Trio of new independent businesses join The Piece Hall in Halifax

The Piece Hall in Halifax has welcomed a trio of new independent businesses, which now takes commercial occupancy to 70%.

Joining the 28 businesses already trading at The Piece Hall are a new family-run Lebanese restaurant; an optician and a vintage furniture shop.

Al’s Emporium, owned by husband & wife team, Alan & Simone Sargent, specialises in retro, vintage and antique furniture and collectables.

The business, which has moved to The Piece Hall from a high street shop in the market town of Todmorden, will showcase a collection of handmade crafts, collectables, antiques, militaria and art from a 490 sq ft space on the uppermost Colonnade level of the building.

Simone Sargent said: “We visited the Piece Hall with our children as part of a family day out and were blown away by the selection of independent artisan shops that it is now home to.

“We decided that we wanted to be part of the excitement that surrounds the transformation and can’t wait to move in and build our little bit of history in The Piece Hall.”

Ghada Elkhatib is the woman behind Beit Setti, a Lebanese restaurant opening in June that will take over 490 sq ft on the ground floor making the Arcade Level fully occupied.

Located next to the East Gate of the building, Beit Setti will have an outdoors eating area and will offer a menu of authentic dishes that rely on specially imported spices and herbs from the Middle East.

Eyeware Boutique is the latest venture from Bottomley’s Opticians, the 70-year-old Halifax business located nearby in the Old Town Hall. The Boutique will be run by the third generation of the family, Jim Bottomley, and can be found in a 294 sq ft unit on the central Rustic level in The Piece Hall.

Nicky Chance Thompson, chief executive at The Piece Hall Trust, said: “I’m delighted to welcome these new businesses to The Piece Hall family.

“All of us here have a shared ambition to create a successful and sustainable future in Halifax and in just nine months, The Piece Hall has become home to a distinctive range of independent businesses, complementing the high street brands and popular market traders already in Halifax.

“In the last week alone, there’s been a fantastic buzz around the place with the Tour de Yorkshire and the listing in England’s ‘Top Ten Industry, Trade & Commerce’ places helping to put the town on an international stage. We’re 100% focussed on creating the right mix of retail, hospitality, events and heritage attractions, to make The Piece Hall a destination like no other.”