Discover Topics: News

This summer, the Puffins are staying in the area for a little while longer! You’ll be able to find them along the East Yorkshire coast and around the East Yorkshire, as they find new and often unlikely habitats! These are no ordinary puffins, but beautiful, artist decorated sculptures, standing proudly 1.5ms tall as colourful beacons in the landscape.

From July to the end of October this year, forty two Puffins will delight people of all ages as they search for them from Bempton and Flamborough in the north to Easington and Kilnsea in the south, and at towns and cities inland. Bridlington, Hornsea, Withernsea, Beverley and Hull will all have their own Puffin mini-trails!

The project harnesses the special magnetism of this popular, but endangered, seabird to attract more visitors to the glorious East Yorkshire Coast through a mass participation public art event modelled on the hugely successful and award winning Hull and East Riding trails – ‘Larkin with Toads’ and ‘A Moth for Amy’. Each puffin has been sponsored by a business or institution which has chosen their unique design from submissions inspired by stories of the East Yorkshire Coast, endangered wildlife of our coasts and seas, global warming and the growth of green energy.

At the end of Puffins Galore! all the Puffin sculptures will be sold, either to their sponsors or at a grand charity auction. The proceeds from these sales will be donated to our four charities which were selected for their important role in the protection of the wildlife of the seas and coasts or for their essential work saving lives at sea: Hornsea Inshore Rescue, Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

Download the Puffins Galore Map here Puffins Galore Map

This Summer Hull Truck Theatre are presenting an exciting programme of holiday activities for all ages. Each week-long creative project offers participants the opportunity to develop their skills as a theatre maker, through performing, writing, and taking part in an interactive adventure. Everyone is welcome, regardless of previous experience and the activities are a great way to make friends, build confidence, develop creativity and most importantly, have fun!

Secret Agent Academy (Monday 1st–Friday 5thAugust, 9am –3.30pm) is an adventure project for children aged 7 to 11. Working with our Secret Agent Team, participants will complete secret missions, create secret identities, follow suspects, decipher codes, and take part in activities and workshops to solve puzzles and mysteries, working together with others as a team.

Play in a Week: Ripples (Monday 1st – Friday 5th August, 9am – 3.30pm) is for young people aged 12 – 16 to enjoy making theatre, acting, writing and all things creative. A great opportunity for any young person who has ever thought about performing in an original piece of theatre. Over the week all participants will develop their skills as a theatre maker, create interesting characters and dialogue, learn key skills of acting and finish the week by performing a brand-new play to an audience of parents, families, and friends.

This will be a play about unseen ripple effects, multiverses, asking who we might be in a different reality? Does every decision we make alter our timeline, and if so, what could have happened if we’d made different choices? One bus missed, one message unsent, one door unopened.

Play in a Week: Five Years (Monday 15th – Friday 19th August, 9am – 3.30pm) is for adults to enjoy making theatre, acting, writing and all things creative. Over the week participants will create an original piece of theatre, develop skills as a theatre maker, create interesting characters and dialogue, learn key skills of acting and finish the week by performing a brand-new play to an audience of families and friends.

Join this project to create a play about how we can make sure that the next five years matter. “We’ve got five years, that’s all we’ve got.” (David Bowie, Five Years), Bowie was right. The earth is dying, and we only have five years left. The countdown is on but what do you believe is most important, what changes would you make first?

Tom Saunders: Director, Associate Director of Creative Learning at Hull Truck Theatre said:

“Children often come back every year to be part of a new story – cracking codes, finding clues, solving mysteries, and most importantly having fun! These projects are a brilliant way to get a taste of what we offer here at Hull Truck Theatre. Lots of participants go on to join our regular Youth Theatre and Act III groups after having fun and making friends during these summer projects.”

Josie Lena Davies, Community & Learning Associate at Hull Truck Theatre said:

“Making a Play In A Week is as exciting as it sounds. In just five days we’ll go from only having a title to performing to an audience of family and friends. It’s collaborative and everyone is encouraged to contribute ideas and perform on stage. You don’t need any experience of drama to get involved and it’s a great opportunity to make new friends or try something new.”

