Another new food hall is set for Greater Manchester, this time at MediaCity. Kargo comes from the team behind Liverpool’s successful GPO and Sheffield’s award-winning Cutlery Works. It will be part of a £3.5 million transformation of a waterside development at Salford Quays which is set to open this summer.
MediaCity is rebranding its outlet mall, Quayside, which currently houses discount stores from the likes of M&S, Clarks and NEXT, as a “waterfront dining and drinking destination” called Central Bay. It will serve the local community as well as the many visitors to attractions like The Lowry, The Imperial War Museum and the Coronation Street studios.
Central Bay takes its name from the original stretch of dock which played a significant part in the industrial revolution when it was a busy loading bay. It will be the first food and drink destination of its kind in Salford and one of the biggest in the region, encompassing 25,000 square feet of food and drink options and with over 2,000 square feet of south-facing outdoor terrace space.
The team behind the new development, Blend Family says the new eating and drinking destination will bring “the best in world food under one roof”. It will feature four new independent restaurants as well as 13 smaller kitchens that will be able to serve up to 600 guests. There will also be pop-up events, indie markets, live music performances and recreation space for children.
The team behind Central Bay says it is working with local artists to incorporate local heritage into the designs of everything from branding, signage and artwork to the “re-imagined shipping containers” which will house local up-and-coming food brands. This is a natural progression of the Box On The Docks venture which launched during the lockdown era of the pandemic.
Stephen Wild, Managing Director for MediaCity said: “Central Bay is an ambitious and transformational project for Quayside MediaCity which will be a fantastic place for our growing number of residents, workers, students and visitors to enjoy great food, in a tranquil yet vibrant waterside setting. It will be truly unique and a celebration of local food, drink and art – which is what we know, from the Salford Vision 2030 research piece, local people want to see and access. Central Bay will add another dimension to MediaCity and Quayside and will bolster its growing reputation as a leading leisure and cultural destination.”
Matt Bigland, Founder and CEO of Blend Family, said: “This is an exciting development for us and the passion that the Quayside MediaCity team have for creating new, exciting experiences for everyone who lives, works, and visits the area is infectious. We can’t wait to announce Central Bay and Kargo’s first line-up of incredible food vendors and bring our offering to Salford.”
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