| To Hull and back: butt of ignorant snobby jokes for far too long, England's eighth largest city at last comes out fighting - gay scene at the very helm - says OutUK's Adrian Gillan. | |
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"Thought that? Well think this!" That's the simple spunky premise of perhaps the
best gay marketing campaign the UK has ever seen, surely set to become a benchmark
and industry standard as to how a gay scene can promote and expand itself - like
some gorgeous puppy underdog lapping at your ears.
The queer community in Hull has courageously united to subvert and then turn to their supreme gay advantage recent "surveys" whose slack, sloppy and cowardly authors - who really should get out more and rely less on prejudice and cliché - have sought to portray the city as "the worst place to live in the UK". The local gay scene - with official council backing - has rallied at the helm to reposition Hull as the modern, trendy, inclusive, cosmopolitan place to live and visit that it truly is. |
In the VIP R oom at Affinity.
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Out all connotations with "dull", "hell" and flaking hulls of ships sawing through
mudflats; in the rejuvenated waterfront and vibrant, rapidly expanding queer quarter
powered by hoards of horny locals and Uni students fast flocking to this "Venice of the north".
So does gay Hull live up to its new-found hype? Put simply: "yes" - and all detractors should either come up or shut up. BED & GRUBPerched on the same handsome square as Hull's elegant New Theatre, the family-run Kingston Theatre Hotel is utterly gay-friendly and just yards from much of the queer action. Suitably centred, pop into eminently gay-friendly historical pub The Mission on Posterngate in the Old Town for a quick jar or light grub throughout the day in atmospheric, stained-glass surroundings once used by seamen seeking succour and a warm, heart-felt passage. Or for classy grub in equally unique surroundings, try Venn a few short streets away - Hull's only Michelin-rated restaurant plus brasserie and bar, serving modern British cuisine in a trendy yet minimalist setting.PUBS & BARSTo begin at the beginning: Frankie's Vauxhall Tavern off Clive Sullivan Way just south west of centre, to be precise. Lorded over by the eponymous Frankie - who essentially acts as comedy partner to all live drags on stage - this comfy, traditional and friendly bar with jukebox and pool table is crammed with unusual paraphernalia, artefacts and personalities accrued over decades that'd fail to exhaust any roving eye.Due north on Spring Bank, recently re-launched Polar Bear is the region's only girl bar. Previously having to bus it to Leeds or stay in and simper into their real ale six-packs, now horny girls - mischievous gay male hags in tow - flock to this listed interior with curvy, tiled bar and domed stained-glass ceiling, whether to sit and sip and stare or move it something silly on the brimming dance floor. Then wend it east back into the centre to Foundation on Albion Street - a vast basement lair with comfy leather lounge and internet access area, long bar serving food throughout the day and a fun dance club space ruled by "international drag DJ" Raunchy Rusty, and where male strippers strut before punters thong to cheesy sounds. CLUBSNext, stagger round the block to Fuel open seven nights a week 'til 2am, extending to 6am as an "Afterparty" come weekends. The main cavernous room has seating at one end and podia at the other where Hull's finest are egged into action by top DJs and live drummers pounding away up on the lengthy bar. Cool off in the spacious, buzzing courtyard round the back come summer before diving back into the heaving swelter within as nights hot up. | |
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Mega-club Affinity has newly flung its doors wide open at a beautiful Georgian
mansion building of breathtaking splendour, just above Foundation. Gay Wednesday and Friday, merrily mixed on Saturday, this 1000-capacity two-storey shocker does not disappoint. |
Affinity's spunky glittering ball. |
From the spectacular frontage and showy entrance foyer with stunning
stairs and the world's most amazing glitter "ball" - shaped like a huge blob of sparkling,
splashing spunk - through to the three dance spaces, lounge areas, selection of bars
and a plush VIP room - if you can get in - this is a premier league venue worth
the trip up to town alone.
FUN WITHOUT ENDStill on the prowl? Neptune Sauna on the old High Street is an all-male "health club" with jacuzzi, steam room, sauna cabin and TV lounge whose cleansing eucalyptus scent draws in droves from miles around; or check out by the lake in lovely Pearson Park after dark, a short mile northwest of centre.And whatever naughtiness you get up to - wherever and whenever - make a date to visit Lattitude on Newland Avenue near said park - a modern, stylish café-bar serving quality food all day long, from its famed champagne breakfasts to refreshing soirée cocktails and classy evening snacks. "London's little sister", Hull may well have the fastest growing gay scene in the UK, but it's not so huge that it's forgotten how to be warm and friendly. Like a short novel you can scarce put down, you'll come away, reluctantly, with glowing memories of the dozens of plucky, feisty characters who inhabit it - people like: your host at The Tavern, Frankie; delightful trans-tart and entertainer, Sionice; big burly bouncer, Adrian; cute young redhead wall-flower, yet another Adrian; blithe spirit Gavin who miraculously transforms into the world's most glamorous door whore; and Carlton, VIP-room fixture and whirlwind of energy and ideas behind much of the city's wonderful gay expansion! So wipe that smirk off your face and hitch it to Hull now!
Hull is a mere 2¾ hours from London
by Hull Trains
THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK | |