J Johnsons makes festive debut in Hull’s Fruit Market

The latest venue in Hull’s Fruit Market has made its festive debut after a soft launch.

J Johnsons wine bar, bistro and deli opened in the city's Humber Street ahead of a full launch in the new year.

The venue's opening follows a programme to restore the previously derelict two-storey building it the regenerated quarter.

J Johnsons is the latest venture from business partners Chris Eastaugh, Jason Gittens and Dan Robinson, owners of Butler Whites restaurant in Humber Street and Larkin’s gastro pub in Newland Avenue, Hull.

J Johnsons is named after the late Jack Johnson, a legendary figure from when the Fruit Market was the centre of Hull’s wholesale fruit and veg trade. With seating for 76 diners, the opening of the 1,800 sq ft venue has created 25 jobs.

Mr Gittens said: “We’ve decided to have an extended soft launch for J Johnsons, so people can pay us a visit and enjoy the food, drinks, service and ambience before we launch in earnest.

“The run-up to Christmas is such a busy time for us, so our chefs will be serving our current Butler Whites menu until we launch J Johnsons’ own menu in January.

“We want to make sure everything is absolutely perfect for our customers, so we don’t want to rush the new menu for the sake of a few weeks.”

Chris Eastaugh, left, and Jason Gittens outside J Johnsons.

Mr Eastaugh said: “We love the area and we felt this was the perfect place to create a venue that complements Butler Whites and others in the area.

“The building has so much character and has been beautifully restored, so our fit-out has been designed to make the very most of the setting and contribute to an amazing atmosphere.”

The Fruit Market is enjoying an ongoing wave of investment, driven by Wykeland Beal, the regeneration company formed by commercial developer Wykeland Group and housebuilder Beal Homes, as part of the Fruit Market LLP joint venture with Hull City Council.

The rejuvenation of the waterfront district has stimulated the growth of a community of independent creative businesses, galleries, retailers, restaurants and bars, with more openings due after Christmas.

Tom Watson, Development Surveyor at Wykeland, speaking on behalf of Wykeland Beal, said: “We’re delighted J Johnsons has opened and another previously crumbling building has been brought back to life. It was very close to the point of no return.

“Butler Whites was the first of the new wave of businesses in the Humber Street more than two years ago and it’s great that the restaurant has done so well the owners are opening a complementary venue along the street.

“We’re now seeing new openings coming thick and fast – all of them adding to the appeal of the Fruit Market as an exciting new business, retail, leisure and cultural destination.”