Secret Agent Academy

Dates: Monday 01 – Friday 05 August

Tickets: £60.00

Play in a Week: Ripples

Dates: Monday 01 – Friday 05 August

Tickets: £60.00

Play in a Week: Five Years

Dates: Monday 15 – Friday 19 August

Tickets: £60.00

Box office information:

Hull Truck Theatre, 50 Ferensway, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, HU2 8LB

01482 323638

On Saturday 18 June, residents and visitors will be invited into the city centre with a chance to watch and interact with attractions in Queens Gardens and around the rose bowl area.

The event will be officially opened by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Christine Randall at 10am in Queens Gardens, near the main stage area.

Two of the main attractions are two full size Royal Navy Helicopters a Lynx and a Gazelle, alongside the helicopters, interactive displays including a Clearance Diver display (bomb disposal team), and the Royal Marines Commando Recruit Team who will have various “then & now” displays of weapons and equipment.

A Spitfire will fly past at 2.25pm, weather permitting.

Various Veterans organisations will be talking about their involvement in the Falklands campaign, including Hull 4 Heroes, Royal British Legion, Hull Peoples Memorial, United Towing Group, South Atlantic Medal Association and Norland Crew Charity. Free Children’s craft workshops and face painting will also be hosted in the gardens, alongside live music from the Humberside Police band, Army Cadet Force Band and The Soldiers of Swing. The Soldiers Of Swing are made up of Sgt Vince Fountain and Cpl Lee Day who met each other in the Army. They started off singing for veterans and pensioners in care homes and have now gone on to perform at festivals, theatres and on TV including reaching the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent 2020 and winning the prestigious Golden Gavel on BBC One’s Bargain Hunt.

A number of military groups will also have displays and these include 150 Regiment, including the 4 Yorks Regiment, 299 Para Regiment, 250 Medical Squad and Queens Own Yeomanry. The Breakfast Club and Army Cadets will also be stationed here.

Children can take part in an art afternoon workshop at Ferens Art Gallery with prizes up for grabs.

Leader of Hull City Council, Councillor Mike Ross said: “On the 40th anniversary it is only fitting that Hull commemorates this significant date and the role the city played. This event provides an opportunity for families to get close and interact with military equipment and vehicles they wouldn’t normally see.

“Having two naval helicopters stationed in the Gardens will be something to witness and I’m sure will attract visitors from far and wide.”

Alongside the family event, on Sunday (19 June), a service will take place at Hull Minster at 2pm followed by a parade from Hull Minster to the Cenotaph lead by The Royal Marines Band of Scotland to the Cenotaph for a further short service. . The parade will travel from Trinity Square across Posterngate on to Trinity House Lane, Whitefriagate, Carr Lane, Queen Victoria Square, King Edward Street, Jameson Street to the Cenotaph, where a further short service with wreath laying will be held.

The jubilee celebrates 70 years since the Queen became the head of state after her father, King George VI’s, death on February 6, 1952. A four day bank holiday weekend will take place on Thursday 2 June to Sunday 5 June, to mark the occasion

Here in Hull we are proud of our royal connection. There is so much going on over the weekend including an amazing array of activities in the city centre.

Click here to see the latest list of Jubilee events.

