Star & Garter - Then and Now

The Star & Garter pub is sited on the corner of Hessle Road and West Dock Avenue and was once the centre of Hull’s fishing community. For years it was known locally as Rayners, nick-named such after it’s larger-than-life 1930’s landlord, Henry Rayner. It was the traditional meeting and drinking place of deep sea trawler-men, who worked three weeks at sea and then came home onshore for just three days. In preparation, as the ships arrived in dock the bar at The Star & Garter would be lined its whole length with pulled beers several deep.
As the fishing industry declined, so did the fortunes of the Star & Garter. In 1983 the majority of lunchtime drinkers were old, retired or unemployed fishermen, their wives and widows. The bar was always filled with smoke as customers drank their pints, enjoying the company of others and telling or re-telling old stories of fishing and fishermen. It was during this time that I spent many lunchtimes taking pictures.
Today, the Star & Garter’s doors are still open for drinks, family events, live music and organised celebration nights. The pub’s name has been officially changed to Rayners but its sense of belonging to the traditions of the fishing community are still strong.
In 2022 I revisited the Star & Garter. I took prints of the original 1983 images into the pub over several lunchtimes, holding them in the exact same position they were originally taken. I like the effect as the drinkers of 1983 appear ghostlike in today’s world for a quick chat, laugh and pint.
A big thank-you to Paul Heaton who has given me permission to use The Housemartins song ‘Think For a Minute’ as the soundtrack for this video. This video is one of three that are part of my joint exhibition with George Norris titled ‘You and Me in HU3’. The exhibition opens February 9, 2024 at the Humber Street Gallery in Hull.

[@AlanCooney]

Brilliant bit of history! There’s another Star & Garter vintage pub in Manchester (Fairfield Street near Picadilly train station), famous as TV film set for “Brassic”!! Has regular live music upstairs mostly heavy punk type bands.