On the trail of real ale in Hull – Heritage Open Days serves up a taste of history with some of your favourite beers
The largest heritage festival in England is back for 2024, with a bumper programme of free talks, walks, open days and tours – often of places not normally on view to the public.
This year’s National Trust Heritage Open Days – HODS – runs until Sunday, September 15. The festival of history and culture offers unique insights into some of the area’s historic buildings, events, companies, and people, with trails, tales, and events to inspire all ages about Hull and Beverley ’s rich heritage.
The theme of HODS for 2024 is “connections”, and there is lots to recommend from the special brochure that has been printed for the occasion and available from local libraries or from the Welcome Information Centre, at Hull’s Paragon Interchange. River, road and telecommunications all have their place in the area’s history of connections, but what better place to connect than a pub.
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HODS has marked out a trail of real-ale contenders to feature in this year’s festival, and the list appears below for you to try some, or all of the pubs listed during the event or beyond. You can also find lots of other places that are free to explore this September via the national HODS website.
Old Town Ale Trail
1 Minerva – Nelson Street
Character-infused pub with a maritime theme. It was built on reclaimed land in the 1820s and included a hotel to accommodate passengers using the nearby dock and pier.
The Minerva boasts Britain’s smallest pub room. Its location provides amazing views over Hull Marina and the Humber.
2 George Hotel – Land of Green Ginger
Famous for having England’s smallest window and with a fine wood-panelled interior. The George was part of a late 18th century coaching inn, which fronted along Whitefriargate and into the quirkily named Land of Green Ginger.
A looped film of old Hull is often shown, for the benefit of local history enthusiasts. You can sup and learn at the same time.
3 Hawkes – Scale Lane
A recent pub with a surprisingly old-style interior. Hawkes takes its name from the Hull gunsmith William Hawkes, who had the premises in the early 1800s.
Nods to its history abound throughout this Old Town venue.
4 Lion and Key – High Street
Originally a coffee house known as the Britannia. This early-1800s opener was renamed following Wellington’s capture of Ciudad Rodrigo, the “key” to Spain during the Peninsular wars.
Many changes of use saw the building imaginatively restored as a pub packed with curios and filled with ambience. It wins awards for its drinks and food.
5 Scale and Feather – Scale Lane
An independent craft ale bar at the very heart of the Old Town. Customers can get everything from cask ales to cocktails here.
A child and dog-friendly venue, look out for its hand-made sourdough pizzas served on Friday and Saturday evenings.
6 The Mission – Posterngate
Dating from 1886 and previously the Mission to Seamen in Hull. The “Mariners’ Church of the God Shepherd” chapel was a 1920s addition and a special feature to be discovered inside.
After roles as a dockers’ and then a Post Office club, The Mission was transformed into a pub in the 1990s. It serves bar food daily, with the Sunday carvery a particular hit.
7 Ye Olde Black Boy – High Street
One of the city’s oldest and most-loved pubs. Ye Olde Black Boy’s origins stretch as far back as the 1720s.
With much debate about its name – one theory is it comes from a nickname for Charles II – its modest exterior belies the wonderful panelled two-room interior. There are rooms upstairs, too, and a first-floor beer garden.
8 White Hart – Alfred Gelder Street
Grade two-listed pub designed by Hull architects Freeman, Son & Gaskell. Built in 1904, the White Hart boasts an elegant Art Nouveau interior with a stunning semi-circular tile bar as its centrepiece.
After a few years of closure, the pub is now run by locally-based Crafty Little Brewery, serving its own and other guest beers.
9 Fretwells – High Street/Scale Lane
A former printers business called Fretwells, transformed into a pub. This is a more recent addition to the Old Town ale circuit.
Renovation of the premises has created an imaginative interior of different-sized rooms and a large bar.
10 Crown and Cushion – Trinity House Lane
First opened in 2018 in the former Trinity bar. This tastefully refurbished iteration bears the title of a lost Old Town pub, which was located in the Land of Green Ginger until the 1920s.
The Crown and Cushion serves two changing real ales and is gaining renown for its food.