Humber Street Sesh, the multi award-winning music festival will return to its spiritual home on Hull Marina, Saturday August 13th, with early bird tickets on sale now. Festival organisers, Sesh Events Ltd, are delighted to bring the festival back to its birthplace after three years away. The pandemic put paid to the festival in 2020, followed by flood barrier work preventing Humber Street Sesh 2021. Inner City Sesh, a new, smaller event was staged in Queens gardens last year, supported by Hull City Council. Director, Dave Mays said “Hull Marina is home territory – we know the site inside out. We put on the first festival ten years ago with a few bands in warehouses down Humber Street. Navigating this urban landscape, with its obstacles and new developments is always a challenge but we can’t wait to get cracking with the team to deliver a first-class event on the Marina again.” The festival will take place on the east side of the Marina, with a free fringe area encompassing Humber Street and Stage@thedock that will stage some events. The fringe area will allow Marina businesses to operate without festival constraints and lessen the impact of the event on the burgeoning residential areas. Humber Street Sesh started in 2012 to provide a powerful platform for the emerging artists of the region. By 2019, the event saw a stellar line up of UK national emerging artists like The Hunna, The Blinders and Yonaka. This year Humber Street Sesh 2022, will return to its roots showcasing over 100 acts celebrating Hull’s incredible artists, many of whom have gained national attention. Director, Mark Page said “Right now, the city’s music scene is stronger than ever with bands playlisted on Radio 1 and 6; touring nationally and  internationally; and playing big festivals like The Great Escape and SXSW in Texas. Low Hummer’s critically acclaimed debut album, “Modern Tricks for Living” has also reached the top 40! We’ve a lot to be proud of and celebrate as a city of music – this year’s festival promises to be something really special.” Community favourites include: the Silent Disco; Team Extreme Skate Park, with displays from the experts; Hip Hop Amphitheatre; Creative Arts Marquee by Scrapstore; art installations and photography exhibitions throughout the site; and an array of food choices and bars.
Festival organisers are committed to improving the event’s green credentials each year and have opted for biodegradable bamboo wristbands for 2022. The bamboo wristbands and the Main
Stage are proudly supported by the University of Hull. Sesh Events Ltd would like to thank the following sponsors for supporting Humber Street Sesh 2022: University of Hull, Hull Business Angels & Citywide Partners, Hull Trains, Wilberforce College, Goodwin Development Trust, along with partners Hull City Council and Wykeland Group.

Humber Street Sesh 2022, Hull Marina, Saturday, August 13, 12pm-11pm

Early bird tickets £10. May 9 – June 9
Advance tickets £15. June 10 – August 12
Pay on the gate £20 August 13
Tickets can be purchased via humberstreetsesh.co.uk and seetickets.com Booking fees apply.
Free entrance for 12yrs and under, when accompanied by an 18yrs+ fee paying adult.
Wristband exchange locations TBC

Iconic Hull landmarks the Hull Maritime Museum, The Deep, the Humber Bridge, Hull City Hall, Hull New Theatre and Hull Truck Theatre can now be printed and made into paper models!

Visit Hull has worked closely with local designer Joe Cox from Form Shop and Studio on Humber Street, who has designed the models. They will be available exclusively to Visit Hull for 12 months.

Anthony Yates, Head of Visitor Destination for Hull said: “These great little keepsakes are the perfect way to remember any visit to some of the city’s great attractions. We hope they will encourage people to explore the website and visit these attractions.”

Joe Cox at Form Studio and Studio said: “It’s been a great project to work on! While I regularly draw buildings around Hull, this has been interesting to look closer at parts of these iconic landmarks that you don’t usually see. It’s been a fun challenge getting them into simple 3D models and I hope everyone has as much fun building them as I did illustrating and creating them.”

Download your printable models below and once completed, don’t forget to share with us on social media!

Hull Truck Theatre

Hull City Hall

Hull New Theatre

Today (Tuesday 29^th March) marks 200 days to go until the Rugby League World Cup 2021 (RLWC2021) makes a real impact across the nation when England take on Samoa in the tournaments’ opening fixture at St James’ Park, Newcastle on 15 October 2022.

To commemorate the milestone, the tournament has been undertaking a 48-hour trophies tour of the 18 host towns and cities in celebration of a 48-hour ticket upgrade offer, whereby fans can benefit from a ticket upgrade that is too good to miss. This means any fans that buy a Category C ticket for the New Zealand v Jamaica fixture at MKM Stadium will have their tickets automatically upgraded to Category B.

The trophies tour, whereby the silverware from the men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments will be paraded around the towns and cities getting ready to host the 61 matches of the upcoming World Cup, commenced today (Tuesday 29^th March) at 07:00 in Newcastle with RLWC2021 Ambassador Jason Robinson.

