Whittington & Cat

Hull is a fabulous city for pubs, with plenty of first-rate boozers and gin-palaces scattered across the old centre. These Victorian and even older beauties have glorious tile-and-brick frontages and period interiors, but there's always room for a surprise or two – like the overnight guest rooms at the otherwise traditional Whittington & Cat, which have a real bit of urban bling about them. There are bold, contemporary colours and modern stylings in the nine very different rooms (one top-floor suite, one twin, two singles, five doubles), while one of the en-suite doubles has four large windows that overlook the old docklands and marina – meaning a most unexpected watery outlook in this most surprising of cities. Parking is provided at the adjacent Retail Park.

There's a nice open fire in the pub downstairs, and filling, homemade meals (pies, fish and chips, and the like) – and it's a dog-friendly place too, so no need to leave them at home. The location is excellent, just a ten-minute walk from the station, and right on top of the revitalised marina and dockside areas. Nearby Humber Street is typical of what's going on in Hull these days, with its indie restaurants, bars and galleries, and with the Whittington & Cat already in the bag, you're all set for brilliant pub crawl around the rest of the city's famed pubs and inns.