The growing trend for new food-based markets is moving out of town. Market Halls, which has opened central London sites in Fulham and Victoria, is to open its first out-of-town branch this spring, at Intu Lakeside. The Hall, measuring 1,347 sq m (14,500 sq ft) will form part of the 16,258 sq m (175,000 sq ft), £72m leisure extension which is currently being developed at the shopping centre. Market Halls has appointed Space Invader Design to create the space.
The new venue will bring together a group of dynamic independent food traders from across the south east region, creating a street food experience for the 20m people who visit Lakeside every year.
Seven kitchens, a coffee shop, pop-up spaces for food trucks, two bars and seating for 680 people will be provided in The Hall. A range of food styles, and different seating options, will be included to ensure that groups of varied sizes can be catered for.
Market Halls CEO Andy Lewis-Pratt says, “This is an exciting avenue to Market Halls. The Hall will provide a new and vibrant social dining option for the 20m visitors to Intu Lakeside every year.”
The company’s mission is to ‘bring unloved spaces back to life’ with its markets. Its first sites have included a former dance hall and the unused entrance hall of a London Underground station.
“The Hall at Intu Lakeside is a great fit for the centre’s quality new leisure offer and we know it will flourish here. Intu Lakeside is already one of the country’s most popular shopping centres and we’re working with operators that share our ambition for innovation in leisure in order to create the best possible customer experience,” says Intu regional managing director Rebecca Ryman. “The calibre of all the brands we’re attracting to the centre’s leisure development is testament to the potential of this new space when it launches later this year.”
