New life for historic hall?
STOCKPORT’S historic Produce Hall could be turned into an street food market under new plans to regenerate the Old Town.
The organisers of popular monthly food and drink event Foodie Friday want to turn the Grade II listed building opposite the indoor market hall into a ‘truly modern market space for the community.’
They have unveiled their vision after Stockport council approved a report that recommended finding a new anchor tenant for the building, which it is hoped will attract more visitors and boost trade in the Old Town.
It would see a mixture of permanent and pop-up food traders take up residence inside, alongside a bar serving craft beers from local microbreweries and an indoor ‘roof garden’ hosting live music from upand-coming bands and other entertainment.
Joe Barratt, who took over the running of Foodie Friday in 2015 with parents John and Rosemary, said they wanted to replicate the atmosphere of the event on a permanent basis – an idea supported by 90 per cent of visitors in a recent survey.
“We want the buzz of the event to be around the Market Place six to seven days a week,” said Joe, whose family also run community arts hub Seven Miles Out.
“Seeing so many people support the event and the idea of it being on a permanent basis, we think it would work really well.
“It’s exactly what the town needs as a way to bring in these people who come to the event on a much more regular basis.
“If it is successful it could be the catalyst for the whole of the Market Place and the Underbanks.”
John Barratt says it will be modelled on Foodie Friday.
“More than anything it will be for the people of Stockport,” he said.
“It will be affordable and accessible. We don’t want anything we do to be elitist – we believe that the people of Brinnington are just as important as the people of Bramhall.
“I used to come to Stockport Market with my mum as a kid, and that’s the atmosphere we want to recapture.”
He says the new venture will support the existing market traders.
The council’s new proposals for the Produce Hall would see the three remaining traders there relocated.
The Foodie Friday team is urging the council not to let the sites become ‘the next expansion location for the type of major chain or corporate brand’ being ushered in to the town’s new leisure development Redrock.
“The driving force of our proposal is don’t go with a major high street chain, let’s keep it rooted in the community of Stockport,” said Joe.
Stockport council said it would be launching a rigorous tender process over the coming weeks, giving all interested operators the chance to submit their business plans.
You can view Foodie Friday’s full plans and sign up to show your support at stockportproducehall. co.uk.
The next Foodie Friday takes place on July 28.