The Piece Hall in Halifax will re-open its gates to the public on Tuesday 1 August 2017 after the completion of Calderdale Council’s multi-million pound transformation programme, which includes support of £7million from The National Lottery.
At 10am on Yorkshire Day the bell above the west gate will be rung to echo the first day of trading at The Piece Hall on 1 January 1779.
The opening will mark the transition of the management of the building from the Council to The Piece Hall Trust and will be a celebration of the restoration and transformation of the Grade I listed building.
Leader of Calderdale Council, Cllr Tim Swift said:
“There can’t be a more fitting date for the re-opening of The Piece Hall than Yorkshire Day, when we celebrate all that is great about our county.
“The transformation programme was about restoring and preserving The Piece Hall for future generations, but also about adapting an 18th Century trading hall into a world class venue for the 21st Century, which will attract visitors from the UK and beyond.
“I’m confident people will be very impressed at the high quality restoration as soon as they come through the gates and, having seen The Piece Hall Trust’s exciting plans for the building it has a very bright future. It will become the place to be.”
Nicola Chance-Thompson, Chief Executive of The Piece Hall Trust said:
“This is a major moment for The Piece Hall and the region. We are looking forward to welcoming visitors who already know and love the building, as well as meeting first time visitors.
“There is no place like it and we are encouraging entrepreneurs and independent business owners to contact us as we build momentum towards opening.
“We have a host of exciting retailers already signed up – and we’ll be able to make announcements soon – now is a great moment for businesses to join us in another important milestone in the fascinating history of this place.
“That The Piece Hall is an architectural gem is without question; together we will launch it as one of the most exceptional heritage, leisure and cultural destinations in the country.”
Independent businesses from the food and drink, retail and leisure sectors, keen to be part of the Grade I listed building’s renaissance are now being encouraged to step forward – a final call to join an exciting list of tenants already signed up for the start of this exciting new chapter.
Prospective traders interested in finding out more should contact the commercial team on lettings@thepiecehall.co.uk / 01422 525200 or visit www.thepiecehall.co.uk/to-let(external link)
Details of the retailers that have already signed up and the exciting programme of events taking place throughout the summer will be released shortly.
The Piece Hall transformation project has been funded jointly by Calderdale Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund – thanks to National Lottery players – and generous support from the Garfield Weston Foundation and the Wolfson Foundation.
View our timelapse film of the transformation of The Piece Hall courtyard here(external link)