Market Hall Fulham opens
Market Hall Fulham, a high street hub dedicated to home-grown food and drink, has opened to the public.
It is the first in a string of openings planned by Market Halls, a group of UK-based, community-minded property investors and entrepreneurs, that with our help, are aiming to redefine the British concept of food halls, turning unloved disused spaces with special architectural or historic interest, public again.
Housed in the Edwardian Grade II listed former ticket hall of Fulham Broadway station, Market Hall Fulham brings together ten independent traders, from local favourites to street food stars, each offering different cuisines. Alongside these is a bar in the former ticket office and a large communal dining area for around 200 people.
Designed by Harry Wharton Ford in the 1880s, the building had been vacant for six years and has now been sympathetically restored, retaining many of the original features, such as the enamel ‘TO THE TRAINS’ sign and ticket offices used in the original London Underground station.
Immediately the market hall has proved a hit with over 6,000 visitors coming through the doors in the opening weekend and a flurry of positive reviews from satisfied foodies from across London.
Tania Love, Senior Associate at FaulknerBrowns, said: “Social media trends demonstrate the nation’s hunger for new experiences, with food right at the heart of this. So it was vital that we provided a unique backdrop to enable visitors to really enjoy the theatre of the cooking taking place in each kitchen, and the fun of sharing stories over food together. Stripping out the more recent architectural interventions, we were able to reveal fantastic period features which we used to frame the individual kitchens and a bar, with communal seating beneath the central rooflight.
“It has been a delight to be part of a dynamic team which endorses the value of architectural quality in delivering a high quality, vibrant and sustainable destination for local residents, workers and visitors to Fulham.”
Two more Market Halls are due to open in 2018. Market Hall Victoria, due to complete in the summer, will be transforming the arcaded bays of Victoria’s Terminus Place with its Grade II listed Edwardian Baroque exterior, into a three storey market hall. Market Hall West End, due to complete in the autumn, will be Market Hall’s flagship venue. Situated on Oxford Street in part of the former BHS building, it will feature a mix of local producers, retailers, restaurants, street food vendors, four bars, event spaces and a demo kitchen.
