Hull and East Yorkshire’s ‘big blue wave of positivity’ is heading to Goole as the port town gears up to celebrate its bicentenary in 2026.
After HEY! Volunteering played a huge role in the success of Hull as UK City of Culture 2017, the programme continued and expanded into Bridlington in 2024 – and is now heading to Goole.
Decked out in trademark blue uniforms, the ‘ambassadors’ offer a friendly welcome and advice to visitors, as well as take part in a host of other volunteering opportunities.
And news that the scheme is now recruiting in the area comes as Goole plans for its big anniversary year.
With a rich maritime heritage as the UK’s most inland port being 50 miles from the North Sea, summer 2026 marks the 200th anniversary of the ‘company’ town built to service the new docks.
Events are being planned to commemorate the milestone, including a “flotilla” of waterways’ vessels converging on the docks in July 2026, while new investments are set to give the town a multi-million-pound boost, too.
Leading the way is the transformation of the Victorian Market Hall into a vibrant food hall, live music and events venue, with the hope that it will become a central part of Goole’s ‘cultural quarter’.
Built in 1896 to replace an earlier building that was destroyed by fire in 1891, the once thriving shopping destination and event venue closed in 2019, but now Brew York, a York-based brewery, is bringing its popular craft beer and street food to the town.
While work was delayed, the transformation is now well underway and is expected to open in early 2026 (https://brewyork.co.uk/goole-market-hall/).
Although its history stretches back further, originally established in the 1620s, July 2026 marks 200 years since the much larger settlement of Goole was purpose-built by the Aire and Calder Navigation Company, which constructed a canal from Leeds to Goole and docks leading into the River Ouse.
In its heyday it was home to several shipping companies trading across Europe and further afield and even had its own passenger ferries to the Continent. Today it is still a busy port, handling around 1.5m tonnes of various cargoes a year.
For updates on Goole’s 2026 plans, see www.goole2026.org.uk
The HEY! Volunteer initiative is funded by the Heritage Innovation Fund with HEY! Volunteering supported by Visit Hull and East Yorkshire (VHEY). For more details about the scheme visit www.heyvolunteering.co.uk
For more details about things to do and where to stay in East Yorkshire as a destination, see www.visiteastyorkshire.co.uk
Photo: East Riding of Yorkshire Council