Over recent years, food halls have been popping up all over Greater Manchester. The concept is simple – they bring together several food and drink vendors, usually local and independent businesses, under one roof, offering guests much more variety than traditional restaurants.
The trend in Manchester appears to have started with Altrincham Market, opened in 2014. Since then, several have opened in the city centre and surrounding towns, such as Stretford, Sale and Stockport.
Last week alone, plans for new food halls were announced at Salford Quays and First Street in the city centre. Elsewhere, it looks like Wythenshawe, Bolton and Oldham will also be welcoming food halls to their town centres in the near future.
Here’s a round-up of some of the existing food halls in Greater Manchester and what you can expect from them.
5. Stretford Foodhall
Run by Store Group, the team behind General Stores, Stretford Foodhall opened in 2019 and is home to three different food vendors that rotate regularly. It is located in the town’s shopping precinct. Credit: Google Maps | Google Maps
6. Arndale Market
Arndale Market is one of the go-to places in the city centre for quick and affordable street food from all over the world. The market also has a fishmonger, butcher and other fresh produce stalls. Credit: Google Maps | Google Maps
7. Hatch
Located on Oxford Road, amid the university campuses and underneath the Mancunian Way, is Hatch. It is an outdoor complex of converted shipping containers, consisting mainly of food and drink spots, as well as a DJ shop, sneaker repair shop and vintage clothes shop. Credit: Google Maps | Google Maps
8. Sale Foodhall
Sale Foodhall, also run by the Store Group, has space for several independent food vendors as well as a General Store and around 150 visitors. It opened in 2021, following the success of its counterpart in Stretford. It is located in the town’s Stanley Square (pictured). Credit: Google Maps | Google Maps