A light, airy bar which combines food, drink and art to provide a consistently interesting experience.

The Venue
Located on Hull’s bustling and cosmopolitan Princes Avenue, from which the venue takes its name (the P of the Princes and the Ave of the Avenue), Pave is an independent, locally-owned bar sympathetically restored in understated 1920s decor of wooden floors and art-deco-esque features. Some of the furniture, predominantly sturdy wooden tables and straight backed padded chairs, is starting to look slightly worn in places which is probably testament to the frequency of use rather than as a nod towards any shabby chic ethos. A large curved bar dominates the right of the space, while a raised stage area (utilised for diners and drinkers at non-performance times) sits to the left.

The outside facade is dominated by an olive green canopy and a, somewhat incongruous, red neon name sign. Substantial wooden tables and seating are provided at the front of the bar for alfresco dining while the large, uncluttered windows give an open view into the premises, providing both a fabulous vantage point to sip the beverage of your choice and watch the world go by.

The People
By day the varied clientele ranges from coffee-morning mums with babes in arms to boho students with open laptops and broadsheets (dotted around the bar). Couples and friends of all generations are all present. As dusk falls, particularly on weekends, the bar is packed (think sardines) with the bold and the beautiful before they head into town. Sunday afternoons make way for jazz sessions and comedy nights, playing host to established and up-and-coming names from both circuits. Culture is never far from the fore in Pave; one wall regularly showcases work of local artists, and live readings from the likes of Will Self and Alexei Sayle always pull in the crowds.

Bar staff are smartly presented and freely giving of warm smiles and menu advice. The atmosphere is one of convivial relaxation, emphasised in particular by a smattering of cosy come-hither sofas.

The Food
Pave presents a seasonal menu, cooked to order, and incorporates an extensive vegetarian selection. Choices are displayed on one huge blackboard and numerous smaller ones nearby which does hinder a leisurely perusal of the dishes while sat at your chosen table, and requires close scrutiny for the shorter of sight. It does reassure customers that the dishes are changed on a regular basis, though.

Lighter bites such as sandwiches are priced from £4.50, popular choices include the roast chicken with Caesar dressing and the rare roast beef with wasabi dressing, though the presentation of these is somewhat plain and would welcome the addition of a sprinkling of hand cooked crisps or salad. Small tapas-style dishes include grilled Cornish sardines and halloumi and salsa verdi. There are even kids options (breaded fish and chips for £3.50) and a wide choice of tempting side orders are also on offer.

The blue cheese, red onion and white grape tart looks a little lost on the huge white platter with only a side salad and hunk of focaccia bread for company, but its melt-in-the-mouth pastry base and generous content are surprisingly filling. The caramel sweetness of the onions and the crisp grapes are a delightful contrast to the tangy blue cheese. The salad is pleasant and varied, boasting celery, peppers and radish as well as the more usual suspects. For dessert, the carrot bun, supplied by Thomas Francis Chocolatier, topped with a, not-too, sweet butter cream and sprinkles of pistachios and almonds, is dense and moist. Accompanied by a vanilla ice cream, the dish works as either a naughty coffee-break companion or the perfect finale to a leisurely lunch.

For the more voracious diner, the 10oz 14-day matured English rib-eye steak served with herb butter, fried onions, field mushrooms, grilled cherry tomatoes and chips or potatoes with fresh vegetables, all for £11.75, is sure to fit the bill. Along with fresh fish, burgers, all day breakfasts (Fri-Sun only) for £5.95 and a range of pizzas for under £7, the portion sizes are generous and the content consistently satisfying.

The Drink
Previously recommended in the Good Beer Guide, noted by the local CAMRA branch for continuing commitment to real ale, and Cask Marque-accredited, Pave is rightly proud of its substantial selection of alcoholic beverages. The over-bar blackboards make fascinating and persuasive reading and the shelves fairly groan under the weight of bottles of every size, colour and shape. Hand pulled-beers and cider sit alongside regularly rotated guest bitters and continental lagers - hailing from Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic. The bar also has a remarkable medley of imported bottled beers - from a Belgian Trappist brewery there is an impressive 9% Chimay Blue which claims hints of port.

Pave also offers a dazzling assortment of wines from around the globe, including a Californian Fetzer Valley Oaks Syrah Rose (£13.50 a bottle) awash with red berry flavours. Playful and refreshing, it is perfect for stand-alone drinking or to accompany a summer salad.

For the non-alcoholically inclined there are Fair Trade tea and freshly brewed coffee, as well as a vast array of speciality teas and juices.

The Last Word
A versatile and lively venue with a lot to offer, whatever your taste, mood or budget.

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