BHS in Oxford Street is set to reopen as the UK’s biggest food hall

Andy Pratt, CEO of Market Halls, states that the company’s intention is to set up food halls in otherwise unused premises. “Food halls are nothing new of course,” he says, “but we want to create permanent dining hubs that work for the community, something we haven’t seen yet in the UK.”

Market Hall Fulham will be the first site to open its doors, which is expected to happen in spring 2018. The food hall will be housed in the entrance hall of the Edwardian Underground station at Fulham Broadway.

Following that, Market Halls Victoria will open in summer 2018, transforming the arcaded bays at Victoria’s Terminus Place into a three-story food hall with 14 kitchens and three bars.

The flagship location - Market Halls West End - will launch in the autumn, occupying part of the former BHS building just off Oxford Street. Coinciding with the pedestrianisation of Oxford Circus, Market Halls West End is expected to be the largest food hall in the UK and feature a mixture of local producers, retailers, restaurants, street food vendors, four bars, event spaces and a demo kitchen.

Simon Anderson, restaurants and operations director at Market Halls said, “We want the traders to retain the sense of individuality and autonomy that they’ve achieved from owning stand-alone food businesses, so we are encouraging them to be innovative and allow their identities to shine through. Food is the new rock and roll and we’re providing the perfect stage.”