Hull's Adelphi bar gets Pulp's 'piece of history'

A chart-topping Britpop band of the 90s is "remembering the first time" at one of the UK's celebrated grassroots music venues, which acted as a launchpad in their career, with a goodwill gesture.

Pulp's donation of 15 flight cases - used to transport music equipment - to The New Adelphi Club, in Hull, has been fashioned into a revamped bar at the venue on De Grey Street.

Drummer Nick Banks said it was important to recognise and "pay something back" to grassroots venues where established and successful acts had cut their teeth.

Chris Dimmack, a director of the club, said the band's generosity meant they could focus on improving other parts of the club.

The revamp means the bar can "hold more stock", Mr Dimmack says

The Sheffield band, along with Radiohead and Oasis, played The New Adelphi Club's stage numerous times before the peak of their fame during the venue's 40-year history.

"Pulp and the Adelphi go back quite a long way," said the drummer.

"It was one of the first venues that Pulp played outside of Sheffield and I do believe it was where I made my Pulp debut back in the misty times of 1987.

"So to be able to give something back to the Adelphi, even though it's something perhaps as inconsequential as a bit of flight casing, then that's no bad thing.

"I'm a fan of recycling, as we all should be of course, so rather than have them just rotting somewhere [in] quiet retirement. To live out their dotage in a venue is fantastic.

"We should be able to do more of this kind of thing."

Nick Banks played his debut gig with Pulp at The New Adelphi Club in 1987

Many independent music venues across the UK have struggled in recent years. However, The New Adelphi Club has weathered financial storms including the cost of living crisis.

"It's a very difficult market out there for small venues with the energy price rises and rents rises - it's difficult to survive," said Banks.

"So anything that can be done is helpful."

Banks, who joined the group nine years after the band formed, recalled "exciting" times playing the Hull venue in the 80s and 90s.

"It was always great going to the Adelphi because we could make a day trip of it and go to Cleethorpes, or perhaps to Withernsea, and look about at the seaside for an hour or two before going to the actual venue."

Chris Dimmack said the donation would allow them to fund other improvements

Mr Dimmack said it was the first time since 1995 they had upgraded the bar but the club, which is a Community Interest Company (CIC) with Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker being one of the patrons, could not afford to pay for a refit.

He described the cases as "a piece of music history", which have now been welded into the life of the venue for years to come.

Banks, who is yet to see the fruits of the band's donation, said he hoped to revisit the venue some day and added: "I'd love to go see the flight cases and take some snaps."

Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.