ALTRINCHAM Market House, the goose that laid the golden egg, is providing inspiration for another town centre enclave on the road to reinvent itself as a food and drink destination.
The folk behind Stockport’s popular monthly Foodie Friday events (above) are seeking to turn the town’s historic Produce Hall (opposite the indoor market hall) into a permanent street food and artisan produce market, sparking the regeneration of the Old Town.
The characterful townscape has already made huge strides in this direction. Foodie Friday, which takes place the last Friday of each month, won Best Pop Up, Event or Project of the Year at the 2016 Manchester Food and Drink Awards and recent restaurant arrivals Where The Light Gets In and The Allotment Vegan Restaurant feature prominently in this year’s shortlists.
Transforming the Grade II listed Produce Hall (above) into a 'truly modern market space for the community' would make a real, independent statement in the wake Stockport Council approved a report that recommended finding a new anchor tenant for the building.
Basically the plans outlined here by organisers the Barratt family 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.
In the Barratts’ words: “We believe The Produce Hall should not become the next expansion location for the type of major chain or corporate brand that will soon appear at RedRock but become a marketplace for independent businesses and a hub for the local community, showcasing the best talent that Stockport has to offer in art, music and culture.”
We wish them every success in their efforts.