What a load of $ollocks. Liverpool was already light years ahead of the game before they won it.

The regeneration of the city was in full swing and they built on their strengths and heritage. Big names wanted to be part of it and continue to do so.

Take a trip to Liverpool and ask yourself if we can compete with what they have, the answer is no.

I am not kncking Hull, but as I pointed out, we do not have the people in charge who can take the city in the direction required and build upon our own history and heritage.

Look at the docks area - what a state. Grimsby got the fishing heritage.... they are a back water compared to Hull. There is no vision or desire to take this city forward and I cannot see that changing in the near to mid future.

From the minute the judges drove down Clive Sullivan way and saw the Lord line building they would have made their minds up.

We are a sattelite city and the major investment required will not be forthcoming.

So how did we make the final four, then?

Watch it mate!

Have you seen who we were up against... not a real coup if Hull did win it.

This is not exactly the same as Liverpool in 2008 who won European capital of culture, this is the UK culture secretary's idea of a prestigious award.

While it may generate a small rise in tourism, it will not benefit in the same way as a European award.

Your not knocking Hull?? Sounds like it to me mate!
I agree with you though we definitely do not have the people in charge with the vision to turn this city into something special. But it does not help when so many of the people who actual live here bring it down so much.

I seriously am not knocking Hull I am just being realistic.

Given the whole Scotland issue at the minute, Dundee are a shoe in for the award.

Based on my last visit to Dundee (which admittedly was in 199icon_cool.gif, we are living in Monaco by comparison to them!

No, that is your opinion. It's not "definite".

I'd like to see Hull win it. Having lived in Spain, London and Bristol, and I really do travel the country and Europe quite a lot (Amsterdam yesterday, Croydon today, Edinburgh next week) I have to say the city has a lot of offer.

The city centre needs a clean up frankly, but I can show you a dozen or so city centres that are worst, not least Croydon were I am now. However what we do have is a fantastic museum quarter with genuinely great places to visit like the Transport Museum, the History Museum and Art Galleries. We have a rich maritime history, a rich English history and of course we have Wilberforce, which of course the video ends with "say yes to Hull, say yes to Freedom".

I have to say, and it may be a rather wishy washy sentiment, I do think we have some great, salt of the earth people that live in the city as well. My wife is from Bristol, which to be fair is a reasonably friendly city as well, and I remember when we first moved back her surprised comments of "people keep talking to me at the bus stop".

I actually don't think the video does a great job of portraying the city. I like its angle, the people, but for me it misses. I think it starts well with the Larkin quotes, and ends well with the "we are Hull, we are Freedom" but the comments from ordinary folk actually get a bit stereo typical for me and the video is a bit boring. I would have liked to have seen a bit more of Hull's dry humour and culture in there, like the Old Town and its history. Also a little more "21st century" in there as well, history is massively important, people hugely so, but also an eye to the future. The Deep, the schools (we have some great ones, it was with pride that I attended the House of Lords a few weeks ago with kids from Sentamu Academy for their presentation on Architectural Design), the University and the fantastic projects that go on there etc. But I'm all for the bid, and I very much hope that it does the job.

Fantastic news, well done to all involved in the successful bid.

Congratulations on being 2017 city of culture

My bum's a bit red today, is your face BB?


Wonderful news, this!

Hull is great.

The museums like Wilberforce, Transport etc, The Art Gallery is actually one of the best in the country, we are home to the anti slavery movement, the old town, great live music scene, great pubs, 3 major sport teams with international standard stadium.., great parks, finally great nutty people with a great dry humour... We have recently big improvements in infrastructure for example Sentamu and Sirus academies....

Let's use this to be more positive about our city, I hear to often people override all of the above and more with comments about a few shops being empty in the centre etc.

As I posted earlier in this thread, I travel the country every week. Hull has a lot to offer and fully deserves this award.