Piece Hall restaurant to shut amid cost pressures

An in-house restaurant located at Halifax's Piece Hall is to close because of "difficult economic conditions".

The Piece Hall Trust, which runs the building, said "every possible option" had been explored to keep The Trading Rooms restaurant, cafe and bar open but "initiatives undertaken did not have the desired effect on profitability".

Last month the trust warned the venue's future was under review and that a "small number" of roles were at risk of redundancy.

The trust said the commitment, professionalism, and hard work of all The Trading Rooms staff needed to be acknowledged.

In a statement it said: "After a thorough review and consultation, the Piece Hall Trust has made the difficult decision to close The Trading Rooms restaurant," according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

It added: "Despite this difficult outcome, we are proud of what The Trading Rooms has achieved in serving the community and those visiting our historic town.

"Many people have enjoyed celebrating special occasions with the dedicated team, enjoying good food and a warm welcome."

The trust said the contribution of staff had made a "meaningful difference" and that "we are providing support to all affected employees, including alternate roles with the trust, notice periods, redundancy packages, career guidance, and well-being resources."

It added: "We remain committed to our mission and will continue to focus on initiatives that support Halifax and the wider Calderdale community, while ensuring responsible financial management of The Piece Hall Trust."

The Piece Hall - originally an 18th Century Georgian cloth hall - now houses a range of businesses and hosts major events including a high profile series of summer concerts featuring some of the biggest names in music.

It has developed as a major generator of visitors since re-opening in 2017 after refurbishment.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, The Trading Rooms team cooked over 20,000 free hot meals for the public despite the venue being closed, demonstrating the trust's community focus.

Calderdale Council, which owns the building, provides annual funding of £225,000 to the trust under the current service level agreement.

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