Do we live in Hull? Kingston-Upon-Hull? Humberside? Yorkshire?

Does what we call our grand city bother you?

The Hull Daily Mail is reporting that Royal Mail will decide whether to drop the use of the defunct term Humberside from its postal databases by the end of the year.

There’s actually been a campaign set up to remove the term Humberside, because it angers people that much.

Not something I’ve ever got worked up about myself – after all, we still have Humberside Police and Radio Humberside don’t we?

What else?

Humberside airport? Humberside Fire & Rescue?

As long as my post still reaches me, it could pretty much say anything. I see the Royal Mail have sent me a Christmas card too. That’s nice isn’t it…

Interesting article in the Yorkshire Post business pages last week about how the recession is affecting shops in various cities across the region.

Apparently nearly 26,000 shops have closed across the UK, with town centre retailers really being hit hard. You only have to look around to see too many empty premises here, so how do Hull’s shops compare?

“Sheffield city centre had a 15 per cent vacancy rate, with 29 new openings and 68 closures. Central Hull was the worst affected, with a vacancy rate of 20 per cent, with 11 new opening against 58 closures.”

Interestingly, the article says that places like Bridlington and Scarborough fare better because they have a high residential population to support local stores.

The Federation of Small Businesses advises that to help save our towns and cities, people should change their shopping habits and spend more money with local retailers. Is this something you’d consider to help out Hull’s businesses?

Whether its witches, vampires or ghouls, Hull is set to be one of the scariest cities in the UK this Halloween according to our online directories, including our very own city-visitor.

The data has revealed that searches for fancy dress shops in Hull is soaring in the run up to Halloween.

Hull has recorded 140% more searches compared to the average of the top twenty cities across the UK who have featured highly in searches for local fancy dress shops. In second place is the Isle of Man, with Liverpool coming a spooky third.

Which just goes to show that the residents of Hull obviously aren’t running scared of the recession and are gearing up for one of the best Halloweens yet!

Anyone else picked up on this “Dine” initiative, which is hoping to encourage people to use their city centre eateries more?

It’s happening with restaurants in Hull this week (12^th – 18^th October), meaning you can get a special £5 main course lunch or a £10 2-course evening meal at selected venues across the city.

People have long complained about the lack of restaurants in the area, particularly when Princes Ave seems to have taken the emphasis away from the city centre, but below are the restaurants who are stepping up to take part.

Why not treat yourself and see what they have to offer?

• Cerutti’s, Nelson Street, 328501
• Luciano’s, Carr Lane, 334455
• Restaurant, Holiday Inn Hotel (Marina), 08704009043
• The Omelette, Albion Street, 328603
• The Restaurant, Portland Hotel, Paragon Street, 326462
• Royal Carver Restaurant, Royal Hotel, Ferensway, 325087
• Stanley’s Brasserie, Ferensway, 222470
• Napoleons Casino Restaurant, George Street, 221133
• Operetta Ristorante & Pizzeria (Bond St), 218687
• Old Custom House, Lowgate, 210377
• Zillis, Trinity Square, 229988
• Soho Lounge (Posterngate), 222679
• Leonardo’s, 228475
• Naked Fish (St. Stephen’s), 212711

Apparently, Hull Comedy Festival, is the “arguably the fastest growing Comedy Festival in the UK” (according to RealYorkshire)

Whilst that might be pushing the boat out a little, we can all appreciate the effort it takes to promote the event and Hull in general.

As with anything, it’s good to support these events, especially with big names like Al Murray and impressionist Alistair McGowan amongst the 200 comedians.

And as the Hull Daily Mail claims, aside from bringing a smile to faces, the festival should also provide a welcome boost to the local economy – whether that’s through people visiting pubs, restaurants or staying in hotels in Hull

Interested? You can find out more about the line up, times and details on the Hull Comedy website.

It’s Hull Fair time again, starting on Friday 9^th October to Sunday 17^th October 2009.

We’re now celebrating over 700 years of Hull Fair, including white-knuckle rides, side stalls and not forgetting the biggest ride of them all…? Those scary looking tea-cups, designed for small children (although you often catch the parents on them too!)

It no doubt frustrates the neighbouring residents as they watch the cars pile in to park up as near as possible though. Don’t forget the Park & Ride to Hull Fair or other buses to the Walton Street site if you’re looking for that hassle free evening or want to avoid candy-floss in your car…

Enjoy!

It’s good to read the theatre in Hull doing well since it moved to the Ferensway building.

I haven’t been to see its new home yet I have to admit, although it’s one of these things I keep promising myself to do.

Whenever I go to the theatre, or the cinema in Hull for that matter, I always think I should go more often. I think we’re very lucky to have the likes of playwright John Godber on our doorstep and his long association with Hull Truck, so as the nights start to draw in (I know, the falling leaves are making me depressed already), perhaps it may inspire you for an evening out soon.

I was reading on the humberbusiness website about the whole host of sporting events that are coming to this region in the next couple of months.

It’s quite an impressive list given the usual complaints that Hull & the Humber never attracts anything big…

The Winmau World Masters Darts Championship hits Bridlington in September (4^th – 6^th) and will be live on the BBC, as well as the British Darts Open.

We’ve also scooped the chance to host on of the British Kite Surfing Championships in September on Bridlington’s South Beach

Finally, our stretch of coastline is also home to the European Open Beach Championship, which is now the biggest 3-day beach angling tournament in Europe, and we’ve also already seen the Men’s National Cycle Race tearing round Beverley this year.

And of course, we can now (for the time being at least) boast proudly of having the best football team in Yorkshire. The question is; how much longer can we stay a top-flight football team at the rate we’re going??…

We are, apparently, the UK’s City of Freedom. A made-up term if ever I heard one, but the sentiment is there.

It all links, of course, to Hull’s most famous son – William Wilberforce – and we’re celebrating the 250^th anniversary of his birth this year as part of the Freedom Festival.

In case you missed last year’s, the festival is planned for 11^th – 13^th September 2009 and we’re being promised that the city will be awash with activity and entertainment throughout the weekend; a Jazz Festival in the Marina, The Proms in Queen Victoria Square and live bands performing in Queen’s Gardens.

This year’s Freedom Festival will also incorporate the start of the Clipper 2009-10 Round the World Yacht Race, so we really are celebrating and pushing the boat out.

 All in all, looks like a good weekend is brewing. You can keep an eye out on the latest news for announcements of times, performers and venues here

There are talks of a new passenger cruise terminal at the Port of Hull. Talk about any port in a storm.

As the Yorkshire Post questions, what exactly does the Humber have in common with the Caribbean? Hmm… Errm… Tropical fish?

Still, the article does list why Hull could be a pretty effective port of call – it has the capacity, Hull is central on the east coast with “a catchment area of 40 million people within four hour’s drive”, and it’s a ‘gateway’ to the very beautiful Yorkshire.

Plus, cruise passengers also apparently spend an average of £120 at each place they visit.

That’s an awful lot of fish and chips

Brilliant opportunity for us however to hop on a boat and explore the world. I’m all for it.