Former Head Post Office

The Former Head Post Office is the historic general post office building in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. Erected in 1908–9 on the site of Suffolk Palace — a manor owned by the de la Pole family and later known as The King's Manor — the grand building served as Hull's head post office before being converted for hospitality use. Today it is partly occupied by The Three John Scotts, a pub operated by J D Wetherspoon plc, the British pub company founded by Tim Martin. The pub takes its name from three successive vicars of St Mary's Church, which stands opposite the building: a father, son and grandson all called John Scott, who presided at the church from 1816 until 1883. The second John Scott invited his cousin, the architect George Gilbert Scott, to remodel St Mary's, creating a 'forest of pillars' effect. The Wetherspoon pub at City Exchange, Alfred Gelder Street, Lowgate, offers the chain's standard formula of affordable food and drink, real-ale festivals, a Christmas menu, spritz cocktails and app-based table ordering, alongside facilities including Wi-Fi, TV screens, a licensed outside area, baby-change facilities and step-free access. As a Wetherspoon site, the venue participates in the company's twice-yearly beer festivals and other promotional programmes. The building is recognised as a pub and former post office in the City of Kingston upon Hull, and its heritage is interpreted for customers through prints and text displayed inside the pub. The Former Head Post Office is therefore best understood not as a standalone commercial brand but as a heritage property whose current commercial identity is the Wetherspoon pub The Three John Scotts.

The building known as the Former Head Post Office was constructed in 1908–9 in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the site of Suffolk Palace, a manor erected around 1380 and owned by the powerful de la Pole family, which later became known as The King's Manor. The grand structure served as Hull's general post office, reflecting the city's commercial importance in the early 20th century. By the late 20th and early 21st centuries the building had been adapted for other uses, and it is now partly occupied by The Three John Scotts, a pub operated by J D Wetherspoon plc. Wetherspoon, founded by Tim Martin, opened its first pub in 1979 in Muswell Hill, north London, and grew into a national chain known for converting large, often historic buildings into pubs. The Three John Scotts is named after three successive vicars of St Mary's Church, which stands opposite the building. A father, son and grandson, all called John Scott, served the church from 1816 until 1883. The second John Scott invited his cousin, the architect George Gilbert Scott, to remodel St Mary's, creating a 'forest of pillars' effect by adding a new aisle and encasing the tower in stone. The pub's interior displays prints and text interpreting this local history for customers. As a Wetherspoon pub, The Three John Scotts participates in the company's twice-yearly real-ale festivals, which since 1990 have grown from a four-day event with six beers into a nationwide programme offering up to 50 beers per pub, including international brewers. The venue also offers the chain's standard facilities and promotions, including Wi-Fi, TV screens, a licensed outside area, baby-change facilities, step-free access, a Christmas menu and a spritz cocktail range. The building is recognised in public records as a pub and former post office in the City of Kingston upon Hull.

• 1992

  J D Wetherspoon plc floats on the Stock Exchange.

• 1990

  Wetherspoon hosts its first real-ale festival, a four-day event with six beers.

• 1979

  J D Wetherspoon opens its first pub in Muswell Hill, north London.

• 1909

  The building is completed as Hull's general post office.

• 1908

  Construction of the former general post office building begins (completed 1909).

• 1883

  The third John Scott ends the family's 67-year ministry at St Mary's.

• 1816

  The first John Scott begins his ministry at St Mary's Church, opposite the site.

• Suffolk Palace, later known as The King's Manor, is erected on the site, owned by the de la Pole family.

A heritage former post office building repurposed as an affordable, high-volume J D Wetherspoon pub in central Hull.

• Pub food menu

• Real ale and guest ales

• Beer festival ales

• Spritz cocktails

• Christmas menu

1. 1The Three John Scotts - J D Wetherspoonjdwetherspoon.com
2. 2History - J D Wetherspoonjdwetherspoon.com
3. 3The Three John Scotts - J D Wetherspoon (pub history)jdwetherspoon.com
4. 4About us - J D Wetherspoonjdwetherspoon.com
5. 5The Three John Scotts - Wikidatawikidata.org