A day at the races is an obvious idea for a 25th anniversary celebration at an Old Town pub which is a hot favourite with a range of regulars from around Hull.
A golf day is also planned, and the activities at The Empress will begin with a party night to mark the quarter-century since licensee Ann Donkin arrived at the pub in Alfred Gelder Street.
But the celebrations will be shaded with sadness as Ann, family and friends remember her husband Kevin, one of the city’s favourite and best known licensees, who died just over six years ago.
“For 19 years the pub was more Kevin than me but then I had to take over,” said Ann, who has a team of around 14 staff.
“But I’ve managed fine. I’m very sociable and the regulars treat me as one of the lads.
“They’re organising the race day and the golf day. We started sponsoring a race at Beverley six years ago in Kevin’s memory and this year we’ll combine it with the 25-year celebration.”
Friends in the trade struggle to think of any current licensees in the Hull area who still have the same pub after 25 years. And while the industry is very different now, not much has changed at The Empress.The main attractions are the high quality food and drink and the warm welcome, with regulars from all over the city propping up the bar.
“We came here in February 1988 and all-day opening was introduced the following August,” said Ann, who spent two years at the Humber Keel in Beverley before moving to The Empress.
“More recently pubs have been allowed to open later at night but we don’t often go beyond 11pm. You normally get two good hours and then it quietens down.”
But The Empress will be rocking on Friday 8 March when Ann, son Andrew and Manager Shaun Curtis host an anniversary celebration.
“There will be a buffet and some live entertainment and it’s open to all,” said Ann.
“As well as our current regulars, who live all over the Hull area, we’re expecting a few old faces from other pubs in the Old Town.”
Among them will be Alan and Beryl Moses, who spent 21 years behind the bar of The Kingston Hotel in Trinity House Lane before retiring 10 years ago.
Beryl said: “We were the longest serving licensees in the Old Town when we retired and we’re looking forward to congratulating Ann on reaching 25 years.
“We can’t think of anyone else who is still in the same pub after such a long time, and she’s still doing a great job.”
Kathryn Shillito, HullBID City Centre Manager, said: “To still be in the same pub after 25 years is a great achievement.
“The city centre achieved Purple Flag status recently for demonstrating a great variety of Hull city centre has great variety when it comes to pubs and café bars. and The Empress stands out as somewhere that does has stood the test of time and does very well as a traditional pub selling high quality food and drink.”
