Weekender: Traders arrive to do business at landmark attraction
Halifax’s Piece Hall has welcomed four new shops this summer including an art and craft studio, a children’s designer clothes shop, a handmade gift shop and a jeweller.
Loafers, a vinyl and coffee shop which was one of the first businesses to open in the Grade I listed building, is moving into a larger unit on the arcade level which will provide an extra 100 sq ft of space.
Loafers’ move follows a successful two years for the company, which recently won New Starter Business of the Year at the Yorkshire Choice Awards. Since opening in 2017, the shop has hosted an array of live musicians including Inspiral Carpets and Dan Sealey from Ocean Colour Scene.
Mark Richardson, owner of the business, said he hopes the new space will allow room for more live music events as well as a regular open mic, comedy nights and coffee and wine tastings.
He said: “We’ve had an incredible first two years in The Piece Hall. Although our current spot is slightly tucked away, we’ve built up a loyal customer base who have supported us from day one.
“Moving into the bigger space will open up countless opportunities. We will be able to stock a much larger array of vinyl, there will be more room for customers to relax and enjoy a coffee and we’ll be able to bring even more live music to Halifax. Opening day is just around the corner and we can’t wait for everyone to see the shop.” Loafers will re-open on Saturday 24th August.
The newcomers to the Piece Hall include art shop and creative space Custard Create, which now occupies a 397 sq ft unit on the colonnade level of the hall.
Owner Kim Orwin said she had dreamed of owning a shop in The Piece Hall since she visited the Grade I listed building regularly as a child with her grandparents.
Orwin, who has been a photographer and artist all her life, decided to open the shop after being made redundant from her job in corporate management. As well as selling her own art and photography, she runs arts and crafts classes for children and will start lessons for adults in September. She commissions different styles of artworks and her shop is also home to a photography studio and photo restoration service.
The Handmade Gift Shop, which opened at the Piece Hall in June, sells gifts such as textiles, metal art, jewellery and eco-friendly products.
The shop is in a 294 sq ft unit on the colonnade level and is run and owned by Shelly Foster. She previously ran her crafting business from a workshop at the bottom of her garden, making cottages from reclaimed wood.
She used to manage several Salvation Army charity shops and said she decided it was time to bring both her love of crafting and retail together. Everything in her shop is handmade by 49 different independent crafters from across the Yorkshire region.
Shop 4 Little Horrors also opened in June, in a similar 294 sq ft unit on the colonnade level. Owner Caroline Huson said she had always wanted to open a shop in the Piece Hall and had originally planned to start up online.
Her shop sells nearly new children’s designer and high street clothing, a selection of unique gifts and Jomanda soft toys. It even runs an ‘Adopt-A-Teddy-Bear’ service, where customers can purchase a unique teddy which comes with its own personal story and certificate.
Also joining the independent offering at The Piece Hall is Leon K Dewhurst, who has launched a jewellery shop and workshop in a 490 sq ft unit alongside the other new businesses.
Dewhurst is a third-generation jeweller who specialises in handcrafting pieces of jewellery in gold, silver and platinum. Growing up within the jewellery trade, he is passionate about the work he undertakes.
Previously based in Settle, North Yorkshire, he decided to make the move to The Piece Hall after seeing the newly refurbished building on BBC One’s Antiques Roadshow. Dewhurst offers an extensive alteration, repair and remodelling service and will buy any unwanted jewellery to recycle in his workshop. He stocks a variety of sourced bronze sculptures and glassware which complement his original pieces.
Nicky Chance-Thompson, Chief Executive of The Piece Hall Trust, said: “It has always been the trust’s vision that independent businesses can establish themselves in The Piece Hall and thrive.
“It is fantastic that Loafers has been able to expand in just two short years. The four additional shops add something totally different to the already eclectic and vibrant retail offering that we have here. I wish them all great success and I’m so pleased they have chosen to be a part of our wonderful Piece Hall community.”