With the city hosting three fixtures, including a double header of the women’s match between Papua New Guinea and Brazil and a men’s quarter final, Hull will see some of the best action the tournament has to offer. The three trophies were joined by soap star Gemma Oaten, Hull FC players Josh Reynolds and Scott Taylor, and many RLWC2021 representatives, where they sat down in the changing rooms with a class of school children for an exclusive Q&A.

The promotional tour features the tournament’s new campaign ‘This is Real Impact’, to support ticket promotion and provide a platform to tell the many stories of the contribution the tournament is making in communities through its social impact programme and in respect to inclusivity in hosting the men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments under one World Cup for the first time in the sport’s history.

Jon Dutton, Chief Executive of RLWC2021, said: “After an incredibly challenging couple of years for everyone, it is hugely exciting to be able to take our three unique trophies to each host partner as they put on their own celebration and make a ‘Real Impact’ in their local communities.

“We’d like to thank our partners in Hull for their brilliant event to mark the milestone. The road to RLWC2021 starts now and with this limited ticket offer and exciting new campaign being released, we hope to encourage fans up and down the country to obtain the best seats in the house at the best possible price.”

Ticket prices for the tournament start as low as £2.21 for concessions, as the unique tournament will be one of the most accessible and affordable for fans with more than 80% of tickets priced below £50. Fans can purchase tickets via www.rlwc2021.com/tickets.

Follow the Trophies Tour live on RLWC2021’s  official social media channels Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook, with exclusive content including interviews, event snaps and behind-the-scenes footage of the 48-hour tour.

Hull will host the first event of UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK, the UK’s “most ambitious celebration of creativity to date”.

Hull is one of five places to be staging About Us, a spectacular, never before seen, free open-air event that combines live performances and multimedia installations to celebrate the entire history of the universe from Big Bang to the present day.

Featuring poems and Scratch animations from young people from schools in Yorkshire, across England and the rest of the UK, the 25-minute projection shows will immerse audiences in an exhilarating journey through 13.8 billion years of history since the dawn of the universe in a celebration of the infinite ways in which we connect to the cosmos, natural world, and one another.

About Us is the opening event for UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK, a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of creativity taking place across the UK this year.

It will take place in Queen Victoria Square, Hull from April 30 until May 6.

Martin Green CBE, who knows the city well having been director of Hull UK City of Culture 2017, is the chief creative officer of UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK.

He said: “UNBOXED is the UK’s most ambitious celebration of creativity to date and this free spectacular performance will show us what can be achieved when we harness the creative power of scientists, technicians, producers, musicians, poets and mathematicians to produce and present a truly extraordinary and inspirational experience, that audiences, and the choirs and young people who have contributed, will never forget.”

About Us has been created by the award-winning 59 Productions.

The evening shows will feature winning entries from the About Us nationwide poetry and Scratch animation competition, on the theme of ‘connectivity and the universe’, selected by a host of distinguished judges including Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage, and mathematician, author and broadcaster, Rachel Riley.

Councillor Daren Hale, leader of Hull City Council, said: “Hull is a city that has culture and creativity running through its veins, so I’m delighted that we are hosting About US, the opening event of UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK.

“Our historic Queen Victoria Square will be the backdrop for an incredible and inspiring art installation that will feature animation, poetry and live music and performance from the outstanding Hull Freedom Chorus. About US promises to be one of the highlights of the year, and an event that cannot be missed.”

Acclaimed composer and musician Nitin Sawhney CBE has composed the original score which will be performed as part of the live shows by Hull Freedom Chorus.

Sawhney has scored more than 60 films and his past collaborators have included Sir Paul McCartney and the London Symphony Orchestra.

Choir performances of About Us are musically directed by composer, Osnat Schmool, who will conduct alongside local choir leaders.

There is still an exciting opportunity to join Hull Freedom Chorus for the live performances of About Us.

Rehearsals are on Tuesday evenings, and singers above the age of 18, of all experiences and abilities, have until Thursday 10 February to register interest at hullfreedom.chorus@hullcc.gov.uk

If interested, email your name, voice part (if you know it) and the phrase ‘About Us Hull: Yes’.

