First Bus and The Piece Hall bring staycation 'seaside' to Halifax

First Bus is partnering with The Piece Hall to bring an annual family summer attraction to the famous Grade 1 listed leisure and tourism venue in Halifax, which they plan to become a regular date in the region’s event calendar.

For the launch in July, its giant courtyard will be transformed into a beachfront packed with traditional attractions to bring a staycation seaside holiday atmosphere to West Yorkshire.

Sandy Summer Daze in association with First Bus takes place from Friday 23 to Tuesday 27 July and features a beach area with 75 deckchairs for parents and children together with buckets & spades, beach huts, games and a ‘promenade’ featuring amusements including a peep-through display and giant deckchair for photo memories of a family day out ‘beside the seaside’.

A programme of entertainment will see live music by bands and artists preparing for the Brodstock Festival in nearby Hipperholme in August, which is also being supported by First Bus.

Surrounding the beach area will be pop-up food and drink stalls, ice-cream stands and a beach-themed event bar.

Martin Hirst, Commercial Director of First West Yorkshire, said: “We’re really excited about this partnership with The Piece Hall and our shared ambition to support the local economy and build on life returning to the streets of Halifax.
“This collaboration is about us working together to connect local people and communities to great events and experiences in the heart of the town.

“We know that Halifax can come back stronger and local people getting out, getting involved and getting to do the things they enjoy will be essential in helping achieve this over the summer and the months ahead.”

Stephen Bullock, Chief Operating Officer of The Piece Hall Trust, added: “The support from First Bus really helps us offer family entertainment such as Sandy Summer Daze. It’s so important, after the past 18 months, that families can reconnect, meet their friends and enjoy themselves in a safe environment, which is exactly what The Piece Hall offers.”

The beach area will be open from 10:00-18:00 each day with free entry for one parent and two children. Tickets will be available from The Piece Hall website https://www.thepiecehall.co.uk/ from Monday 19 July which allows a family to book one of five 75-minute sessions throughout the day to relax and have fun in the sand.

First Bus is expecting its 501 and 503 services between Huddersfield and Halifax to be a popular option for people travelling in the Calder Valley as these stop close to The Piece Hall. The operator is launching new tickets for summer travel which include an adult single with unlimited journeys on weekends and a group ticket for up to 5 people to travel for £5 return.