11 best Greater Manchester food halls to grab a delicious bite to eat

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.

9. 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

10. New Century Hall

New Century Hall was one of Manchester’s legendary concert venues, hosting the likes of the Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix in its heyday. It reopened this summer and is once again welcoming musicians and other acts to its stage. The ground floor of the building has been transformed into a food hall with several vendors. Credit: Google Maps

11. Society

Situated opposite the Bridgewater Hall, Society is home to four independently-owned kitchens, as well as a cocktail bar and craft beer brewery. Credit: Google Maps

11 best Greater Manchester food halls to grab a delicious bite to eat including Mackie Mayor & Freight Island

9. Sale Foodhall

10. New Century Hall

11. Society