The Lion & Key, Hull

Little more than a stone’s throw away from the Olde Black Boy in Hull’s Old Town is The Lion and Key, a pub which, according to the exterior sign, was established in 1817. A rather ordinary looking exterior gives way to a pub that is much larger inside than expected from the outside, with the bar servery at the back on the right hand side of a bare boarded room that is light and airy. Light coloured wood panelling dominates and the walls are decorated with a fine collection of reproduction enamel signs advertising the delights of Brasso Metal Polish, Frys Cocoa, Colmans Mustard etc. Room is found gfor a CAMRA mirror and a high up shelf around the perimeter contains various artefacts and numerous beer bottles. A large long wooden board on one wall reveals that the pub was once Durty Nellys Irish Pub – needless to see not visited by me in that incarnation – until it reverted back to The Lion and Key in 2011. A fine bar back, not original apparently, has panelled inserts referring to “Direct Importers”, “Choice Preserves” and “Tinned Fruits” and probably reflects the fact that the Britannia Coffee House previously stood on the site, which served tea, coffee, wine, spirits and food. Extra seating is provided upstairs where, unusually, the kitchen is situated, doing meals at both lunchtimes and evenings. At the far end of the pub is a small in house micobrewery copper plant, which I was told is not in use yet. This fact is confirmed by the latest edition of the local CAMRA branch magazine – Pub Mirror – where there is no mention of this brewery in the Local Breweries Listing section. There’s 10 handpumps on the bar counter and beers on were from Elgoods, Milestone, Wychwood, Barnsley ( Acorn Bitter plus IPA ). Also on was Black Country Pig on the Wall and several real ciders. The pub is listed in the CAMRA 2012 Good Beer Guide. This pub makes a good double header along with the Olde Black Boy.

You can't go wrong with 3 Real Ciders and 5 Real Ales. I loved my time at Nellys.

This 2011 Good Beer Guide pub is a sister pub to Walters close by. It is a comfortable pub to be in, and the beer was in good condition. When we visited earlier this month we chose Windsor & Eton Conqueror and Marston Moor Sapper. Staff friendly and knowledgable about the ales, and allowed me to try before buying.

I went in this pub when it was Durty Nellys and was'nt expecting any real ale but was surprised that there was 5 handpumps selling real ales plus some which had real ciders on i had Black Sheep Golden ale which was very good the other beers were Hobgoblin,Morrisy Fox Blonde and Durty Nellies bitter.This review was done 14 March 2009 but my photo was taken April 2010 so i dont know if things have changed after the name change.