Our History

To the rear of the present Punch Hotel overlooking Queen Victoria Square, is the site of the original Punch of circa 1845. The original Punch Hotel, was built fronting Waterhouse Lane, a section which is now lost beneath the entrance to the Princes Quay shopping complex.

The re-development of the area around St. John Street and Waterworks Street, at the end of the 19th Century, gave an opportunity to present the Punch in a more prominent position. In 1894-95 the old Punch was demolished, and rebuilt by the Hull Brewery Co in its present form facing the new square - rather than the old lane. The exterior was designed by Smith, Broderick and Lowther and the new pub opened in 1896.

The pub is a great example of design and craftmanship of the era. The building gained grade II listed protection on 12th November 1973.

Not everyone welcomed the ornate design of the pub.

In January 1898, the new frontage was criticised for scaring horses riding into the city. In a letter to the Hull Daily Mail, the author said the new figure of Punch, on the front of the hotel had caused the horses to rear up in terror at the statue.

Further animal antics was reported in August 1922, punters were left shocked when cows on the way to the market ran through the front door into the bar. The quick thinking barman opened the rear door in Waterhouse Lane and the cows ran out, while drinkers continued supping throughout the stampede.

Of course, no old pub would be complete without a ghost story or two and the Punch Hotel is no different than any other.

It is claimed that a gentleman ghost named “Cedric” is a resident here, and has been spotted upstairs in the property leaning against the fireplace. The same ghostly figure has been spotted peering out of the window overlooking the square.

Two men and a woman have also been reported to haunt the cellar, and there are rumours of ghost children playing behind the bar.

It is thought that the identities of the ghost children could be of Fredrick Wallis who was landlord of the pub from 1934. On the evening of 7th May 1941 the air raid sirens went off and Fredrick, with his two daughters and their Aunt, decided to seek shelter under the nearby Prudential Buildings, which unfortunately took a direct hit, and the family were wiped out.  The pub, however, was not damaged.

Since then, the ghostly girls have been witnessed by staff and customers, they always appear to be playful and happy. Some have even reported the feeling of having their clothes tugged and the sound of children’s laughter.