Hammonds of Hull: How it has evolved six months on
... AND WHY IT FEELS LIKE IT STILL HAS MORE TO OFFER
IT’S been six months since Hammonds of Hull first opened its doors, and what a six months it has been.
Numerous local businesses have showcased their talents inside the old House of Fraser building, a venue that is now unrecognisable and undoubtedly one of the most upmarket spots in the city.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a nicer place to enjoy some food and a glass of wine in the centre of Hull.
However, for all of the successes that have been born out of Hammonds of Hull, it feels like it still has more to offer.
Six months on, we take a look at the changing face of Hammonds and how it might continue to develop as we head towards the summer.
Since its opening, Hammonds has welcomed a whole host of new businesses. Some of the most recent additions include Northern Sole, Hang Out Artisan Bakehouse, Holy Brunch, and Grilla.
The inclusion of these hugely varied food outlets is part of what gives Hammonds its charm, offering a refreshing variety of cuisines. These new additions have fitted in perfectly alongside Hammonds stalwarts such as Vino Deli, Vinny Napoli and the Mr Hugo Smokehouse.
Another new addition that has elevated Hammonds in recent weeks is the introduction of Chinese Laundry, providing a small haven of vintage clothing. More retail areas like this would be warmly received in Hammonds, offering customers more variety.
One of the best features of Hammonds, in my opinion, is the Vinyl Bar, which makes for a great spot to enjoy a drink with friends.
Recently, I saw a friend perform at an open mic night on the stage across from the Vinyl Bar, which proved to be a fantastic use of the venue. Hosting these kind of evenings on a more regular basis would definitely be worthwhile.
In that same vein, events like a weekly quiz night would go down a storm, capitalising on the food and drink offering that already makes
Hammonds so appealing. Hosting a comedy club-type night every so often would also be a really cool use of the venue.
Another stalwart of the Hammonds of Hull scene is the café, which makes for the perfect place to sit down with a coffee and chat with friends. The comfortable seats and window tables also make it a great spot to just unwind with a book or watch the world go by.
One thing that must be said of Hammonds is that since its inception, it has been, without question, the best place in Hull to buy edible gifts. The sheer range of unique, high-quality and nicely packaged food items for sale in Hammonds is incredible, and that in itself is a worthwhile reason to visit more often.
Perhaps what I like the most about Hammonds is that it offers local businesses the opportunity to open up shop in the city centre, offering a much-needed middle ground before those businesses are able to open up their own premises. This feels like a vitally important part of the entire project to me, and one that I would love to see continued.
All in all, Hammonds of Hull is a welcome addition to the city centre
and one that I hope will keep going from strength to strength. It feels refreshingly polished and sophisticated, but still a little underused.
A few more retail options for a little variety, paired with more events and weekly “nights” could really help elevate Hammonds to the next level in this reporter’s humble opinion. But, what do I know?