Alexandra Hotel takes prestigious annual title
Alexandra Hotel in Hessle Road, Hull(Image: Peter Harbour)
In a close-run final, Hull’s Alexandra Hotel has been crowned Hull Pub of the Year 2025 by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Hull and East Yorkshire branch. A vote by local CAMRA members resulted in five pubs – the Alexandra Hotel, Hessle Road; the Hop & Vine, Albion Street; Scale & Feather, Scale Lane; St John’s Hotel, Queens Road and the Station Inn, Beverley Road – making the final for the prestigious title.
A panel of judges then individually visited each nominated venue and scored them against strict criteria: quality and variety of real ale and cider/perry, community focus; accessibility; alignment with CAMRA’s principles; style/decor; service and welcome, and value for money. For the pub to be eligible for the competition, the licensee had to be present since April 1, 2025.
The Alexandra Hotel, at 69 Hessle Road, is owned by Mark Walker and is run by Mike Vary. CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide 2026 describes it thus.
“Known as The Alex, new ownership in 2019 transformed this grade two-listed Victorian pub into a real ale gem with up to seven cask ales, including at least one dark beer and several real ciders. Good conversation features highly along with motorsport themed memorabilia. There is a fine bar back and terracotta tiling outside.”
The Station Inn, at 202 Beverley Road, was runner-up in Hull Pub of the Year 2025. The pub is managed by Esther Rowan.
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It is described in the Good Beer Guide as a “mid-Victorian roadside pub originally built to serve the Stepney station on the Hull to Hornsea/Withernsea railway line”. The entry says: “It has a 1920s mock-Tudor façade and has recently been extensively restored to a high standard.
“There are real fires in both bars, with the back bar used for meetings, regular singarounds and live music. Up to six real ales and two real ciders are available. A pub loyalty card is available.”
Andy Currie, chair of the Hull and East Yorkshire branch of CAMRA, said: “Mark and Mike at the Alex, and Esther at the Station, run pubs that look great from the outside and have fantastic interiors and a warm welcome inside. Both pubs also sell a great range of ales, ciders and perries at very reasonable prices.”
The awards will be presented to the Alexandra Hotel on Sunday, March 29, and to the Station Inn on Thursday, April 2. Meanwhile, in another tight final, the Hugh Fitz-Baldric in Cottingham has been crowned County Pub of the Year 2025 by CAMRA.
This is a new title, replacing two previous ones for Town and Village Pubs of the Year, following an update to the awards rules. A vote by local CAMRA members resulted in finalists the Dog & Duck, Beverley; Goodmanham Arms, near Market Weighton; Hugh Fitz Baldric, Cottingham and Monk’s Walk, Beverley.
The Hugh Fitz-Baldric, at 144 Hallgate, Cottingham, has previously been Village Pub of the Year and is run by Inga Mason. CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide 2026 describes it as “a micropub in the centre of the village, converted from a shop”.
The guide entry says: “It consists of one room with a cosy log-burner and quiet corners to enjoy up to six real ales, other drinks and bar snacks. The beer garden to the rear has a floral display in the summer.
“Dogs are allowed in the beer garden only. Children are welcome in the pub until 8pm.”
The Dog & Duck, in Ladygate, Beverley, was runner-up. The pub is owned and run by Mark McMullen, with the Good Beer Guide acknowledging it as having been run by the McMullen family since 1972. It said: “There are three distinct areas: a bar with period brick fireplace and bentwood seating, a front lounge with an open fire and a rear snug.
“The pub retains some original terrazzo floor in the side lobby to the Gents. The good-value lunches are popular.
“Guest accommodation is provided in six self-contained rooms with parking. Beverley bus station is nearby.”
Andy said: “Inga at the Hugh Fitz-Baldric and Mark at the Dog & Duck are both to be congratulated on their success. They both run popular community pubs.”
The County Pub awards were presented last week to the winner and runner-up. You can find full details of all pubs on the CAMRA pub website camra.org.uk/pubs
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