Uncaught Error: Call to a member function connection() on null

local.ERROR: Uncaught Error: Call to a member function connection() on null in /var/www/paul/vendor/laravel/framework/src/Illuminate/Database/Eloquent/Model.php:1138

I've been going around in circles trying to fix this error. It's not something I've ever had an issue with before, so it's completely throwing me.

I have cloned a git repo on to a local server. Running Laravel 5.5, and this error is thrown when I try to go to the app.

It will probably be something trivial, and I've just gone blind, but I'm at tipping point.

Any pointers?

via Chebli Mohamed