‘Great live music, tasty food and welcoming crowds’ – Trinity Live set to return on Thursday 9 September

The hugely successful Trinity Live is returning to Hull’s Trinity Market.

The weekly live music event, which last year brought thousands of extra people into the market on an evening as well as giving a platform to many local bands and performers, will return next month

The event, organised by Sesh Events, will return on Thursday 9 September.

Mark Page, from Sesh Events, said: “Following on from the initial success of Trinity Live in 2019, Sesh Events is delighted to of been asked to curate its return following it’s enforced break due to Covid. Working closely with Hull City Council Events team at the Trinity Market, we aim to shine the spotlight on the many fantastic independent traders within the market, whilst providing a platform for the some of the region’s very best talent.”

Trinity Live originally launched in May 2019 in the run-up to the annual, and enormously popular, Humber Street Sesh festival. This time it’s relaunching in time for the run up to the recently announced Inner City Sesh, due to take place in Queens Gardens on Saturday 18^th  September.

In total Sesh Events put on 32 Trinity Live events in 2019/2020, bringing more than 15,000 people into the market and giving a platform to almost 100 local bands and musicians.

Rich Stephenson, from the band Listening Club, is one of the many musicians to have performed at Trinity Live. He said: Great live music, tasty food and welcoming crowds. Trinity Live has been a great inclusion to the live music scene in the city.

We’ve loved both performing there and heading down to watch other bands too.

Councillor Daren Hale, Leader of Hull City Council said: It’s great news that Trinity Live can take place again. The events have always been well attended for the talented musicians, eclectic food and drinks on offer, with the market venue providing a vibrant atmosphere. The events will see more people coming into the city centre on an evening once again, which will benefit the night time economy, and the events provide a platform for our local talented musicians to showcase their music.

As well as the live music, various different market traders support the event by serving up their diverse selection of food and drink.

John Copley and Jayne Allen recently opened Only, a vegan-friendly food stall in the market.

John, a familiar face on the Hull music scene, with the band Low Hummer as well as being a gifted solo performer, has graced the Trinity Live stage on a number of occasions.

John said: I’m are looking forward to trading at it after playing it a few times, it’s a great event for the market with extra footfall for the traders as well as a unique atmosphere.

As well as serving up their vegan food, John and Jayne will also be selling vegan beers and wine.

The city that keeps watch over itself

From 3 May, every day for a year, at sunrise and sunset, a Vigil (person) will keep watch over Hull from a bespoke wood and glass structure located on top of the Hull College building, facing east and west, overlooking Queen’s Gardens and the

William Wilberforce statue at one side, the River Humber, the docks and East Hull

on the other. Over the course of the year 730 people will contribute to the

collective vigil – a 365-day silent performance – watching over the city.

From 10am on 1 March 2021 you can reserve your place by signing up at www.thehullvigil.co.uk. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis, with 730 places available throughout the year.

Freedom Festival, an organisation known for creating the unexpected, is proud to be commissioning and producing The Hull Vigil, as Hull becomes the first UK city to host this timely, thought-provoking and large-scale monumental work.

The Hull-based Arts Trust had planned to start The Hull Vigil in March, however the UK’s third national lockdown delayed the build of the shelter and recruitment of volunteers.

Created by Australian-Belgian choreographer Joanne Leighton from Paris-based WLDN, over the past eight years Vigil has been running continuously in France, Germany, the Netherlands and Austria and in 2021 it comes to Hull for its 10th iteration.

This ambitious project is presented as part of the Global Streets and the Creative Europe In Situ programmes and funded by Arts Council England. It is also supported thanks to funding from local partners Hull City Council, Hull College and Esteem.

Mikey Martins, Artistic Director and Joint Chief Executive of Freedom Festival said: “The Hull Vigil is an amazing artistic project which connects with and is delivered by the community. It will be built by Hull building firms for the people of Hull, with a narrative that will develop throughout the year. While each Vigil stands alone, together they form a human chain of community, humanity and resilience. Something even more significant today.

