The steel-hulled Endeavour replica arrived at Whitby on 1 June, 2018.1 After another month’s refitting she was opened to the public on 1 July, just in time for the town’s Cook Festival on the weekend of 6-8 July, 2018.2 However, this opening was only a temporary one to whet the appetite of tourists visiting the town. More work was needed to complete the internal lay-out and displays, so the ship was closed for another month. She finally re-opened on 1 August, in time for the peak tourist season at Whitby.
Andrew Fiddler, the owner of Endeavour, states that the vessel has been converted to become an educational attraction. The cost of buying the replica, and its subsequent conversion, totalled £1.2 million. Admission charges to go onboard are £7.50 for adults, and £4.50 for children under 16. The owner expects to get 150,000 visitors a year, in which case this project will soon cover the capital costs.
Visitors going onto “The Endeavour Experience” will see a range of displays laid out around the ship’s top deck. Audio recordings help recreate the atmosphere of life in Endeavour with the clucking of chickens and the bleating of goats, some of the animals that the ship is known to have carried. Visitors will also hear the sound of the ship’s cannon firing, although I suspect that this will also be part of the audio effects, rather than disturbing the town’s residents by discharging a real cannon on the deck.
Down on the main deck eleven different cabins and display spaces have been created, including
On the lowest deck, there is a small café serving refreshments during the day. After the ship has closed to the public, this area transforms into a 60-seat restaurant providing a fine dining experience to pre-booked parties. Scarborough Council has granted a licence to sell alcohol to the diners.
Have you been to Whitby and seen “The Endeavour Experience”?
If so, please drop a line to the editor telling him what you thought of the displays.
Cliff Thornton
References
Cook’s Log, page 24, vol. 41, no. 3 (2018).
See page 20.
Originally published in Cook's Log, page 37, volume 41, number 4 (2018).
We visited the Endeavour replica in Whitby today 30th May 2019I can report this was a visit with very mixed emotions.The town was very busy indeed, it being half term for schools. The attraction had reduced the price to £5 for adults! Nevertheless the attraction was not busy.We went on the boat and to the cafe, 3 of us had the most brilliant fish and chips we have had in a very long time. We then walked through the attraction which is of an extremely high standard.On leaving Whitby, I googled news on the attraction I found that the company that had invested in refurbishing the boat went into liquidation a month ago. And that the liquidators are continuing to run the attraction whilst hoping to find a buyer as a going concern!It would seem that Whitby just does not have the visitors who wish to see this attraction.Perhaps a home could be found in the Portsmouth naval dockyard. Let’s hope a buyer is found!
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