From brilliant bars to cosy country inns ... 17 of the best boozers in our region
THE PLACES TO GO FOR GREAT ALES AND A CORKING ATMOSPHERE
WHAT makes a great pub is very much down to personal preference, with some drinkers preferring a busy bar with a real buzz about it, and others opting for a quiet “snug” in a country inn in which to savour a pint.
Pubs that offer something for all the family, with a good choice of food, a kids’ menu, a games room and somewhere safe for the little ones to run off steam outside, might be what draws in some folk. What is certain, though, is that a discerning drinker’s pub must serve topquality, well-kept drinks and offer a warm greeting from the host.
When a “proper” pub - the type that finds its way into the pages of the latest Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) guide - is the order of the day, you can visit knowing you will be able to get real beer on tap, including some different, locally sourced brews, and perhaps some simple but honest pub grub to go along with it.
Bars across Hull and the East Riding took a hammering during the Covid-19 pandemic, with people forced to do their drinking and, when you could finally operate outside your bubble, socialising, mostly at home and in the garden. Now, Hull and East Yorkshire pubs are delighted to be able to welcome customers again with open arms.
There is a fantastic array of pubs to suit every type of drinker in the region, some of them full of character and olde-worlde charm; some inventively created in premises with very different previous lives; some that have put a modern twist on things to broaden their appeal as a “local”.
Here are 17 of the best pubs in Hull and East Yorkshire for you to discover.
1 Sun Inn, Beverley
Summer’s almost upon and with it comes the perfect opportunity to visit an East Yorkshire pub with one of the best views from its beer garden. The Sun Inn’s courtyard area looks towards the eastern front of the historic Beverley Minster, a superb view to drink in while you relax in the sunshine with an ice-cold beer. Like the famous church, this pub has a long history and is believed to date back to the 16th century, making – according to some – the oldest pub in East Yorkshire. Flemingate, HU17 0NP
2 Taphouse, Fruit Market, Hull
The bar of the popular Taphouse pub is one single but spacious room. Set up in 2019, it is both a working brewery and a stylish bar, offering about 40 draught craft beers, lagers and ciders. The venue is East Yorkshire’s largest brew-pub, its on-site brewhouse being shared by Yorkshire Brewing Company, which has been hand-crafting beers in the Fruit Market for more than six years, and Bone Machine Brew Co, which sends its brews out across the UK and into Europe. Humber Street, HU1 1TU 3
For spectacular sea views, this venue must be a hard one to beat. Situated right on the seafront of Bridlington’s north side, the Marine Bar forms part of the majestic Expanse Hotel, and serves homecooked food along with its ales. If you’re looking for more of the best seaside bars, check out our guide to the best pubs with sea views. North Marine Drive, YO15 2LS
Marine Bar, Bridlington 4 White Hart, Hull
Order your beer with a good helping of history in this city centre hostelry. Its interior is nationally important, according to CAMRA, having a rare bar front and many other original features. Founded in 1904, and now run by Craftylittle Brewery, it offers a wide range of real ales and a twist on pub favourites by the independent street food vendor Antisautésautéclub. Alfred Gelder Street, HU1 1EP 5
A characterful country inn dating from the 17th century, the Boot and Shoe building wraps around a large tree. This is a place of low-beamed ceilings, exposed brick walls, an open fire and two intimate dining areas, with real ales including Dark Horse’s Old Boot being served. Main Street, YO42 4PB
Boot and Shoe, Ellerton 6 Pave, Hull
The first and arguably still the best venue in the popular Avenues bar scene, Its lively, continental style attracts a wide range of customers, and it serves a good range of locally sourced and European ales and beers. Its success paved the way for a whole host of new bars and restaurants and the fact that its still going strong today is testament to its enduring appeal. Princes Avenue, HU5 3QA
7 Whalebone, Hull
