The Punch Hotel, Hull

A quite stunning ornate exterior, poised on the edge of Queen Victoria Square as though waiting for someone to ask her to dance. I'd been tempted to introduce myself a couple of times but there was always something more interesting beer-wise just around the corner. Today, with my train due to leave in 20 minutes, a quick half of something too cold and not very sophisticated was just what I needed. The interior is quite well presented, though I don't think there's much of any antiquity. I admired, in so far as I could, the windows (almost typed "widows"), the ceiling, the wood panelling and bench seating. I steeled myself to ask for...a half of John Smiths Smooth, please. There, that wasn't so bad was it? (My train was cancelled, by the way.) Date of visit: 14th August 2022

A gloriously over-the-top building in a prime location but the interior has been given a stripped down, historic feel with generally bare walls and plain wooden floors, highlighted by a fair amount of polished wood but not really achieving very much. There is still a great ceiling and some nice windows but other features seem to have been lost. A mysterious door at the back is labelled 'Speakeasy and Garden'. Very poor on the beer front, with Camden Pale the best option among a tedious mainstream group of keg taps. Seemed to be popular with lunching shoppers though, so food may still be good, otherwise a bit of a waste of pub.

The notably ornate façade is always worth a look if walking past (as I have now done quite a few times), but finally deciding to step inside the much-altered interior was sadly as dull as I was expecting. However, it does benefit from being thoroughly unfashionable, and was thus pretty civilised on a post-football Saturday evening when most of the other city centre pubs were getting decidedly 'lively'. Three Marston's group real ales on handpump: Jennings Cumberland, Ringwood Boon Doggle and Old Empire IPA (£3.20).