Unique wake venues in Hull

A wake is an informal event that traditionally takes place after a funeral service and cremation or burial. It’s usually an informal event that involves family and friends gathering to share memories and celebrate the life of their loved one.

Traditionally, wakes would take place at someone’s home, or a community centre or pub, but they can take place anywhere. The people organising the wake may want to honour their loved one by holding the wake at a place that was special to them, such as at the grounds of their favourite football team, for example. 

Also, although wakes usually take place directly after the funeral service, they can be held at any time. They can also be as structured or as informal as the organiser would like. Wakeorganiserss have the freedom to host the event that’s right for them, their family and friends, and their loved one.

If you’re organising a wake in Hull, there are plenty of unique venues where you can host the event in your own way, from a picnic at East Park, to observing the incredible marine life at The Deep.

Find your funeral director in Hull who will help you arrange a cremation, and give you ideas for a wake, memorial or reception that's right for you.

East Park is the largest park in Hull and fully opened in 1887 to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. It’s also Grade II listed, and thanks to a £10 million lottery grant, it has been transformed into a beautiful and vibrant green space full of historic and modern attractions.

There is something for everyone at East Park, and if you have memories of you and your loved one enjoying the park, it could make a great, poignant place to hold a unique wake for them. The parkland spans 130 acres and has several attractions, such as the Animal Education Centre, a free-entry zoo that houses animals from around the world, and the adapted cycling centre, which help make cycling accessible to all park visitors. East Park is also home to its very own library located in the Pavillion, and you can enjoy some homemade food at the Central Pavilion Café. Additionally, you can visit the Boat House, where you can enjoy swan boat rides.

Other park features include the Mick Ronson Reflection Garden celebrating one of the most famous musicians in Hull. There’s also the Ferens Boating Lake, the Sensory Garden Boardwalk that features magical sculptures that move the flowers and release their scents, and the Veterans Corner, a quiet place to sit and reflect on the lives of veterans of the World Wars and other conflicts.

You can hire Ferens Art Gallery and other museums located in Hull City Centre for all manner of events, including wakes. The Ferens in particular has a breathtaking collection of paintings and sculptures, including works by European Old Masters and contemporary British art, with highlights by renowned artists such as Lorenzetti, Helen Chadwick, and Stanley Spencer.

Ferens is also very easy to get to, as Hull bus and train station is just 10 minutes away by foot. The closest bus stop is Myton Bridge on Alfred Gelder Street. There is also a short stay pay and display parking available at Lowgate car park on Wilberforce Drive, a 5-minute walk away. The venue is accessible with a ramp entrance with a shallow incline, while you can access the toilets to the right of the café space with a combined accessible toilet/baby change area and unisex cubicles.

You can visit the Hull Council website for more information on how to hire the venue.

The Deep opened in 2002 and is an education and conservation charity, playing an international role in marine conservation and creating partnerships with key governing bodies, conservation organisations, and other reputable zoos and aquariums to protect our oceans better.

If your loved one enjoyed nature and has fond memories of visiting The Deep with them, it would be a great, unique, truly memorable venue to celebrate their lives. You can book an exclusive evening hire for up to 250 guests in the Endless Ocean space that provides a stunning backdrop of sharks and the other inhabitants of the aquarium. 

You can also hire smaller spaces within The Deep for more intimate events, such as the Kingdom of Ice home to The Deep’s penguins or the Cool Seas, a truly atmospheric space. Or, you can opt for the Observatory, which overlooks fantastic views of the Humber. Depending on availability, you can hire The Deep for lunchtime events also.