Memories of Star & Garter (Rayners) 1983

In 1983 I documented the lunchtime drinkers in the Star and Garter pub, known locally in Hull as Rayners. The pub, now run by landlady Rachel Naylor is on the junction of Hessle Road and West Dock Avenue. For years it used to be the centre of Hull’s proud fishing community. But the halcyon days of hundreds of pints lining the bar in wait for the three-day millionaires coming ashore and spending their hard-earned wages before heading out to sea again were long gone. My pictures have just been published by Café Royal Books so I decided to try to put some names to the faces of these characters with help from the Facebook group ‘Hull: The Good Old Days’. Here are my pictures and some of the fond memories their publication have bought back to life after nearly 40 years. I hope you enjoy them.

[@johnfrench8714]

I'm from Suffolk, but worked in Hull in the late '70s. Great times with folk who made me so welcome, and the pubs well, fantastic including this one I remember well! There was also one (I think) called The Zooilogical? Stood alone with surrounding buildings knocked down, great boozer I guess sadly long gone, anyway, thanks for some great memories there and thank you people of Hull!

[@everydaysabonus]

Absolutely Brilliant, True Social History, very well put together👍thanks for sharing, I as on Hessle Road the other day as well, will call in for a swift half next time I’m passing 😊

[@melancholiac]

Great to See James Rutter reading the racing pages -- he was the board man at Art Wells /Coral bookmakers.

[@RHR-221b]

Thank you for this nostalgic and historic documentation, Russell. Subscribed.

[@pictureeditor1855]

fantastic bit of social history

[@charliewatson4248]

should still be the Star & Garter. Not the same now. Sad.