Levelling Up cash to revive vacant city property

Visitors to Hull city centre will soon be able to enjoy a taste of both France and Taiwan thanks to Levelling Up Funding (LUF).

Crepes & Bubbles Whitefriargate Ltd will receive £101,800 for the proposed conversion of a redundant unit to open as a takeaway food and beverage shop selling crepes and bubble tea.

The funding, from money awarded to Hull City Council in 2021 by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), will help to bring back into use 33 Whitefriargate which has been empty since 2021 when it was vacated by Thorntons.

It will help Crepes & Bubbles purchase business support equipment such as fridges and freezers and electronic menus, as well as install preparation stations and the remodel stud wall partitioning.

There will also be the creation of a new customer counter, internal and external decoration. The project is predicted to create seven full-time equivalent jobs.

Councillor Paul Drake-Davis, Hull City Council’s portfolio holder for regeneration, said: “This is an exciting project and one that will no doubt be popular in the city centre.

“Having stood empty since 2021, 33 Whitefriargate is in a fantastic location and Crepes & Bubbles will be a brilliant addition to the Old Town.

“LUF has already supported many hospitality businesses and I look forward to seeing another one completed.”