“The Hull Vigil is the perfect opportunity for us to spend some time to take stock of who and where we are and hope for a more positive future.

“Vigil (person) will step inside the structure, without their phone or camera, to watch over the city for an hour at sunrise and sunset – looking out across the Humber to the east, the urban spread to the north and out across the suburbs and countryside to the west… when will you take your Vigil?”

This unique structure designed for the city by Benjamin Tovo and built by Hull firms for the people of Hull, the shelter is where the vigil takes place. Located on the rooftop of Hull College overlooking Queen’s Gardens, for the first time in its 10 iterations, it has been built to give unobstructed views to the east and west.

The shelter is being built by Hull Esteem Consortium LEP Ltd, along with their partners who are supporting the project through generous donations of time,

expertise and resources.

Richard King, Chair of Esteem, said: “The Hull Vigil is a really unique and exciting project for the city and one we were keen to get involved in. By offering our expertise and supporting the Freedom team in getting this project off the ground, we’re proud to be playing a part in bringing this international performance to the city at a time when people need a boost and something to look forward to.

“I’d also like to thank our partners and local contractors who have got behind the project by donating materials, equipment and time to construct the shelter and erect it on site. I can’t wait to see it finished and hear about the experiences of people who take part.”

Anthony Baker Executive Director and Joint CEO of Freedom Festival continued: “We’re incredibly grateful to our partners at Arts Council England, Hull City Council, Hull College and Esteem for

helping to make Vigil possible, alongside our creative partners Global Streets and In Situ as we work together again, in this year-long participatory performance, which will showcase the beautiful choreography of our northern city as the sun rises and sets.”

Anyone over 18-years-old is invited to participate, signing up via the Freedom Festival website and app, or direct at www.thehullvigil.co.uk from 10am on 1 March.

Participants can choose their own date and time and will have their own reasons for participating. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Only one vigil can be booked per person.

The Hull Vigil is presented by Paris-based WLDN and commissioned and produced by Freedom Festival Arts Trust, supported by IN-SITU and Global Streets.

A new maritime experience at Hull’s historic North End Shipyard is set to become one of the most energy efficient buildings in the UK’s cultural and heritage sector.

As part of the ambitious Hull Maritime project, the historic shipyard will become the new home of the Arctic Corsair, Hull’s last remaining sidewinder trawler.

To showcase and celebrate the trawler’s dramatic story, a state-of-the-art new ‘Passivhaus’ building – which is sympathetic to the industrial heritage of the area – will sit alongside the historic ship, the dock and the last Scotch Derrick crane in Hull.

The new visitor attraction, designed by architect Purcell, is being developed with meticulous attention to detail in order to achieve rigorous ‘Passivhaus’ standards – a German model, which reduces a building’s energy consumption, requiring very little energy to heat. This method achieves savings of up to 90 per cent compared to a typical new building. This is being achieved through early engagement of TGA Consulting Engineers with Purcell Architects and Hull City Council.

Passivhaus buildings provide high levels of comfort for staff and visitors, using mainly passive heat sources like the sun, household appliances and human occupants to cover heating demand.

The exhibition area of the new visitor attraction will be typically heated using less than 1.3 kW per hour – that is equivalent to a small plug in domestic heater.

The new two-storey visitor centre will include an entrance space, extensive exhibitions that will tell the story of Hull’s last remaining sidewinder trawler and the heyday of Hull’s trawling industry. An interactive learning space to engage and educate young people also forms part of the scheme.

The 500 sq m building will use a system of heat exchangers which collect heat leaving the building and use it to heat the colder air coming in. This approach will also cool the building in the summer.

In response to Hull City Council declaring a climate emergency and to support its 2030 Carbon Neutral Strategy, the building is targeting net zero carbon in operation. The building will generate energy through renewable technologies to offset the carbon associated with the energy consumed within the building.

Councillor Daren Hale, Portfolio Holder for Economic Investment, Regeneration, Planning, Land and Property, said: “North End Shipyard is one of Hull’s hidden gems, an area at the very heart of the city’s maritime and trade history which spanned the world.

