Further delay to maritime museum reopening

The reopening of Hull Maritime Museum has been pushed back for a second time.

Work on the former docks office in Queen Victoria Square started in 2021 as part of a £27.5m revamp of the city’s maritime heritage.

It was originally scheduled to welcome visitors in 2025, but that date was pushed back to spring 2026.

The council has now said it expected the museum to reopen next summer instead.

The Hull Maritime project also includes the renovation of the former North End Shipyard on the River Hull as part of a new visitor attraction, as well as the redevelopment of Queen’s Gardens.

Councillor Mike Ross, leader of Hull City Council, said it was important for the maritime project to be completed by next year.

“We expect Queen’s Gardens to be open by spring, and we are looking at around summer for the maritime museum,” he added.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, once reopened, the museum will be able to accommodate more objects than previously, and will see the return of its largest exhibit – the skeleton of a juvenile North Atlantic right whale.

Earlier this year, more than 45,000 objects showcasing Hull’s 800-year maritime history were brought back to the city and moved to a new storage centre ready for when the museum reopens.