23/08/2026
There is something about Princes Avenue on a Saturday evening.
It is difficult to put your finger on exactly what it is, but you can feel it almost the moment you arrive. There is a certain energy here that is difficult to manufacture, and on this particular evening, it was impossible to miss.
It was around 6pm. The sun was still shining, people were out, restaurants were busy and the streets were full of life. I had wandered down for some tea, dinner, or whatever you want to call it. Even that is a debate in itself.
But as I walked along Princes Avenue, I started noticing the little things.
The smiles.
The conversations.
The laughter.
The energy.
Hull City had just produced a huge result, beating Manchester United in the Premier League, and the mood across the city was unmistakable. You could see it written across people's faces.
People were still walking around in their Hull City shirts. You could hear friendly chanting and snippets of conversation as you made your way down the avenue. Nothing forced and nothing manufactured. Just people genuinely enjoying themselves, enjoying the result and enjoying being out in Hull on a Saturday evening.
As I got closer to Santis, I noticed Acun Ilicali sitting outside with the fans. He was smiling, chatting and interacting with supporters, completely relaxed and enjoying the atmosphere around him.
Then I opened the door to go inside.
Almost immediately, to my left, was Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic.
He was sat on his phone with a huge smile across his face.
You could almost understand exactly why. His team had just beaten Manchester United in the Premier League, creating a moment Hull City supporters will remember for a very long time.
I continued further into Santis and realised just how busy the restaurant was.
It was absolutely rammed.
Tables were full, couples were enjoying their Saturday night, friends were catching up and there were smiles everywhere you looked. The staff were constantly moving around, making sure everyone was being looked after.
A few tables away was Australian international footballer Lucas Herrington, chatting away with people around him.
What struck me most was how natural it all felt.
There was no sense of trying too hard and no pretence. It was simply a busy Hull restaurant on a Saturday night, filled with people having a genuinely good time.
I ordered the carbonara and a pepperoni pizza.
The pizza was incredible.
Honestly, one of the tastiest I have had. Santis always seems to deliver, but on this particular evening, everything just seemed to hit differently. Maybe it was the football, maybe it was the sunshine, or maybe it was simply Saturday night, but the whole place had something about it.
Whatever it was, there was something about Princes Avenue that felt special.
I have always noticed things like this when I am out. I notice people's faces. I notice conversations. I notice the atmosphere. I notice whether somewhere feels alive.
And Princes Avenue was alive.
There is a relaxed energy to this part of Hull that is difficult to explain. It is lively without feeling chaotic, busy without feeling overwhelming and full of character without ever feeling forced.
There is personality here.
There is community.
There is a real sense that people come to Princes Avenue to enjoy themselves.
And yet, somehow, Princes Avenue can still get a bad reputation.
You will sometimes read negative things about the area or hear people speak about it as though it is somewhere to avoid.
But I think there is another side to it.
A much better side.
Spend a Saturday evening here and actually look around properly. You will see restaurants full of people, friends laughing, couples enjoying themselves and people simply walking down the avenue with smiles on their faces.
You will see a part of Hull that is vibrant, welcoming and full of life.
And on this particular Saturday, with the city still buzzing after Hull City's historic victory over Manchester United, Princes Avenue felt like one of the best places in Hull to be.
I noticed Acun outside with the supporters.
I noticed Sergej inside with that huge smile on his face.
I noticed Lucas chatting away.
But what really caught my attention was everything around them.
The people.
The atmosphere.
The energy.
The feeling that Hull was having one of those evenings where everything just seemed to click.
That is what I love about walking around the city and actually taking notice of what is happening around me. Sometimes you can walk through an area dozens of times without really appreciating what is right in front of you.
Princes Avenue has that ability.
You can sit down for a meal, meet friends or simply walk along the street and take everything in. There is always something happening, and there is always another face, conversation or little moment that catches your attention.
You cannot manufacture that.
You cannot create it with advertising.
You cannot put it into a brochure.
It comes from the people who live here, the people who visit, the businesses, the restaurants and the countless little interactions happening around you every weekend.
That is the thing about Princes Avenue.
You have to experience it.
Because sometimes the places that get talked about the least can surprise you the most.
And perhaps that is why I think this part of Hull is so underrated.
On this Saturday evening, Princes Avenue reminded me exactly why I love noticing these things about Hull.
It was busy.
It was relaxed.
It was happy.
It was full of energy.
And above all, it felt alive.
That is the Hull vibe you cannot fake.
