THE DEEP – HULL

Renewing the floors beneath the waves – 25 years of trusted delivery at one of the UK’s most iconic aquariums.

Why this space matters

The Deep is one of the UK’s largest and most visited aquariums, drawing over 450,000 people a year. Visitors travel through immersive marine environments, from tropical reefs to Antarctic ice, surrounded by more than 3,500 species of marine life. For a space designed to educate, inspire, and entertain – flooring needs to do its job without ever drawing attention. Safe, durable, and seamless underfoot – especially when that foot belongs to an excited toddler.

This is not just a floor...

It’s where the world beneath the waves comes to life.

The brief

Hull Flooring was engaged to carry out a full renewal of the vinyl flooring throughout The Deep’s visitor areas – including walkways, ramps, tank viewing platforms, attraction zones, staircases, the restaurant, bar seating areas, and the gift shop.

After years of heavy footfall, The Deep sought to replace the original flooring (installed by Hull Flooring back in the early 2000s) with a modern, safety-first solution. The new system needed to be robust, slip-resistant, and in keeping with the aquarium’s carefully curated visitor experience.

Making it work

This was a live environment with no downtime. The Deep operates daily from 10am to 6pm, meaning all flooring work had to be completed at night – and outside of peak holiday periods to avoid disruption. That required detailed planning with the on-site team, phasing work area-by-area to keep the space safe and operational for the public.

We began by uplifting the existing finishes and applying Arditex NA latex smoothing compound. We then installed Altro vinyl flooring, selecting products that offered both slip-resistance and aesthetic quality. Walkways and ramps received high-performance safety vinyl, while wood-effect vinyl was installed in the restaurant and gift shop to create warmth and contrast.

The result

The Deep now benefits from fresh, high-performing floors that support visitor flow, enhance safety, and complement the immersive experience on offer. With minimal disruption, the works were delivered on time and in full – reinforcing a 25-year relationship between Hull Flooring and one of Hull’s most treasured buildings.

At a glance

• Client: The Deep – Hull

• Sector: Leisure / Tourism

• Programme: 8 weeks

• Scope: Uplift, subfloor prep, and full vinyl flooring renewal

• Size: 1,500sqm

• Timing: Night shifts only, outside peak periods

• Key materials:

  • Arditex NA smoothing compound

  • Altro vinyl flooring (safety & wood-effect finishes) 

Outcome:

Delivered out-of-hours with no impact to visitor experience; modernised flooring for one of Hull’s most iconic venues