Former Hull department store Hammonds to get £2m revamp

The Hammonds of Hull department store closed in 2019

Part of a former department store is to be turned into offices in a £2m regeneration project.

Hammonds of Hull closed in 2019 and was converted into office space on the upper floors and a food hall on the ground level.

A ground-floor collection of cafes and bars shut in March 2023 after operating for two years.

Now the ground, third and fourth floors will be turned into offices and event spaces, a council spokesperson said.

Some of the money will come from a £315,000 city council grant using the government's levelling-up fund (LUF).

The existing office space is occupied by a call centre operated by ResQ.

Paul Drake-Davis, a city councillor, said: "This is a significant investment into one of the most iconic buildings in Hull city centre.

"We have already seen the success of ResQ in the former Hammonds of Hull building, thank to support from the LUF.

"However, there is still so much potential to unlock. This latest LUF grant, along with almost £2m of private investment, will help to do that."

The ground floor housed cafes and food outlets which closed in 2023

Last year plans were announced to convert the former food hall into a bar and bowling alley.

The refurbishment will bring back into use more than 3,300 sq m (about four-fifths of an acre) of vacant and unused floor space, the council said.

The plans also include a rooftop terrace for tenants' use.