First tenants announced as The Piece Hall prepares to open following a £19m transformation

The Piece Hall in Halifax has announced the first nine companies that will be open for business when the historic development reopens on 1st August.

The nine tenants to move into the Georgian former cloth hall, which underwent a £19.2m restoration, include a retail and leisure mix of independent new startups, local businesses and returning tenants.

One of the new food and drink businesses is to be headed up by Justin Thomas, who began his career at Leeds’ Friends of Ham, where he was head of food development, and Kendall’s Bistro (Head Chef).

Justin has chosen The Piece Hall to open a brand new venture. Located on the lower ‘Arcade’ level and occupying 1,060 sq ft, Thomas’s restaurant will offer “modern comfort food” from a menu that reflects British seasonal and artisan produce.

Launching at The Piece Hall will also be three new leisure and retail startups. The Escaporium, founded by Angela Nicholls and Mark Wood, is a live escape room which has taken a unit of 882 sq ft on ‘Colonnade’ level.

Jewella, a mid-price jewellery and accessories shop showcasing a curated selection of British brands, is taking 294 sq ft on the ‘Rustic’ level. Leeds entrepreneur Mark Richardson’s new venture Loafers, which sells vinyl records and refreshments, is also occupying 392 sq ft on the ‘Rustic’ level.

In addition, three regional businesses will open new retail outlets at The Piece Hall. Halifax’s oldest family-run independent department store, Harveys, is taking 686 sq ft for its new homewares store. Estate agents Yorkshire’s Finest has taken 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 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 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.

Nicky Chance-Thompson, chief executive of The Piece Hall Trust, commented: “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.”