Time Out finally closes in on London food market
Media giant Time Out has moved a step closer to opening a 20,000 sq ft-plus food market in a Grade II listed, disused office block in London’s Spitalfields.
The company said the scheme will include 12 permanent kitchens “of fine dining standard, reflecting the city’s best chefs and cultural elements and providing a canvas for local artists”.
Time Out’s latest proposals for 106 Commercial Road, E1, follow plans previously rejected by Tower Hamlets Council. Time Out appealed in 2018 but lost. Tower Hamlets planning officers now say the latest plans overcome issues with the past application and have recommended them for approval at next week’s planning committee meeting.
Media giant Time Out has moved a step closer to opening a 20,000 sq ft-plus food market in a Grade II listed, disused office block in London’s Spitalfields.
The company said the scheme will include 12 permanent kitchens “of fine dining standard, reflecting the city’s best chefs and cultural elements and providing a canvas for local artists”.
Time Out’s latest proposals for 106 Commercial Road, E1, follow plans previously rejected by Tower Hamlets Council. Time Out appealed in 2018 but lost. Tower Hamlets planning officers now say the latest plans overcome issues with the past application and have recommended them for approval at next week’s planning committee meeting.
The hall would include a private dining and function room in the basement, a bar and bakery on the ground floor, four “signature chef” areas on the first floor along with a pizza servery and sushi counter, and five kitchens and more private dining space on the second floor. The hall would have room for 360 guests.
If approved, the food market would be a long-awaited London debut for a model that Time Out has used in cities including Lisbon, Dubai, Miami and New York. But its plans to open a similar scheme in London have met several setbacks – alongside the previous rejection for the Spitalfields site, the company last year said the Covid-19 pandemic had put paid to plans to open a market in Waterloo.
Tower Hamlets planning officers said in their report: “It is appreciated that a large number of residents have expressed concerns about the anti-social behaviour levels within the surrounding area and the perception of potential for an increase in these behaviours as a result of the proposal, as well as noise and general movement disturbance impacts. However, it is considered that that subject to conditions, the impact upon local residents can be suitably mitigated.”
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Image: Time Out Market
