December 2023. Hull.
Only one new entry for Hull in GBG24; hardly worth the £28.30 train fare, is it (I know, I know, should have booked 6 months ago, or been a pensioner).
But the Old Bull & Bush was worth the price, even without a bonus revisit and pre-emptive in this wonderful pub city.
Tucked away in the industrial heart of the city, near former GBG regulars the Wellington (RIP) and the Whalebone (dunno).
Definitely a bit of a stunner,
though the red blinds might scare a few off.
The OB’n’B was a “surprise” new entry in the new Guide, and I’ve seen a few tickers say “WTF !” (“Whoa ! that’s freaky !”) at the sight of a plain pub serving one (and sometimes no) cask.
As usual, Simon gets it spot on;
This was sensational, in the same way that last year’s Hull newbie just up the Beverley Road delighted my Proper Pub sensibilities.
Pool room to the right,
bench seating to the left,
your lone hand pump at the bar,
and that colour ! Damn your pale blues.
I see the coverage of Bessie’s death has led with the line “No Wi-Fi, no TV, and only one beer“, as if a single beer is something quaint.
But when your trade is 90% lager, the question should be “which ?” rather than “how many ?”. The Guvnor pulls a few pints of a new barrel through and presents a pint of Masham marvel.
Cool, creamy, chewy (NBSS 3.5+). If cask was always this good its future would be safe.
I take the table in the corner where I can see the contestants on The Chase struggle to identify the abbreviation CG as Coastguard,
and then bang on 5 past 5 two lads perch themselves on the end of my table, without so much as an “Hulloa, excuse me, would you mind awfully“. We’re just fellow drinkers, there’s no need for the trappings of polite society.
I’m entranced, and watch dreamily as the lacings form on the glass.
Sheffield Hatter assures me that’s the sign of a top pint.
retiredmartin 
That pint sure looks wonderful!
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You’d love that pint and have started chatting to the tradesmen, Dick.
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Yes. We have fond memories of pub conversations. It is no coincidence that those pubs are usually my favourite pubs.
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I remember that chat with the biker in Bewdley more than I remember the beer !
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Yes, a great moment. Then, if I remember correctly, we had to leave to go babysit.
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He, not we!
Dick
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“We” would have been quite a story, Dick !
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Good day, good post! Wish I could remember the receptionist story.
Dick
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One beer is plenty provided you like it. If I went into a pub and the one beer was Abbot, I’d have a Guinness and leave. If the one beer was Otter Bitter I could be there for the duration.
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That’s a fair and sensible point, Bill. I was in a pub in Hackney the other day where all the beers were over 5% which wasn’t great.
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I’ve had so many poor pints of Otter that I think I would rather go for Abbot. (Stopped drinking it six or seven years ago, but to be fair it’s rarely seen in my parts of the country.) Sorry, Bill.
Martin’s praise for Theakston Best Bitter at the Bull & Bush in Hull is a bit of a challenge. I’d love to be able to say that a Theakston Best Bitter was “cool, creamy & chewy”. Oh god no – does this mean I have to go to Hull? It’s not even the Rugby League season.
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Strongly agree on Otter, Will. I think it’s just a stock beer in pubs that aren’t fussed about beer.
I’ve had great Theakston and dull Theakston (sadly, in Masham itself) in recent years.
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Looks a minging place
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“Minging” is all the rage in 2023.
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That Robert Plant gets about doesn’t he? I like his Worthington ‘E’ jacket mind.
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