“These highly ambitious plans will not only create a new visitor attraction that will showcase the many maritime stories but also achieve the best energy efficient standards.

“This will be a remarkable achievement and demonstrates our continued commitment to sustainability and to Hull becoming carbon neutral by 2030.”

Owen Plummer, Senior Architect, Purcell, said: “Purcell is delighted to be collaborating with Hull City Council in their commitment to a sustainable future for the city.

“Through our design of a new visitor centre to Passivhaus standards as a key aspect of the Hull Maritime project, this significant yet overlooked area of the city will be rejuvenated and brought back into use as a visitor destination in its own right and as part of the wider interpretation of Hull’s maritime heritage.”

Due to open in 2023, the new and exciting visitor attraction incorporating the Arctic Corsair, shipyard and visitor centre is expected to attract 135,000 visitors a year.

For more information on the ambitious maritime project, visit maritimehull.co.uk

Hull’s popular Fish Trail is going digital thanks to a free app that can turn your mobile phone into a virtual time machine.

The trail, which weaves its way through Hull’s Old Town, can now be enjoyed alongside an app that brings historic areas of the city back to life.

The What Was Here? app, developed by the East Riding Archives, features a number of heritage trails throughout the region.

The app allows people to turn their mobile devices into a virtual time machine.

Simply find a fish and the nearby yellow sticker, open the app and step back in time to see see what that street, building or area used to look like.

Many of the images are drawings from celebrated Victorian artist F.S. Smith, who was a familiar figure sketching on street corners in Hull in the late 19th and early 20th Century.

The What Was Here? app was a finalist at this year’s Remarkable East Yorkshire Tourism Awards (REYTA).

Historical facts and information have been provided by English Heritage accredited guide, Paul Schofield.

Paul said: “Since 1992, the Fish Trail has encouraged thousands of people of all ages to explore Hull’s fascinating Old Town. The app adds another dimension and will reveal more about the city’s rich and varied history to locals and tourists.”

The digital Fish Trail features locations such as High Street, Beverley Gate and Queens Gardens.

The What Was Here? app can be downloaded from Google Play and the App Store.

Pride in Hull has launched its bid to bring EuroPride – the biggest LGBTI celebration in Europe – to the city in 2023.

EuroPride takes place in a different host city every year, attracting hundreds of thousands of attendees from across the continent – and world – to celebrate all things LGBTI. In addition to the traditional Pride festival event and parade you might expect, EuroPride also incorporates an opening and closing ceremony, an HIV vigil, and a human rights conference along with an expanded programme of LGBTI events and activities.

And if Hull is successful in its bid, the organisers are planning a year of activity to take place across the city in a rainbow-strewn echo of the Hull UK City of Culture 2017 – the year which also saw Hull named as the first ever UK Pride.

Pride in Hull has hosted events in the city to celebrate the LGBTI community since 2001, growing from initially a small crowd in Queen’s Gardens to a major festival, drawing in tens of thousands of people from across the UK, with more than 50,000 celebrating in 2019.

The chosen host city is one that has a proven track record in holding LGBTI events, and after the runaway success of Pride in Hull being UK Pride in 2017, there is a quiet confidence that Hull could be the city of choice come 2023.

Matt Walton, chair of Pride in Hull, believes there’s never been a better time to stand up and throw a hat into the ring to host EuroPride in 2023. He said: “EuroPride is such a huge event, bringing thousands of people to its host cities, and we believe that Hull is ready to shine as the hosts of EuroPride.

“The volunteer team behind Pride in Hull have proven time and again that we know how to put on a safe, fun and spectacular celebration, and we’ve learned a huge amount over the past few years.

“We’ve faced huge changes as a city and a nation – from Brexit to the current situation with the coronavirus lockdown – but the Pride in Hull committee absolutely believe in the city’s passion to build bridges and reconnect people.

“We’ve seen the power of the rainbow to bring hope in the past couple of weeks, and we know that EuroPride in Hull would be such a source of joy and hope for all.”

