One of Hitchin town centre’s best known names will be back in business next week following a change of ownership.

Halsey’s Delicatessen and Tea Rooms on Market Place – which first opened to the public in 1854 after GW Halsey and Son launched their Tea and Provisions store – will be opening ‘in the next few days’ after the finishing touches have been made to the store.

New owner Kim Maclarty and her staff have been busy preparing the deli for the start of a new era, with passionate foodie Kim telling the Comet: “I know Halsey’s is a much-loved institution in Hitchin – I had a lovely lady tell me she used to visit Halsey’s as a child during the Second World War to pick up her parent’s bacon rations.

“We’re tweaking a few things rather than re-inventing them.

“I’m being very careful to preserve the things Halsey’s has always been very good at, and adding a few other ideas.

“We want to encourage more tastings, and be more experiential, involving the community with our food, and provide cheese and beer tastings. And I want us to be the ‘go-to place’ when it comes to providing fantastic cheese boards.”