Humberside has many delights for the visitor. Whether it's the joys of seaside resorts like Cleethorpes and Bridlington, the rolling hills of the Wolds or Humber ports, there's every chance you may be delighted.
The traditional seaside resort of Bridlington is a good place for exploring the northern part of Humberside, with Beverley and Hull a short distance away by road or rail. Bridlington itself has a sizeable number of hotels and guest houses. The northern part of the resort is dominated by The Expanse which, along with Sewerby Hall (to reopen in Summer 2014) a short distance away, offers meeting rooms. On the south part of Bridlington is The Spa complex. As well as offering first class live entertainment, the Royal Hall is a suitable conference venue. Recently renovated, it is a stunning facility with the added bonus of coastal views.
Further down from Bridlington is the splendid Burton Agnes Hall. A fine example of Elizabethan architecture, it is a popular venue for outdoor events, with the hall available for hire. The market town of Beverley is well worth a visit for its Minster, Wednesday and Saturday open markets and a host of festivals. The town's grammar school is the UK's oldest, established in around 700 A.D. Flat racing takes place at Beverley Racecourse, west of the town centre.
Few conference venues can lay claim to having direct links with Manchester and Rotterdam, but Kingston-upon-Hull certainly can! The changing face of Hull is dominated by The Deep, on the banks of the Humber estuary. The world's only submarium, it includes a variety of areas like Endless Oceans, Amazon Flooded Forest and the North Seas tank. There is also bar and restaurant facilities with The Deep available for hire as a conference venue.
Other attractions in Hull include the Street Life transport museum, Ferens Art Gallery and the William Wilberforce Museum. There's a number of famous name stores, some of which in the Princes Quay Shopping Centre which also boasts a multiplex cinema. Live entertainment is available at the Hull New and Hull Truck theatres. Sports fans will be suitably placated at the KC Stadium, where Hull City A.F.C. and Hull F.C. play their home matches. The latter is one of two first class rugby league sides in Hull with the second one, Hull Kingston Rovers on the east side of the city in Craven Park.
On the other side of the River Humber, Scunthorpe and Grimsby are its main towns. South of the Humber, the rural aspect is blemished by the industrial setting of the three, though rich in conference venues a short distance away. One of them is Glanford Park, home to Scunthorpe United. Also available for hire in the same town is The Baths Hall, which along with the Plowright Theatre is noted for top line entertainment.
Grimsby is not without its attractions, being home to the National Fishing Heritage Centre. There is also Freshney Place Shopping Centre which has a host of national chain stores and Grimsby Priory. First rate live entertainment comes courtesy of the Grimsby Auditorium.
Next door to Grimsby is the traditional seaside resort of Cleethorpes. Attractions include a miniature railway, the Pleasure Island amusement park plus a long promenade with amusement arcades and gardens. Central Promenade Gardens is dominated by Ross Castle, a mock castle ruin built by the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway in 1863. Both towns have indoor and outdoor markets.
Whether you wish to choose the northern side or the southern side of the Humber as a possible conference venue, there are good road and rail links. Towards Hull and Bridlington, the M62 is within easy reach. From Grimsby and Scunthorpe, the M180 off the M18 makes travel to the East Midland most effective. There are regular trains from Hull and Cleethorpes to Manchester Piccadilly and Sheffield. Some trains from Sheffield continue to Bridlington via Hull. As an alternative to the usual venues, the Humberside area fits the bill.
