There’s more to Hull than its City of Culture status
There are many reasons why we decided to launch our new sales brand in Hull. Its City of Culture status certainly had a role to play. But it wasn’t the title alone that drew us to this unique part of the country.
Before the cultural crown was placed on the city, Hull was one of those towns that housed an abundance of hidden gems. You’d be forgiven for thinking its residents were keeping them a secret – like an alternative rock fan dreading the day their favourite band breaks into the mainstream. It loses its niche and becomes owned by the many, rather than the few. It becomes a little less special.
But I don’t actually believe that was the case with Hull. Perhaps it just wasn’t given the national press attention it deserved. This is certainly the impression I get when speaking to Hull ‘born and bred’ colleagues who are passionate about their hometown and quick to point out its cultural charm.
From what I can gather, so much of what we see and hear about Hull today was already there before it became City of Culture 2017. It just didn’t have the title from which to shout about its assets.
At Home Group, we’re all about building great communities, and I think that’s a good place to start when we talk about Hull. The people.
Hull’s buildings and attractions are born of its people. There’s a real authenticity, pride and resilience that emanates from the city – and I think the City of Culture bid is testament to that.
You simply can’t keep Hull down. One colleague informed me that a few years ago, Hull was voted number one in the Idler’s crap towns survey – which is pretty astonishing really. You can only imagine that the site’s readers had never spent any time there. But the people didn’t let that get them down, and their dedication to the City of Culture bid and pride for their home town paid off.
Another thing you can’t fail to notice is Hull’s independent businesses and events – be it retailers, arts venues or community festivals - Hull has a thriving fringe scene that comes directly from its people. Take a trip down Prince’s Avenue and continue onto Newland and you’ll see what I mean.
It’s spawned a wealth of talent too with the likes of One Man Two Guvnors playwright Richard Bean, up and coming comedian Lucy Beaumont, renowned actress Maureen Lipman and the legendary guitarist Mick Ronson all hailing from Hull. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Sporting talent is big here too. The city boasts not one but two successful rugby teams – Hull KR and Hull FC (I believe sporting legend, Clive Sullivan MBE, played for both rival clubs at some point during his career!)
So let’s look at what the people, their passion and their talent have created. Given my interest in the built environment, Hull’s architecture is definitely something for me to focus on. The Deep and the Humber Bridge are both iconic and stunning contributions to the city’s landscape, and if we look further back in time, Hull’s historic ‘old town’ is simply beautiful. The fact that its home to the intriguing ‘Land of Green Ginger’ and the UK’s smallest window makes it even more endearing. Thank God these precious buildings were saved from the WWII Hull bombings.
There’s so much to celebrate I could go on forever. But I think the key thing about Hull is that you need to immerse yourself in its culture to really get what it’s about. So rather than reading more of my thoughts on the subject, I’d urge you to visit for yourself if you haven’t already. Enjoy a drink by the marina, take in a home-grown show at the renowned Hull Truck Theatre or enjoy the buzz of Humber Street. You’ll not be disappointed.
It's hardly a surprise then that we're launching Persona, an exciting new house sales brand that puts our customers at the heart of its service, design and delivery, in Hull.
Want to call Hull your home? Look no further than Persona.