A family firm which has won business and heritage awards for its part in regenerating Hull city centre has confirmed the acquisition of an historic pub in the Old Town.
Allenby Commercial has bought the Corn Exchange on the corner of North Church Side and Market Place for an undisclosed sum. It neighbours a previous transformation project, Hide Out Hotel, where 15 self-catering Scandi-styled apartments have replaced empty retail and office units.
The company, celebrated for its transformation of the 17th century Danish Buildings with Bayles House and the Victorian Paragon Arcade, said it is committed to taking the same, careful approach to its latest addition.
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Charlie Allenby, development director, said: “The Corn Exchange operated as a pub for maybe 300 years but more recently successive operators have struggled to make it work and earlier this year it became vacant again. We haven’t made a decision about exactly what to do with it but we will look at the sort of options it presents, and we are absolutely committed to looking after it.”
Danish Buildings, which was built in the 17th century, and the adjoining Bayles House, listed in 1952, were bought by Allenby in 2017 and underwent a £1.2 million renovation with support from the Government’s Local Growth Fund and the Humber LEP. It is now at capacity with 17 studios which are occupied by architects, filmmakers, marketing professionals, tattooists, hair stylists and others who are a perfect fit with the original brief to create new space to generate more creativity.
Paragon Arcade, which was also bought in 2017, is now established as a haven for local independent businesses including a wide range of food outlets and others selling jewellery, flowers, records and CDs and services including tattooing and hair styling. Allenby also converted a former job centre into Minster Corner, a striking headquarters for a national tech firm.
The Corn Exchange enjoyed a revival after being taken over in 2018 by Hull-based Atom Brewery. But the pub changed hands when Atom moved out in 2022 and it went on the market after closing again during the summer.
Georgia Allenby, design and marketing director, said: “It’s a prime site with a lot of history and it’s a great fit with our portfolio in Hull city centre which is all about taking iconic local properties, bringing them back to life with stylish and careful restorations, and creating jobs. Our other projects provide plenty of evidence of our commitment to work with innovation and imagination and to embrace the heritage of our city. Whatever we do with the Corn Exchange will maintain the standards we have set."