A huge planning effort has already begun behind the scenes, and will continue to raise support and create concepts ahead of the full bid submission in early summer, with a decision expected at the European Pride Organisers Association AGM in Oslo this October.

The planning team are now hoping to capture the imagination of the people of Hull to make this huge opportunity a reality.

Matt added: “What we saw in the UK City of Culture year in 2017 was a huge coming together of people from all walks of life – from arts lovers to sceptics – and we know the city can do it again.

“We were devastated to have to cancel this year’s Pride in Hull event due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but it was for the best reasons. Hopefully us revealing this great big and frankly audacious bid will help raise some smiles to everyone who’s currently isolated.”

Pride in Hull’s official letter of intent to bid to host EuroPride 2023 was submitted on March 31 and full bid will be submitted in June ahead of the AGM in October.

Soon, the Pride in Hull team will be unveiling more about how people can get involved and get behind the bid, from writing letters of support to recording messages and submitting ideas for events and venues.

The iconic Pet Shop Boys will be visiting Hull’s Connexin Live this summer.

The band – currently at number three in the album chart with new record ‘Hotspot’ – will visit the Arena on Wednesday, 24 June.

Tickets go on general sale at 10am this Friday.

Pet Shop Boys are an English synth-pop duo, formed in London in 1981 and consisting of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe.

They have sold more than 100 million records worldwide and are listed as the most successful duo in UK music history by The Guinness Book of Records.

Three-time Brit Award winners and six-time Grammy nominees, since 1985 they have achieved 42 Top 30 singles, 22 of them Top 10 hits in the UK Singles Chart, including four UK number ones: “West End Girls“, “It’s a Sin“, a synthpop version of “Always on My Mind“, and “Heart“. Other hit songs include a cover of “Go West“, “Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money)” and “What Have I Done to Deserve This?” in a duet with Dusty Springfield.

At the 2009 Brit Awards in London, Pet Shop Boys received an award for Outstanding Contribution to Music and have a host of other accolades in a glittering career.

New album ‘Hotspot’ is the band’s 17^th top 10 record.

Standing and seated tickets will be available for this gig. Tickets go on general sale on Friday at 10am. Max six tickets per person.

They will be available from Entertainment Events & Venue Details | Connexin Live Hull or call 0844 8440444. Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.

Accessible tickets are available from 0800 9884440.

The venue formerly known as Fruit will open its doors soon, operated by the team behind the Humber Street Sesh. “Social” on Humber Street in Hull’s Fruit Market will reflect the eclectic, spontaneous programming of its predecessor, with live and visual performance at its core. It will be operated by Sesh Events UK, which runs the hugely popular annual Humber
Street Sesh grassroots music festival, as well as The Sesh weekly music nights and Made in Hull, Trinity Live and Hull City Sesh events. A licence application has been submitted for the newly refurbished music and arts venue and planning is now underway for it to re-open with an exciting programme by April.

The opening of Social will complete the vibrant, creative enterprises housed within 61-63 Humber Street, which has undergone a £1.2m revamp by the Fruit Market LLP, the joint venture between Wykeland Beal and Hull City Council, to create a thriving cultural hub. The building is also now home to Juice Studios, a co-working community of artists’ studios located on the first floor; Label Worx on the second floor, providing digital music services for independent record labels; and indie art shop, Form Shop & Studio, next to the new venue on the ground floor. The Sesh Events UK team says the venue will be “a modern take on the old social club. It will embrace all, with a wide programme of entertainment and be a great place to hang out and socialise”. It marks a return to the venue for Sesh Events UK Director Dave Mays, who founded Fruit nine years ago and operated it until the venue closed to allow the revamp to take place. He said: “I know better than anyone how much loved Fruit was and I’m really excited to be part of the Sesh team bringing the venue back to life.“We’re looking forward to welcoming back Fruit fans as well as people who may not
have been before. We’ve got some great plans – watch this space!”

Humber Street Sesh founder and Festival Director Mak Page, who is also a Director of Sesh Events UK, said: “The venue is the heartbeat of Humber Street. We’ve worked really closely with the building’s owners to ensure it will be beating again very soon.”