WORK seems to have come to a halt at the former Debenhams building which is being transformed into an artisan food hall.

People are questioning when the doors will finally open after promises of farmers market-style stalls, food outlets and bars. 

A Worcester News journalist visited the city centre this week but no work was being carried out at the site.

Artisan Food Hall Worcester originally revealed in February, that it hoped to open the ground floor and basement by April or May, with the entire site to open in June.

However, there is still no sign of an opening date and the company has not responded to contact from Worcester News after multiple attempts.

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A local trader, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "I saw a couple of men here a few weeks back doing something but I have not seen anything since.

"Nobody seems to know what is happening."

On the side of the building, two businesses are listed for enquires regarding food and beverages, and also for real estate. 

Both Des McDonald Associates and JS Land & Capital told the Worcester News they were no longer involved in the project, and are hoping to have their names removed from the building.

A website listed as www.Rokops.co.uk, is also advertised on the side of the building, but the web address is no longer active.

Another location, owned by the same company, called Hammonds Of Hull is trading as normal.

In June, the @artisanfoodhall Instagram account, which primarily features many images from the branch in Hull, shared a single image of the interior of the Worcester venue.

The image shows a bar that has been coined as the LiteBar or Zinc Bar, and the caption of the picture teased "It’s close folks".

The former Debenhams store permanently closed its doors in January 2021, and the site has been in development ever since.

It was originally revealed that the site will include live music, a farmers' market and vintage clothing stalls.

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David Blake, managing director of Worcester City Council, recently referenced the opening as another location in Angel Street may be converted into a different food hall.

He warned the Angel Street site was in a poor condition and, with its budget continuing to rise, the food hall plan could be scrapped altogether.

Mr Blake said: “We’re still hoping that the ex-Debenham’s building opens one day, we’ll see as it has been a long time.

"But we don’t think there’s enough demand in the city for two of those types of the retail unit, so we would have to rethink the ground floor."