German tourist shares why UK city has been his holiday destination for 32 years

19 October 2023 , 09:52

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Rainer Schmidt has been visiting Hull for 32 years (Image: Katie Pugh)

While many people dream of holidaying on the golden beaches of Greece or exploring Rome one German tourist has been faithfully visiting a UK city for 32 years.

Rainer Schmidt's love affair with Hull began in 1991 during a business trip when he stayed at Earlsmere Guesthouse in Sunny Bank and struck up a friendship with its owner Chris Lawson. Fast forward three decades and Rainer, 56, from northern Bavaria, and Chris are still close pals. Rainer said: "When I first came to Hull in July 1991, I had never stayed in a real British hotel before."

Rainer was charmed by the quiet area and his pleasant room, but it was the English breakfast that truly won him over. He said: "I found it interesting and was impressed by the quiet area and the nice room, but I really fell in love with the English breakfast. I had seen it on TV and heard about it, but it was my first time indulging in it."

"British sausages aren't the best, so I make sure to swap them for extra bacon but otherwise, it is great.

Rainer signs the visitors book in the Lord Mayor's office, accompanied by friend Chris Lawson (right) (Katie Pugh)

"I had the option to visit the northern office in Hull or the southern office in Oxford and I quickly said I wanted to come to the the north. I find Northern people so friendly and warm- it reminds me of home when I'm here. I was invited to a birthday party by a colleague in Hull and I didn't know what to expect because I had never met them before."

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"But in only 10 minutes, they made me feel like family and that I was at home. I feel like I'm at least 30% British after my time spent travelling here. You could say I've caught the Yorkshire virus! The beautiful countryside and kind people are what makes Hull great."

Despite no longer working for the company, Rainer still visits Hull every year for a holiday, only missing 2006 and the years during the pandemic. He added: "I worried that my health during Covid wouldn't allow me to come back here- it was a hard three years not visiting. I try to spend four or five days here every year before going up to Scotland. When I first became a tourist, it was the ships and port in Hull that I was very impressed with.

Rainer Schmidt chats with Lord Mayor Councillor Kalvin Neal (Katie Pugh)

"Since then I've been to Hull Fair, Trinity House and the Guildhall, which I have thoroughly enjoyed. In 32 years, not much has changed, it still feels the same as the first time I arrived in Sunny Bank. I have made great friends in Hull, some of whom have moved or are no longer alive. But the friends that remain here, like Chris, still meet with me. Next time, I would like to go to a comedy night or maybe visit the theatre."

Chris is amazed by Rainer's loyalty to Hull. He said: "For a person who has limited funds to spend on a holiday each year, to choose Hull every time is very unique. Rainer's loyalty to Hull makes him an honorary citizen in my eyes. Therefore, I wanted to do something special for him by setting up a meeting with the Lord Mayor."

Chris had been planning the meeting for months and was excited to surprise his friend. The two were welcomed into the Guildhall on Tuesday afternoon where Rainer received a letter of thanks for his annual visits. The Lord Mayor of Hull, Councillor Kalvin Neal, even joked that Rainer was 'keeping the city going' with his contributions to the local economy.

* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]

Lorraine King