Crewe’s Market Hall undergoes £3m refurbishment

Crewe Market Hall. Credit: Robert Cutts (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Crewe’s Market Hall is undergoing an extensive £3m refurbishment, in a move Cheshire East Council says will help ‘reposition’ Crewe as a retail and leisure hotspot.

Work is now underway to refurbish and remodel the Grade II listed Victorian building, which is set to reopen under a new commercial operator in summer 2020.

The project is part of the council’s £50m programme of investment into Crewe town centre, which is supported by £10m in funding from the government’s Local Growth Fund.

Cllr Nick Mannion, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for environment and regeneration, said: ‘Crewe is a town that’s very much growing and the refurbishment and remodelling of Market Hall will play an important role in the town repositioning itself as a prime leisure and retail destination.

‘We want to hear from traders who believe in our vision for Market Hall and want to see it, and the town, thrive as much as we do – whether that’s an artisan wanting to retail their products, a sole trader wanting to take the next step, or an established trader looking to expand or relocate to a prime new spot.’

The refurbished market hall will open for six days a week, hosting independent eateries and retailers along with frequent pop-up stalls and events.

The hall will host a regular programme of activities, while officials say the building could also host events in the evenings to boost local footfall.

The Victorian building will have its exterior archways fitted with glazed doors, while its interior will undergo a complete redecoration and remodelling.

Facilities to be included in the building include 22 new permanent stalls, 12 regularly changing pop-up stalls, event space and fully renovated and extended toilet facilities.

Cheshire East council is now looking for traders interested in filling the space and will soon appoint a new operator to oversee the market.

Cllr Mannion said: ‘We will shortly be beginning our procurement exercise to find a new operator that shares our vision for Crewe’s markets and the role they will play in the town centre’s wider regeneration.

‘The operator will be in place well in advance of the Market Hall’s grand opening and be responsible for making sure that it – and the rest of Crewe’s markets – becomes a prized asset in the town once more.’

The operator will be tasked with working with traders to make sure they play a role in ‘energising’ the market and make the most of the town’s events programme, Mannion added.