Yorkshire Coast Misses Out as Whitby, Scarborough, Bridlington, Driffield and Pickering Fail to Make UK Town of Culture Shortlist

The Yorkshire Coast has missed out on the chance to host the UK's first Town of Culture after bids from Whitby, Scarborough, Bridlington, Driffield, and Pickering failed to make the final shortlist.

The Yorkshire Coast has missed out on the chance to be crowned the UK's first Town of Culture, following the announcement of the competition's final shortlist.

Bids from Whitby, Scarborough, Bridlington, Driffield, and Pickering all failed to progress to the next stage of the landmark competition, which saw nearly 400 places from across the country submit applications.

The government confirmed that an incredible 398 bids were received from hopeful towns, demonstrating that culture belongs everywhere and shining a light on towns vital to the national story.

Whitby, Driffield, and Pickering had all entered the 'small town' category, while Scarborough and Bridlington were competing in the 'medium town' category.

Instead, fifteen other towns will now compete for the inaugural UK Town of Culture 2028 title, each receiving £60,000 to develop their full bids. The overall winner will be announced early next year and will receive a £3 million grant from the government.

Commenting on the short-list announcement Scarborough and Whitby MP Alison Hume said:

"While I am naturally disappointed that Scarborough and Whitby have not been shortlisted to become the UK’s first Town of Culture, I’m so proud of both towns’ bids. 

Scarborough and Whitby both put forward very strong cases, and this outcome should not be seen in any way as a reflection of the dedication, hard work and passion of everyone involved in developing the bids.

There were nearly 400 applications with 15 shortlisted. Our towns may not have got through this time but the government’s ambition to shine a light on local visions and voices from across the UK means there will be opportunities for Scarborough and Whitby in the future.

Scarborough and Whitby’s cultural stories did not begin with this competition, and they certainly won’t end here. 

Our artists, performers, organisations and volunteers continue to make both towns vibrant and inspiring places to live and visit.  

Scarborough and Whitby are cultural hubs for our creative coast in North Yorkshire and I have every confidence that our distinct cultural scenes will continue to flourish and go from strength to strength in the years ahead.

I am determined to build on the creative partnerships strengthened and made during the application process to deliver more opportunities for young people to access careers in the cultural, heritage and creative industries."

The competition aims to restore pride in local areas and deliver a decade of national renewal. It is hoped the initiative will encourage increased local investment, create a lasting sense of pride, and open doors to arts and culture for everyone.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:

"I want to say a massive congratulations to the fifteen shortlisted towns and I wish them luck in the next round of the competition.

The fact that we received so many applications just goes to show how proud people are of their towns. When I launched this competition, I wanted to shine a light on our amazing towns all across the UK and the huge contribution they make to our national life.

I am so glad that so many towns have applied and I hope each and every town, whether they have been shortlisted or not, is incredibly proud of the work they have done to champion their local community."

To recognise all the towns that participated, including those on the Yorkshire Coast, every bidding town was invited to submit a postcard celebrating their bid. These postcards were shared across social media and showcased in a digital display, and will remain within a national museum collection.

The shortlisted towns were recommended by an independent panel chaired by Sir Phil Redmond. The panel was selected to ensure a broad range of cultural experience and regional diversity.

Chair of the independent panel, Sir Phil Redmond said:

"The response to the competition has been, to say the least, overwhelming, quite literally from all four corners of the UK. It has been fantastic that nearly 400 towns have come forward, sharing their sense of pride, ambition and desire to demonstrate how much they have, and continue to contribute to our national story.

That of course has made making the decision on the shortlist itself much more difficult, never mind the actual winners.

I look forward to visiting those towns that have made the list and I am sure that, just like City of Culture, those that didn't manage it will have found the experience of taking part worthwhile in strengthening partnerships, raising awareness and reminding us all of the depth and spread of the UK's cultural landscape. I'd like to thank them all for that."

The overall winner of the competition will go on to host a season of culture in 2028. The government stated that previous UK City of Culture holders have attracted more than £1 billion in additional investment and welcomed an estimated two million visitors.

Recent audience research also showed that more than 80 per cent of attendees at previous cultural events felt they increased their pride in the place they live.

It is hoped that investment in the UK Town of Culture will bring a similar legacy of cultural regeneration, attracting more visitors in the years to come while growing the local economy and encouraging creativity across local areas.