Beloved Manchester food hall Hatch has announced that it will permanently close at the end of September.
The venue, which sits on Oxford Road just next to Manchester Metropolitan University, has been a prominent part of the city’s food scene since December 2017.
The news, which was announced on Friday, means that the venue’s traders, aside from the ÖL Brewery, must find a new permanent space to trade from. ÖL will remain open throughout the process.
Taking to Instagram, Asian street-food restaurant FUKU, one of Hatch’s traders said: “I've finally processed the loss of my first business, and it's time to start a new adventure. I want to thank everyone who made the last 4 years a journey to cherish (customers, staff, management and the independent traders).
“Staying positive but it's a difficult time for everyone involved, so please support the traders and staff at hatch. We close on 30th September. We are looking for a new venue on Oxford Road or other food halls. Please get in touch.”
Traders were alerted to the news of the closure in a meeting last Friday morning. For many, it has come as a complete shock and most are disappointed with the short notice. The final day they will be able to trade at Hatch will be Saturday 30 September.
Owned by Manchester property developers Bruntwood, the independent street food and retail space has now entered a joint planning application for the redevelopment of the site with leisure developer STACK.
Already a popular venue in the North East, STACK Manchester will feature street food and bars with a stage and giant screens for live music and sport. Hatch has confirmed that its original traders will be given priority if they choose to apply for a unit inside the new STACK and that, in the meantime, they are “supporting them in every way they can in finding new homes.”
Peter Bearpark, Asset Management Director at Bruntwood, said: “We are incredibly proud of what we accomplished at Hatch. Originally conceived as an idea for how to utilise unused space while Circle Square was in development, it has been a success in terms of the vision we set out for it – supporting start-up businesses, allowing brands to experiment, grow and thrive, and creating a place for people to enjoy excellent food, drink and shopping.
“It’s always hard to say goodbye to a site that we are proud of, but now is the right time for Stack to take it to the next stage in its development.”
STACK Manchester is due to open at the end of 2024.