First tenants announced as historic Piece Hall prepares for opening following £19m refurbishment

The Piece Hall in Halifax has announced the first nine companies that will become tenants of the historic building when it re-opens this summer after a £19m refurbishment.

The Grade I listed building, which opened in 1779 as a trading centre for locally woven cloth before being converted in the 1970s into a tourist attraction with an art gallery, museum and shops,  is scheduled to open on August 1.

The line-up of tenants includes a retail and leisure mix of independent new start-ups, expanding local businesses and returning companies, kickstarting an enterprising new chapter for the sole surviving Georgian former cloth hall.

A rising star from the region’s hospitality industry will head up one of the new food and drink businesses.  Justin Thomas, who began his career at Leeds’ Friends of Ham where he was head of food development, and Kendall’s Bistro, has chosen The Piece Hall to locate his new venture.

Located on the lower ‘Arcade’ level, Thomas’s restaurant will occupy 1,060 sq ft.

Launching at The Piece Hall will be a trio of leisure and retail start-ups. The Escaporium, a live escape room founded by Angela Nicholls and Mark Wood, has taken an 882 sq ft unit on ‘Colonnade’ level.
Jewella, a mid-price jewellery and accessories shop, is expanding as owner Rose Eastwood has taken 294 sq ft on the ‘Rustic’ level.

Meanwhile, Loafers will occupy 392sq ft on the ‘Rustic’ level, selling records and refreshments and marking a new venture for Leeds entrepreneur Mark Richardson.

Three established regional businesses will open new retail outlets at The Piece Hall.  Halifax’s family-run independent department store Harveys, has taken 686sq ft for its new homewares store. Estate agents Yorkshire’s Finest will occupy 245 sq ft on the uppermost ‘Colonnade’ level.

Alison Bartram’s husband Paul is set to open a second gallery at The Piece Hall following a period of sustained growth with Alison’s successful Heart Gallery in Hebden Bridge. Occupying 392 sq ft, The Yorkshire Gallery will focus on work from Yorkshire artists, makers and designers.

Former tenants of The Piece Hall were among the first businesses to be offered space in the restored building and two confirmed to return are Creative Crystals and Replicar.

Creative Crystals owner Isobel Hampson has been selling crystals, gemstones and minerals for over 23 years, and has taken a unit of 294 sq ft on the ‘Rustic’ level, returning the business to its original setting. Replicar, set up in 1985 by Frances Burns and John Minshull, also returns to The Piece Hall this summer in a 294 sq ft space on the upper ‘Colonnade’ level, with hundreds of collectable die-cast vehicles.

Nicky Chance-Thompson, chief executive of The Piece Hall Trust, said: “I’m delighted to be announcing the first of our new tenants.  It’s always been our plan to fill the spaces with a diverse and interesting mix of independent businesses and it’s a terrific show of confidence in The Piece Hall that our first tenants comprise of established retailers and new concepts.

“Together we will make The Piece Hall the best retail, leisure, cultural and heritage destination in the North of England.”