Ribs and rib-tickling: Hull Street Food Nights return

LOOKING FORWARD TO IT: General manager Mel Dennison, right, and colleague Tom Cafferata outside Tribal in Humber Street

By Simon Bristow

An event that brings thousands of people to the city centre returns next week as Hull Street Food Nights stages its first gathering for three years.

Organised by Hull Business Improvement District (BID), the event on Thursday, June 9, promises an eclectic offer of food and entertainment, from ribs to rib-tickling.

Vendors will once again bring their trucks and stalls offering the highest quality and widest variety of grab-and-go gastro delights, with Thursday also featuring funny men Micky P Kerr and Tony Vino in a first for Hull Street Food Nights.

Hull BID executive director Kathryn Shillito said: “ It’s first and foremost about the food but, over the years, Hull Street Food Nights have also presented some top-class entertainment and we’ll be doing that again, starting with our first comedy performances.”

Micky – a Britain’s Got Talent finalist in 2018 – and Tony will take to the stage on Princes Dock Street at 6pm and 8pm respectively, courtesy of The Comedy Lounge in George Street. Owners Paul and Beverley Hazell were finalists in the Best Business Progression category of this year’s Hull BID Awards for their efforts in building their business and putting post-pandemic smiles on the faces of audiences from far and wide.

SERVICE WITH A SMILE: Amie Dennison at Tribal in Humber Street

Also performing at the opening event will be The Mighty Oaks, a five-piece band with a repertoire ranging from The Beatles and The Monkees to T Rex and The Killers.

The July, August and September events will feature local covers band The Charm Offensive, who are returning to their regular slot at the Hull Street Food Nights.

The June, July and September events will also see Friends on Every Street creating live street art in Princes Dock Street.

Zebedee’s Yard will be the venue for the first and second events on Thursday June 9 and Thursday July 7, and the last one of the season on Thursday September 8. On Thursday August 4, Hull Street Food Nights will move to Hull Marina as a curtain-raiser for the Yum! Festival of Food and Drink, which takes place in the same spot on August 5 and 6, from 11am to 7pm. Each Hull Street Food Night runs from 4pm to 9pm.

Hull BID has secured sponsorship from Hammonds of Hull for all the Hull Street Food Nights this summer. Among the food businesses taking part will be Tribal on Humber Street, with general manager Mel Dennison eager to see Hull Street Food Nights from the other side of the counter.

Mel joined Tribal in September 2021 after her previous employer closed their Hull branch. Rather than compete with a lot of former colleagues who were all chasing similar work, Mel took a different direction.

MOUTH-WATERING: Amie Dennison serving burger and chips at Tribal in Humber Street

She said: “I thought I would have a better chance if I did something different. I had worked in pubs years and years ago so I came here to help out over the August Bank Holiday and I absolutely loved it.

“In no time, I was general manager, looking for new ideas to build up trade after the tough times in the industry, and Hull Street Food Nights is part of that. I love food. I’ve been to Hull Street Food Nights two or three times, and on every night I’ve tried something new.

“It’s great to see so many people having a fantastic time in such a fun atmosphere and I’m really looking forward to being involved. We want to stand out as different so we’ll be bringing the big smoker from our restaurants at Kingswood and we’ll predominantly be doing burgers, halloumi sandwiches, pulled pork and pulled chicken. We’ll probably do the same for the Yum! Festival.”

Kathryn added: “We haven’t been able to have Hull Street Food Nights since 2019 and it’s become crystal clear during the last few weeks that people can’t wait for them to come back.

“The businesses which are taking part have been coming up with all sorts of great ideas, and the rest of the retail, leisure and food and beverage sectors are looking forward to enjoying the benefits which come from big events attracting so many people into the city centre.

“We’re extremely grateful to Hammonds of Hull for sponsoring Hull Street Food Nights and building on their success in transforming the city centre’s dining scene, and to everyone who has helped us put together such an exciting programme of food, drink and entertainment in some fantastic locations.”