Step closer for new bowling venture at former Hammonds of Hull site
Hull City Council has granted an application for an alcohol licence
Last updated 5th Mar 2024
A licence for a bowling alley and adult games bar has been approved for the former Hammonds of Hull food hall which closed a year ago tomorrow.
Lane 7 Ltd’s application for an alcohol licence for the vacant food hall, in Ferensway, was granted after no objections were received.
A Hull City Council spokesperson said it was working with the company as part of efforts to bring the whole of the former department store building back into use.
Lane 7 did not respond to a request for comment.
The approval of the licence comes after works worth £2m to bring the building’s basement, third and fourth floors back into use were announced in February.
The refurbishments include turning areas into offices and an event space with £1.91m in private funding and the council adding a £315,000 levelling up grant.
Council confirmation to LDRS that the licence has been approved means a new lease of life for the food hall is a step closer, following its closure in March 2023.
Lane 7 applied for a licence to sell alcohol in the former food hall space from 10am to 1am, Monday to Sunday, the same as its proposed opening hours.
According to the company’s website, it offers bowling including for families, mini golf, beer pong, arcade games, darts, food and drink.
Its venues are for adults only after 7pm and IDs are required for entry.
The company has sites in Manchester, Birmingham, Bath, Newcastle, Sheffield, Leicester, Aberdeen, Liverpool, London, Edinburgh, Bristol and Durham.
There are also plans to expand into Cardiff, York, Belfast, Altrincham and Milton Keynes.
LDRS understands it is unlikely that Lane 7 will have to submit a planning application to convert the building.
A council spokesperson said its work with the company was part of its efforts to create a vibrant city centre.
The spokesperson said: “The council has been working with Lane 7 Ltd to ensure the building is fully occupied.
“The council is keen to support the use of such a prominent building and is working with the potential end users to support them in this investment.”
The approval of the licence in November comes after the Hammonds of Hull food hall closed unexpectedly on Monday, March 6.
Floor Manager Nick Acklam said at the time the closure was only temporary, but weeks later operators Artisan Food Hall HoH Ltd confirmed they had left the building.
A company spokesperson said the move was hugely disappointing and a big loss for Hull after millions of pounds had been invested into the venture.
The operator was also locked in a legal dispute with the buildings owners, claiming they had been forced out.
But despite opening to much fanfare in December 2021 with a host of food, drinks and retail concessions, footfall had declined in the months leading up to its closure.
The departure of several concessions and complaints claiming prices for some goods were too high added to speculation about the viability of the food hall from summer 2022.
Efforts to relaunch it with craft fairs and eventually a World Cup fan zone failed to reverse its fortunes.
It was shuttered and stripped of it stock and fittings after closing last year with adverts put up blocking the view of the interior which has stood empty ever since.