Founded in 1779, The Piece Hall initially served as a marketplace for the exchange of handcrafted woollen textiles. It holds the distinction of being the sole surviving Georgian cloth hall in the world.
In 2017, The Piece Hall was reborn as a grade 1 listed venue that fuses retail, leisure, and the arts. Annually, it attracts approximately 2.5 million visitors.
Managed by The Piece Hall Charitable Trust, this venue serves dual purposes. It stands not only as a free-to-visit global heritage site but also as a venue for various events, thanks to its diverse selection of shops, bars, eateries and restaurants.
The building now accommodates roughly 40 independent retail businesses in spaces that were once 315 tiny trading units, each sized at just 12ft by 7ft.
The Piece Hall features a magnificent 66,000-square-foot open-air courtyard, rivalling the iconic piazzas found across Europe. This space is a hub for a myriad of activities throughout the year, such as first-rate live music, sporting spectacles, and cultural happenings, as well as craft markets and local festivals.
The 2023 summer concert series, dubbed ‘Live at The Piece Hall,’ saw 125,000 gather across the season to witness performances by artists like Sting, Limp Bizkit, boygenius, Madness, James, and George Ezra.
For those interested in its rich history, The Piece Hall offers guided heritage tours and interactive exhibitions like ‘The Piece Hall Story.’ These allow visitors to delve into the building’s fascinating role as a historic epicentre of the global woollen trade.
By transforming and diversifying, The Piece Hall has successfully modernised while preserving its historic importance, making it a must-visit destination for both history buffs and those looking for a unique leisure experience.