This has been a CAMRA city branch pub of the year on numerous occasions, being heralded as a “rare gem sited within the old Greenland whaling trading area”. It has been continuously licensed since 1791 and the current building dates from 1890; the Whalebone is acknowledged as a “proper” old-fashioned pub. It’s also a favourite of Beautiful South and Housemartins star Paul Heaton, who recently put £1,000 behind the bar for punters to enjoy a pint on him! Wincolmlee, HU2 0PA
8 Goodmanham Arms, Goodmanham
Popular with locals and with walkers in need of sustenance after traversing the Wolds Way, the Goodmanham Arms has the All Hallows Brewery attached to it. It has log fires warming the bar, dining room and kitchen, and is candlelit during the dark winter evenings; the “Goody” Sunday roasts are renowned. An experience you won’t forget in a hurry. Main Street, YO43 3JA
9 George Hotel, Hull
A city pub with the quirkiest of addresses, the historic George still retains its period fittings although it underwent refurbishment two years ago. It is home to the smallest window in England. With a history dating back to the 17th century, it’s said that the building has a few ghosts who roam the rooms. There have been unexplained smells, sounds of footsteps, feelings of not being alone as well as lights and equipment being turned off and on and sightings of a “Grey Lady”. Land of Green Ginger, HU1 2EA
10 The Tom Pudding, Goole
This micropub in Goole, once a newsagents, was opened in 2017 by two CAMRA members with an enthusiasm for real ale and can accommodate up to 50 people. Tom Pudding was the name given to the tub boats on the Aire and Calder Navigation used for transporting coal, the name deriving from their resemblance to a string of black puddings or perhaps Yorkshire puddings. During the pandemic, the Tom Pudding made headlines by launching its own brand of tangerine gin. Pasture Road, DN14 6EZ
11 Gait Inn, Millington
A haven for locals and walkers alike, the dog-friendly Gait is known for its “idiosyncratic bar” with a wood-burning stove in winter, kitchen-style tables and hearty home-made fare. It’s also renowned for serving the perfect pint. Main Street, YO42 1TX
12 Minerva Hotel, Hull
Looking out over the Humber estuary and Victoria Pier, this famous pub, built in 1829, is a great place to watch the world go by. The waterfront establishment is known for specialising in cask ales, craft beers, wines and a bespoke cocktail list. It also has a fantastic reputation for classic pub grub including, unsurprisingly, top-notch fish and chip dishes and a classic Minerva fish pie. Nelson Street, HU1 1XE
13 Chequers, Beverley
This micropub is Beverley’s and possibly Yorkshire’s first micropub serving up real ale, real cider, real perry and real conversation. Local breweries as well as micros from across the UK are represented in this former baker’s shop. It has long been a favourite of real ale fans, regularly appearing in CAMRA lists of the region’s best pubs for beer drinkers. Swaby’s Yard, HU17 9BZ
14 King William IV, Cottingham
A friendly pub in the centre of Cottingham, offering a selection of up to eight guest ales, real cloudy ciders and home-made food daily, the King Billy has been a CAMRA Village Pub of the Year runner-up for a couple of years. It is known for hosting live music events. Hallgate, HU16 4DB
15 Hed’on Inn, Hedon
A disused carpet shop office turned micropub offers regular and changing real ales and ciders, plus acoustic music sessions and quizzes. The Hed’on Inn lists what’s on tap on the Real Ale Finder app. Watmaughs Arcade, St Augustine Gate, HU12 8EZ
16 Ship Inn, Sewerby
A traditional village pub with Sewerby Hall and Gardens for a neighbour, the Ship’s large beer garden looks out towards the clifftops and the wonderful scenic views of Flamborough Head and Bridlington Bay. The woodpanelled and beamed bar is well known for its award-winning cask ales, craft beers and for its “Beer and Music Festivals” held over the Easter and August Bank Holidays. Cliff Road, YO15 1EW
17 Ye Olde White Harte, Hull
This fascinating pub is steeped in history that stretches back hundreds of years, the present building having been constructed in 1550. Tucked away in an Old Town alley, the grade two-listed Ye Olde White Harte is home to the Plotting Parlour, where the decision to refuse Charles I entry to the town was reputedly taken in 1642. Silver Street, HU1 1JG