone, and in doing so provides a useful halfway point for those making the trek from his pub to the ground. It is, however, a great pub in its own right and would be worthy of an entry due of the quality of ales on offer and because it has a great location, just off Freetown Way.           Those ales are supplemented by European beers and great ciders. The number increases to nine at weekends. The pub is a classic street-corner local which has been reborn since Janette and Richard moved here from the Olde Black Boy two years ago. In doing so they brought real ale light to this previously tired pub. The design of the pub means light is an issue. As time moves on, the large curtains need to be drawn and redrawn, much to the amusement of this weary visitor. My lunchtime visit found the company of Pete, a great host, and Kevin and Dave. Dave was quick to compliment the staff being “not from central casting, but friendly and efficient”. Kevin described his fellow drinkers as “a bunch with eclectic, maybe catholic tastes.” That was certainly true of Pete’s iPod selections. I would defy anyone to recognise the music in the background. The pub is rightly very popular on the real ale scene, being particularly busy on both association and league matchdays. They would love away fans to find it more regularly. It will certainly be a great choice. BWV 26.1.06:  Copper Dragon Black Gold,  Hambleton Bitter,  Tetley’s Cask Bitter,  Timothy Taylor Landlord,  Wild’s Wild SK Whalebone 165 Wincolmlee, HU2 OPA   T 01842 327980   G Alex Craig    SP   SK   BM   P O 11 to 12            This is a horseshoe – shaped bar, sandwiched between two roads and the Whalebone brewery. “It is like a museum of riverside Hull life.” The bottles and beer mats on show testify to its popularity. Images of rugby league, as well as Tigers past, give this a traditional sporty feel. Park up and get a taxi to this pub if you want to try the extensive range of brews. It will be well worth it because the Whalebone ales are something a bit special especially if, like me, you appreciate darker beers. I settled into a corner, watched rugby league on the TV and soon found a great friendship, both among the locals and bar staff. The characters here are really that, i.e. ready to talk and tell you of their glorious sporting heritage. There was a temptation to stay here all evening. If I had to choose only one pub in Hull, this would be it; I fell in love with the place and its comfort. UPDATE:  The Whalebone has been well used over the year and is proving as brilliant to readers as I found it last year.  BWV 15.10.04:  Hart Amber,  Timothy Taylor Landlord,  Tom Wood Best Bitter,  Whalebone Neck Oil, Mild,  Kingston Black Cider,  Weston's Old Rosie BWV 26.1.06:  Rudgate Mount Hood,  Timothy Taylor Landlord,  Tom Wood Best Bitter,  Whalebone Diana Mild, Full Ship, Neck Oil Bitter,  KB Strong Dry Cider, Weston’s Old Rosie Pave 16-20 Princes Ave, HU5 3QA   T 01482 333181   W   www.pavebar.co.uk                                                       G Steve Shaw   F Menu that ranges from tapas, through pasta to steaks; all home-cooked in café bar style 11 to 7 Tue - Sat, 12 to 7 Sun and Mon   SP   BM   D O 11 to 11 Sun - Thu, 11 to 11.30 Fri and Sat           The pubs in Hull seem reluctant to offer food, and so for the service of those who like a good bite to eat, I recommend the Pave. It stands it own as a great ale house as well as a stylish street-pavement bar. The descriptors that come to mind are many and varied. Chic, relaxed, trendy, are often clichés but the Pave really goes the extra mile to create the ambiance that is appreciated by a growing number of the middle-incomed residents of Humberside.           The bar has a distinctively European feel that includes great pavement tables and a choice of bottled and draught world beers. I would not be surprised to see tables being waited - on, perhaps the Saturday door-man might do so during the week! The background tone is set by jazz played at a level that encourages romantic conversation, should that be your want, or allows real conversation over the ales selected from both fine nationals and Yorkshire independent brewers. It deserves to be very busy on most days, especially when families and children come for a pre-match meal. The pub has only been open for four years, again setting a trend. It was previously three shops that have been converted to a large single bar with massive picture windows that look out onto Princes Avenue, from which the name is created. This is definitely a no colours or caps pub. Who would want to anyway?  BWV 26.1.06:  Caledonian Deuchars IPA,  Copper Dragon Best Bitter,  Theakston’s  Best, XB Ye Olde Black Boy 150 High St, HU1 1PS   T 01482 326516   G Alan Murphy   MP   TV   BM   P O 12 to 11           This is a two bar wooden-panelled and pew style pub that has tin - plate posters and breweriana to add interest. Not that you will get to see them as it gets so busy it becomes standing room only for most evenings and especially on matchdays. The Olde Black Boy, which wins regular CAMRA awards for the quality and range of ales, is unusual in central Hull. It also attracts tourists who love the back alley, yet high street, location, away from the masses of shoppers or club hunters. “It has a reputation of being haunted although it would rarely be quiet enough to test that assertion.” This dimly-lit pub has the smell of snuff/ready rub that adds to its charm. Space can be found when people move on. The atmosphere is very friendly, the clientele being varied in age, but not in their love of a great pub. On my visit many were choosing to use the extra upstairs rooms.  UPDATE:  Food is no longer available. Six real ales are available at week-ends. Folk music takes place on Monday nights. BWV 15.10.04:  Arundel Leaky Willie,  Exmoor Wildcat,  Gale’s Trafalgar,  Nethergate Monks Habit,  York Brewery Ghost Ale BWV 26.1.06:  Caledonian Deuchars IPA,  Copper Dragon Golden Pippin,  Jennings Cumberland Ale,  Rooster’s Yankee,  Springhead Roaring Meg Try also Walters bar  www.waltersbar.co.uk in Scale Lane near the Olde Black Boy.  HULL CAMRA     LOCAL BREWERY Old Mill Brewery Mill Street , Snaith , East Riding of Yorkshire, DN14 9HU Tel: 01405 861813 www.oldmillbrewery.co.uk/the-oldmill-brewery    WETHERSPOONS The Three John Scotts  City Exchange, Alfred Gelder Street  Lowgate  Kingston Upon Hull  HU1 1XW  Opening Times:  Sun-Thu 9am-midnight; Fri/Sat 9am-1am The William Wilberforce  Trinity House Lane  Kingston Upon Hull  HU1 2JD  Opening Times:  Sun-Thu 9am-midnight; Fri/Sat 9am-1am The Admiral of the Humber  1 Anlaby Road  Kingston Upon Hull  HU1 2NT  Opening Times: Sun-Thu 9am-midnight; Fri/Sat 9am-1am