MORE uncertainty surrounds the transformation of the former Debenhams in Worcester city centre into a food hall.
The highly anticipated hall is still yet to open its doors despite Artisan Food Hall telling us earlier this year they were hopeful for a spring opening.
Artisan Food Hall Worcester said in February it hoped to open the ground floor and basement by April or May, with the entire site to open in June.
But there has still been no sign it is any closer, with no official announcements made.
In a new blow, it has emerged a separate food hall Artisan Food Hall ran in Hull has been forced to close.
Hammonds of Hull closed suddenly with no notice last month.
It has been reported by Local Democracy Reporter for the area, Joseph Gerrard, that Hammonds of Hull was forced out of the space it rented from an offshore company which owns the building, according to Artisan.
He reported Artisan is now looking at legal action.
And another food hall dubbed 20 London Road in Northwich, Cheshire, is also yet to come to fruition despite plans to originally open in 2021.
An Artisan spokesperson told us previously the planned opening of the High Street food hall was delayed because the building's owners had not made a final payment for works.
The former department store is owned by an overseas offshore investor managed by a London agent.
We approached Artisan Food Hall through social media but received no comment.
Plans were originally announced in early 2021, with the project spread across four floors, each with a unique layout.
The ground floor features a bar as well as areas for baristas, sushi, an Italian deli, a bakery and a variety of other food vendors.
The first floor is for Canteen Society, which plans to open between Friday and Sunday for pop-up chefs and creators to fill the space.
The second floor features a city garden and a space that can be hired for events, weddings, parties, and gigs every weekend.
There will also be a secret door leading to the 'speakeasy'.
The basement will be a space for vinyl records, vintage clothing, retro furniture, and areas for local vendors.
Debenhams permanently closed its doors in January 2021 and the site has been in development ever since.
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