Edward I, the father of a gay king, founded the East Yorkshire port of Hull on the Humber Estuary in 1299. His son, the Prince of Wales (Edward II), though married to Queen Isabella, found a guy called Piers Gaveston much more to his liking. Poor Piers was executed on crossing the Earl of Warwick, homosexuality then being a capital crime.
There’s a kind of poetic justice then in the fact that Hull’s post-2004 gay scene has played its own special part in reviving the region’s fortunes after severe job losses amongst seafarers and trawlermen. There’s a subterranean courage here, aptly symbolized by a huge, stylish aquarium (The Deep), that would have made both Edwards proud.
Approaching Kinston upon Hull via the magnificent Humber suspension bridge (opened in 1981) which fostered easier trade and communication between the two limbs of the peninsular, gay visitors could rightly hail this city as the San Francisco-of-the-North.
My exploration of the scene began at Frankie’s Vauxhall Tavern, a very friendly and well-managed drag and cabaret bar in a two hundred year old building. When he can, gifted gay vocalist, mimic and local hero Joe Longthorne enjoys having a drink here. Over a three year period staff have covered every inch of wall and ceiling space with gay images, Union flags, and a vast range of memorabilia, while even the Gents is like a cave of visual soft porn.
The Star an Garter has equally good music and an attractive, young muscled doorman. Another old pub nearby, The Yorkshireman, is a vibrant venue with a glowing pink interior, and boasts a working red telephone box by the bar, in contrast to those still found on the streets which are universally painted cream.
A customer celebrates his 18th birthday with a special drag queen performance at Hull’s Star and Garter
With the recent closure of The Polar Bear, Hull’s lesbians can be found in all the gay venues, without a dedicated place of their own, but this adds to the interesting mix. Despite hard economic times, Hullians keep up their legendary capacity to drink and party.
Another son of Hull, fifties’ tenor David Whitfield (1925-1980), could drink ten pints before going on stage and give a fine performance, and he is still one of only six entertainers who has has had a number 1 record for more than 10 consecutive weeks in the UK Singles’ Chart. There will soon be a statue in his memory, to join that of fellow resident and acclaimed poet Philip Larkin whose sculpted form perpetually hurries through the station.
Two big clubs, Propaganda and Fuel, and The Mission pub, known for its real ales and stained glass, complete the scene, which has an annual Pride celebration. Hull’s stylish architecture reflects this pride, and the city’s spirit is captured in buildings like the lovely old Tower theatre, surmounted by the figure of silent screen star Mary Pickford.
Kevin who manages Frankie’s admits it’s “a real boozers’ pub”, but he’s well aware of the very real problems many punters face through joblessness and economic uncertainty. Lapping up the Saturday night atmosphere as we chatted, I couldn’t help agreeing with him that, despite all the odds, Hull’s resurgent gay spirit is here to stay.
By John Hartley.
Copyright (c) February, 2011. All Rights Reserved.
