Why Hull Matters
Hull Magazine arrives at a pivotal moment for Kingston upon Hull. This port city on the Humber estuary has spent decades shedding outdated stereotypes and asserting its place as one of Britain's most distinctive urban centres. The 2017 UK City of Culture year proved what locals already knew: Hull has stories worth telling, and they deserve to be told properly.
This publication is built on a simple premise. Hull is not a place that needs outside validation, nor is it a city content to dwell on past glories. It is a living, working place with a population that expects straight answers and genuine reporting. Hull Magazine exists to serve that expectation.
What We Will Cover
The magazine's scope is the city and its surrounding areas. That means the redevelopment of the Fruit Market district sits alongside coverage of St Andrew's Dock. The University of Hull's research programmes matter as much as debates about the A63 upgrade. We will report on council decisions that affect ratepayers, on the port's evolving role in global trade, and on the independent businesses that have made Hull's Old Town a destination in its own right.
Coverage will extend to the practical matters that affect daily life: transport, housing, education, and health provision. When the Humber Bridge tolls change, when new developments receive planning permission, when local sports clubs make signings or face difficulties, we will be there.
The Maritime Legacy and Modern Reality
Hull's identity remains inseparable from the water. The marina, once a working dock, now hosts berths for leisure craft, but the port itself still handles millions of tonnes of cargo annually. The Deep aquarium draws visitors from across the country, yet it also represents the city's ongoing relationship with the marine environment.
This dual character, industrial and cultural, historic and forward-looking, defines the city's appeal. It is also what makes covering Hull genuinely interesting. There is no single narrative that captures the place. The fishing heritage celebrated in museums coexists with renewable energy companies positioning the Humber as a hub for offshore wind. The Georgian streets of the Old Town host tech startups and creative agencies.
Our Approach
Hull Magazine will not traffic in boosterism. The city has challenges, and they will be reported accurately. Economic deprivation in some wards, the ongoing need for infrastructure investment, the complexities of managing a historic urban environment: these are part of the story.
Equally, the magazine will not indulge in lazy negativity. Hull has assets that larger cities envy: affordable housing, strong community networks, a distinctive culture, and proximity to both countryside and coast. The task is to report what is actually happening, whether that news is welcome or uncomfortable.
Looking Ahead
The coming months will bring significant developments. The city's transport infrastructure continues to evolve, with implications for how residents move around and how goods reach the port. The renewable energy sector is expanding, bringing employment and training opportunities. The cultural sector, strengthened by the City of Culture legacy, continues to produce work that attracts national attention.
Hull Magazine will track these stories with the thoroughness they require. We will speak to the people making decisions, the people affected by them, and the people with expertise to share. Our reporting will be accurate, our analysis fair, and our focus resolutely local.
This is your city. These are your stories. Hull Magazine is here to tell them.