The Manchester Arms, Hull

Quite an attractive symmetrical façade, set back from the street a bit by a front patio with a couple of wooden picnic tables on it. Unremarkable twin-room interior with the bar at the front and a lounge at the back. Branded as a Mansfield house, it features a range of real ales from the Marston's stable - including Banks's Sunbeam (£1.60, half) - from the six handpumps.

A fairly basic place, looks grand from outside but the interior is fairly dull. Enter to the main bar with laminated floor and little seating, so mainly for vertical drinking. Carpeted rear lounge with tatty banquettes and generally has an air of having seen better days. Dart board in front bar. A Marstons place, six on from the stable and my Banks Sunbeam was a decent drop. This place needs some character injecting into it – feels like it probably had some 40 years ago.