Plans for development include two large department stores and up to 60 new shops, as well as a potential “Quay West” development including a new hotel in Hull and leisure centre in Hull.

It has received mixed reactions, mainly from people who are dubious of how long units took to fill in St Stephen’s, as well as fears for the smaller, less-established shops that will inevitably fall victim to another giant.

But, times are changing and Hull must move forward in line with the other great cities in the UK. Though I can still never quite imagine a time where people from further afield get up one day and say “I know, let’s go shopping, how about Hull?”, in the same way they talk fondly of York, Meadowhall or Leeds.

Either way, Hull can always guarantee that me and my credit card will never be too far away…

We’ve been knocked out of the race, with the four cities still in the running for the UK’s first City of Culture 2013 being Birmingham, Derry/Londonderry, Norwich and Sheffield.

The sense of disappointment is still there, but we have been faithfully reassured by the team behind the bid that Hull is going from strength to strength.

According to Hull City Council, we just have to remember the ‘feel good’ factor resulting from events like Hull’s Freedom Festival and Beverley’s literature festival, and that “whether we win or not, this process will give us a focus for culture for the area for the next five years and will help us to attract more funding for cultural activity.”

Plus there’s always the 2017 bid…

The beach, of course.

Although perhaps not your first thought for a weekend away or a mini break, Visit Hull and East Yorkshire (VHEY) are working their socks off to promote our beautiful coastline and this area as the place-to-be this summer.

The Marine Conservation Society’s “Good Beach Guide 2009″ has identified 10 of this region’s beaches to have met the required standard, with five achieving ‘Recommended‘ status.

As Janet Reuben, Chief Executive of VHEY, has been quoted:

“Its excellent news that so many of the region’s beaches have achieved this prestigious accreditation. The East Yorkshire coastline is a superb attraction to visitors offering everything from rural beauty – at places such as Spurn Point and Flamborough Head – to traditional seaside fun at the family resort of Bridlington.”

So there you have it. No need to jet off to far-flung places. A picnic, maybe a frisbee or two, and a swim in the sea. Let’s hope the forecasters have got it right this year!