From The Grafton to Glasto: The roots of Paul Heaton
RAISING A GLASS TO HOUSEMARTINS STAR
FOR those lucky people who managed to secure tickets for this year’s Glastonbury Festival, congratulations.
Among the 2,000 acts performing were two colossal names who cut their teeth in Hull. Back in 1986, The Housemartins gained their only number one with Caravan of Love.
The band, fronted by Paul Heaton with bassist Norman Cook - later Fatboy Slim - made their name in various venues in the city, but none more synonymous than their local pub, The Grafton.
Still being in Hull rather than at Worthy Farm, I headed to The Grafton for a bit of local musical history.
Grafton Street is 0.3 miles of terrace houses between Beverley Road and Newland Avenue. Among those houses is this old-school-looking boozer.
Whereas the Avenues is filled with hip, trendy and modern bars, The Grafton offers a look back in time to traditional pubs. Having grown up around Bransholme pubs in the Noughties, I felt nostalgic seeing this place even though I’ve never been in prior.
As I asked for a pint of Camden Stout, a pair of locals in the back gave me a not-too-serious boo. Turns out, the pub has recently swapped out Guinness for this, leaving a bitter taste in some people’s mouths.
I took my drink outside into the rather spacious yard and noticed an Alternative History plaque. “Paul Heaton. 1998. He told Pat she’s a perfect 10 (but she wears a twelve).” An ace nod to one of The Beautiful South’s best-known hits.
Paul stayed at number 70 Grafton Street when he moved to Hull in 1983, where soon after The Housemartins were born. Joining forces with guitarist Stan Cullimore, Hugh Whittaker on drums and lastly a fresh-faced Norman Cook on bass.
In a relatively short time, just three years later they would be at number one, and then disband in 1988 with people going their own ways.
Norman Cook became a giant in house music, with Beats International and of course as Fatboy Slim.
Paul would go on to create The Beautiful South and then later become a solo artist. Though shortlived, The Housemartins’ grip on the city lives on. London 0 Hull 4 album release lives on as one of the classic albums for any record owner, not just locally, but nationally, with bangers like Happy Hour and Caravan of Love.
Though the two have since left the city for new pastures, both still always respect their roots. Fat Boy Slim - who was used to playing to 250,000 people at Brighton Beach, headed to Adelphi to celebrate the club’s birthday in 2019.
Speaking of birthdays, The Grafton was one of the three pubs where Paul put a grand behind the bar so people could raise a glass for him on his 60th. The pub is clearly one of his favourites too, as a music video was filmed there as part of his and fellow Beautiful South vocalist Jacqui Abbott’s 7in Single.
With Fatboy Slim and Paul Heaton (along with guest Rianne Downey) playing on the same day at the world-famous Glastonbury Festival, I’d like to think they had a catch-up and a pint while reminiscing about the pub I’ve just visited.