BY JACK WATSON
It is that time of year again in my hometown of Hull. The streets are bare, shops are deserted, and darkness descends earlier each day. No, the world is not ending. Everyone has flocked to an area in West Hull called Walton Street, just yards from the local football and rugby stadium. Where an empty car park stood weeks ago, a vibrant festival of lights and entertainment has been transformed. Hull Fair is here: Europe’s largest travelling fair.
The event is a prestigious part of Hull’s culture and history, and a feature that makes us proud to live in the area. Typically, we folk from ‘ull have to travel around the region or country to visit such events. But not this time. It is right on our doorstep and has been coming for over 740 years.
Not only is it the largest, but it is also one of the oldest fairs in history. King Edward I granted the first royal charter for a fair in 1279, when Hull was originally known as Wyke-upon-Hull. It started primarily as a livestock and merchant trading market, where cloth and silk were sold. He ordered an annual six-week fair to be held from 25 May until 6 July. During 1293–1299, the charter was extended, establishing longer seasonal markets and fair periods, which gradually shifted the focus from trading to public entertainment.
In the 1750s, locals feared losing their fair. The adoption of the Gregorian calendar (the current 365/366-day calendar) meant 11 days were skipped, prompting uproar from locals who did not want to lose their celebration. The Calendar Riots forced Parliament to permanently set the date to the nearest Friday to 11 October. It has been the same ever since.
The fair survived another national crackdown under the Fairs Act 1871, which shut down many traditional British fairs due to rowdiness and safety concerns. Hull Fair was excluded from this law. Eighteen years later, it was relocated from Park Street to its current home on Walton Street. The fair has continued to thrive and grow in popularity, developing from a trading market into one of the best travelling funfairs and leisure spectacles.
The fair has seen significant changes. It used to be full of arcades, food markets, old traditional rides, and games. There is also evidence to suggest there used to be freak shows, boxing, and wrestling matches. Now, the fair hosts some of the tallest rides in the world and has a diverse food range. The food is the best part of the fair and why most people go. If you do not like rides, there is also a whole street dedicated to food stalls, selling traditional items: brandy snap (no brandy in them, unfortunately), coconut ice, nougat, fish and chips, fudge, and boiled sweets. There are also new street foods and various cuisines, such as Chinese, Greek, German, and French. This has gained attention from social media influencers.
It is special and magnificent, hosting over 300 rides and attractions across 16 acres of land. It attracts around 500,000–600,000 visitors annually over the 7-day period, with 800,000 being our biggest attendance. Hull has a population of around 250,000, so it is clear its popularity stretches across the country. It generates £11–15 million depending on attendance and, although most profit leaves with the operators, an agreeable sum does go to the council, which can be invested in the city.
The fair has continued to grow since being established. The only circumstances under which it has been shut were during the wars, when it was used as a mooring point for barrage balloons (a military vehicle park) and a tank training ground, and during COVID-19. There has always been speculation about moving the fair. But doing this would alter our history. Why try to fix something that is not broken?
This historical event never disappoints. The environment is always buzzing, the aromas of the various types of food are mouth-watering, the rides are thrilling (with a variation of low to high adrenaline for those thrill-seekers), and it is always well-organised. If The Deep (our award-winning aquarium) does not attract you to Hull, then this will.
If you are ever in the area around October, do yourself a favour and visit Hull Fair. It is free to walk around, and it is a good one to tick off your bucket list.
Jack Watson is a 17 year-old student in Year 12. You can read his Substack about following Hull City FC here. Follow him on X here.