Castle Buildings revived in Hull city centre

A Hull-based regeneration project has revived two historic city centre buildings.

Wykeland Group has completed a £2 million restoration of Castle Buildings and the neighbouring former Earl de Grey pub, bringing nearly 6000sq ft of commercial space back into use after decades of dereliction. 

Originally built in 1900 as offices for Hull steamship brokers, Castle Buildings had been empty since 1970, while the Earl de Grey, dating from 1831, closed in 2010.

The project carefully preserved historic features, including original parquet flooring, wrought iron columns, mosaic entryway tiles and the pub’s green-tiled frontage, while integrating modern elements such as double-glazed windows, structural repairs and a connecting glass atrium. 

Scaffolding that had supported Castle Buildings for over 30 years was replaced, while the pub was dismantled and reconstructed to face the Connexin Live arena.

Jonathan Stubbs, development director of Hull-based Wykeland, said: “We’re proud to reveal the restored Castle Buildings and open the doors to visitors for the first time in many decades.

“This restoration demonstrates our commitment to bringing historic buildings back into active use, while protecting and enhancing their heritage, particularly in our home city.

“This has certainly been a labour of love and undoubtably one of the most complex projects we’ve undertaken. 

“The end result is a modern, high-quality working environment in a very special building, rich in period features.

“We’ve had strong interest from potential occupiers, looking to make the most of this incredibly rare opportunity to move into one of the city’s most historic and prominent buildings in an excellent location in the heart of the city centre.”

Now fully refurbished, Castle Buildings offers flexible office or leisure space, suitable as a corporate headquarters or subdivided suites, with parking available. 

Its prime location near Hull Marina, Princes Quay, the rail and bus interchange and the Fruit Market waterfront also ensures convenient access for businesses.

Kathryn Shillito, executive director of HullBID (Business Improvement District), was among those who toured the restored Castle Buildings.

She added: “It’s fantastic to see how Wykeland has preserved so many of the original features, including panelling, parquet flooring and the iconic green Earl de Grey frontage, which has been no mean feat!

“One of the things that really struck me is just how flexible the space is. 

“The building can be let as a whole, or as smaller units, meaning it is really adaptable and can accommodate a variety of businesses.

“Walking around the building I was also really impressed by just how quiet it is, considering it is located by the main thoroughfare through the city.”

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