please log in to view this image Hull Trinity Hostel owner Nicc Irvin’s grand plan of running the city’s first ever youth hostel is now coming to fruition, as HU1’s newest accommodation – located in the heart of the Old Town – opens its doors this month. We got a pre-launch sneak preview tour and despite the hostel being empty, there was a general good vibe hanging in the air around Trinity’s dorm rooms and communal living spaces. It’s easy to picture international backpackers milling about in reception, arguing the merits of a Bob Carver’s pattie (what eez thees pattie? It eez delicieux etc etc) and deciding which attractions and events to visit next. The 20-bed hostel is in an impressive Georgian building in Market Place (close to the Corn Exchange pub), and used to have a 700-seater theatre in the back before being turned into offices and warehouse space mid-20th century. The hostel’s commercial success can’t be measured for a while – its test phase when it opens this month precedes an official launch in March – but Trinity Hostel appears to reinforce and underline Hull’s growing credentials as a bona fide ‘visitor destination’. Hurrah to that. Nicc, from Hessle, outlines how he’s made his ambitious plan come good. Hello Nicc, tell us how Hull Trinity Hostel came about? I’ve travelled and stayed in hostels a fair bit in the last two years – in America, Canada, parts of Africa and Europe – which first prompted the question ‘why isn’t there an awesome hostel in Hull?’ After about a year, I decided to go for it and create one myself. I found the premises and have done a lot of the work – I like throwing myself into projects and figuring out how things work without necessarily relying on other people, which is one of the reasons it’s felt very slow-moving at times! It’s been a massive learning experience – I’m young (22) and have long hair, and have come up against a degree of prejudice based on both of those things along the way! I was determined to make it happen though and here we are… please log in to view this image please log in to view this image What’s unique about the hostel? I’ve tried to take inspiration from some of the best hostels I’ve stayed in to create something similar, but with a Hull slant. One of my favourite hostels is Bauhaus in Bruges; it looks awesome and has a great, friendly atmosphere, so if I can recreate any of that here then it would make Trinity Hostel very unique in the city. What can people expect when they visit? It’s really important that every guest gets an experience that is tailored just for them; that we can give them exactly what they want to get out of their stay here and their visit to Hull. When people walk in, we want them to feel that the place has a good energy and that they can find out about anything and everything they want to experience in the city. Favourite thing about or in the hostel? To me, the best thing about the hostel is that everyone who comes through the door is different and will want different things; hopefully we’ll attract guests from all over the world and from all walks of life. I’m passionate about showing people the city and getting them to fall in love with the place. I’ve had friends and some touring bands stay while we’ve been adding finishing touches here – there have been a couple of bands that have played Welly and the Adelphi and we’ve put them up. We’ve taken them around the Old Town and the Avenues and they’ve left saying it’s the best place they’ve ever visited. I plan to continue that level of personalised service; I’ve had talks with the city tour companies about linking up and have a group of volunteers ready to show guests around who have all travelled themselves and want to recreate the backpacker vibe – you can’t beat it! My favourite thing IN the hostel is the artwork and decorations – it’s all Hull-related, whether sports memorabilia or music posters, and everything has a story behind it. please log in to view this image And your favourite thing about Hull? All the ‘hidden gems’ that people often don’t know about or have forgotten about – places like the Museum Quarter and pubs like Ye Olde White Harte. Favourite Hull places/things to do? I love cycling, and love the fact that you only need to cycle 15 minutes or so and you can be in the middle of the countryside. What are your hopes for Hull as we head towards the City of Culture year in 2017? My hopes are that the energy and progress don’t fade out after 2017; the whole city needs to want it and get behind it to keep the momentum going. But I’m looking forward to it so much, it will be fantastic. please log in to view this image Hull Trinity Hostel, 51/52 Market Place, Hull, HU1 1RQ. The Hostel offers 6 bed, 4 bed and 2 bed dorm rooms – prices start at £13 per night. Call 01482 223 229 for information. www.hulltrinityhostel.co.uk http://www.reallyhull.com/2015/01/07/stay-hull-trinity-hostel/
Spot on Stan. Bit of info... In 1913, No.51-52 Market Place was converted from a Georgian house into a cinema, the Gaiety Picture House. It closed on 20th March 1915, only to reopen as a music hall which ran successfully until 1934, changing its name to the Playgoers Theatre in 1928. It survived intact through various uses of storage, rehearsal space, etc. until 1990 when the interior was completely gutted and the space used for an extension to the Market Hall. The facade was renovated at this time and the outside walls of the auditorium behind the original house are still there. https://geolocation.ws/v/E/3362705/market-place-kingston-upon-hull/en
Slowly ever so slowly Hull is dragging itself up from the pits its has been in for so long, there is just a hint things are moving upward. Some more apartment are earmarked opposite Cheese I know I know that is not a good advert but if ever you look upwards when in the city centre you will see above all of the shops vast swathes of empty properties. Yes some are used as store rooms for the shops below but not all. McDonald's use their upstairs and are one of the few, go towards the Little Miss Buffet, Dram Shop, and Laser Quest area of the city then there are lots of empty properties ripe for occupation. So this youth hostel development idea is a brave one, fingers crossed.
