Ye Olde Black Boy, Hull

Occupying a position on Hull’s historic cobbled High Street – the oldest street in the City – in the heart of the Old Town, is The Olde Black Boy, a fine survivor in area where a good number of traditional pubs have disappeared over the years ( see the photos of them in The Whalebone ). It’s a Grade 2 listed building. Parallel to the River Hull, the High Street and its accompanying narrow streets were, in times long gone by, a lively mixture of seamens’ dwellings, pubs and warehouses where cargo unloaded from the ships was stored. Previously a tobacco merchants, then a wine merchants, it became a pub in the 1700’s. Contrary to what one might assume – the William Wilberforce Museum is just a few doors away – the name of the pub is not connected to the slave trade, but represents a pipe smoking American Indian which was a symbol of the tobacco trade in those days. Entered via a narrow alleyway, a cosy quiet and smallish front smoke room features dark wood panelling, a beamed ceiling and frosted leaded windows. A small fireplace features a carved boy’s head in the chimney breast surround. Service to this room is through a small hatch to the main bar where the servery is situated. Further down the alleyway towards the rear of the building is the larger main bar, similarly wood panelled and decorated with old pictures of Hull, beer related posters and, high up on a shelf, a collection of bottled beers. The pub is listed in CAMRA’s National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors. Somewhat disappointingly for a fine historic pub like this, and probably a reflection of its location somewhat away from the main drag ( despite its “High Street” address), I was virtually the only customer present for much of my recent late August midweek visit. An open mic night – The Buskers Ball – is held every Wednesday evening and I gather that the pub is a bit livelier then. 6 beers were on which included Castle Rock Harvest Pale Ale, Ossett Silver King, Copper Dragon Best, Everards Sunchaser plus beers from Exmoor and Wychwood. The Ossett Beer – at a relatively pricey £ 3.10p – was in good nick. After an absence for a number of years, the pub returned to the CAMRA Good Beer Guide in 2012. This is one of Hull’s must visit pubs

This was my favourite pub when I visited in 2005, if it is the same pub, I thought it was called just Black Boy but everything else seems to match up. Back in Hull for an overnight stop on March 3rd, so watch this space! Will be disappointed if it doesn't match up to my memories, sat in here on the Sunday as we were leaving, and didn't want to go home!

Great little boozer in the back streets of Hull which is well worth a visit. Good drinks selection too.