The rise of the food hall

Why landlords and councils are turning to food halls

Going out for a delicious meal and a few drinks is an activity as old as time. Throughout history, families, couples and friends have found time to meet up, kick back and enjoy some of the finest hospitality their high streets have to offer.

But over recent years , a new approach has been drawing customers in from every corner of the UK.

Food halls: the new way to dine out

A new dining concept is making waves across UK cities.

With the make-up of our high streets changing in response to evolving consumer habits and the effects of Covid-19, many landlords and councils are repurposing their assets to ensure they remain profitable.

Multiple advantages come with the food hall model:

from a rent perspective, having 10+ tenants paying rent rather than one operator is attractive.
lease deals can be quite fluid, with new vendors easily replaced when another leaves.
food halls offer councils and landlords the opportunity to create hospitality spaces that will draw a broad range of people to the town centre.

With home working, online shopping and more competition for weekend leisure, the high street must adapt to keep bringing people in. The food hall model is a novel hospitality experience that will attract young people to the provincial town centres.

But what is the food hall market concept?

The food market of the Grand Bazar in Istanbul goes back as far as the 2nd century so it’s safe to say the concept is nothing new. When you watch food travel programmes, the action will often take place in a food market in some far-flung land, with weird and wonderful delicacies being sampled by celebrity chefs and TV personalities alike.

These street food emporiums are the inspiration for the modern food hall concept sweeping the country. And while the fare on offer at market halls in Manchester is decidedly less challenging than you’d find in Phnom Penh or Caracas, it’s just as innovative and satisfying.

With stylishly modern furnishings, high-quality fittings and bustling atmospheres, these food halls offer customers genuine variety and richness of choice. With multiple vendors offering various styles of cuisine from multiple culinary geographies, it’s no wonder these new experiences are all the rage.

Hello Oriental Photo Credit: Bowker Sadler Architecture

The impact of Covid-19 on the pace of change

High street trends that were already in the making have accelerated since Covid-19 hit our shores.

Whilst shifting consumer habits have gradually been impacting on high street footfall, the enforced lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 created shockwaves across our town centres that most are still recovering from.

It’s made the impetus to change with the times all the more urgent for landlords and councils. And whilst we seem to be out of the worst when it comes to Covid lockdown restrictions, the changes to our high streets were irreversible. Vacant units are now all too familiar across traditional market hall spaces.

Repurposing redundant markets into food halls is the answer: their vibrant atmospheres and broad food offering are drawing customers back into town centres.

Medlock: delivering high-quality food hall fit-outs across the country

Medlock is no stranger to the fit-out and renovation of food hall spaces. Over the last few years, we’ve delivered lively and robust spaces at Society Manchester, Hello Oriental Manchester, Produce Hall Stockport and Southport Market.

From vendor stalls full of character to grandiose central bars and dining areas, the hospitality settings we’ve delivered have put food hall dining spaces front and centre across the North, driving high footfall and bringing inward investment.

And these spaces don’t just function in a bubble. They’re having a multiplier effect across town centres, attracting other leisure businesses and boosting economic growth.

We’re currently on-site at Chester Northgate delivering a traditional market experience with a food market element attached. With completion set for October, it’ll be another marquee portfolio piece in our expanding roster of market concepts.

Although relatively new kids on the block, food halls look like they’re here to stay as demand for them continues to grow. As the go-to North West contractor for hospitality fit-outs, Medlock is proud to be leading the way in the rollout of market hall dining experiences and we look forward to delivering many more in the years to come.