PUB OF THE WEEK
The Ship Inn, Hull
SINCE the sad demise of legendary Hull pub The Whalebone (it’s not closed, it’s just gone absolutely rubbish), those of us who drink in the city and care about comfy boozers with real ale, proper ciders, decent music, friendly bar staff and a perpetually relaxed vibe have been missing it greatly.
How nice it is, then, that the spirit of Whalebone appears to have drifted across the river Hull to the almost symmetricallylocated Ship Inn on Hodgson Street.
It’s important to note that The Ship is on Hodgson Street as there are understandably several pubs called The Ship in Hull.
This one is the little one tucked away in an industrial estate off Cleveland Street. It was one of those pubs that had been around forever (200 years, in fact) but never seemed open and, when it was, felt like it was about to close for good any day.
Since local councillor Dean Kirk and partner Neil Brearley took it on last year, however, The Ship has positively blossomed.
They rebuilt the bar, decorated, did a lovely job of the beer garden, brought in the decent booze and even introduced food.
Now on offer are fish and chips on a Friday (a big old plateful, it is) and they open early on Sunday to do a huge full English. They have proven hugely popular, and you have to book to get a seat.
Quite an achievement for a pub that was near terminal just a short while ago. They’ve also started doing tea parties and other special events.
Dean was a barman in The Ship three decades ago, went on to work in or manage various pubs in the town and has now come full circle to where he began.
It’s clearly a labour of love and deserves every success.
Like the Whalebone, The Ship is too illplaced and remote to be anyone’s local, so you have to put in real effort to drink there. Make the journey, though, and I promise you’ll find it well worthwhile.
RATINGS
Welcome ............... 5/5 Food ........................ 5/5 Drinks choice ...... 5/5 Prices ...................... 5/5
43 Hodgson Street, Hull HU8 7EY. www.shipinnhull. co.uk