London leisure operator and culinary commentator join Urmston’s Market 41 project

Property business McGoff Group has announced two appointments to help deliver its vision for the Market 41 project in Urmston.

The company has tasked Northern food commentator Thom Hetherington and national market operator WMC Retail Partners with steering the development process for its new market food hall on Railway Road.

Market 41, a working title for the scheme, already has outline planning consent in place.

The project will host between 10 and 12 operators with a focus on locally sourced, artisan-quality food and drink, all positioned around an informal central seating area with around 160-180 covers.

London-based WMC owns markets in Wellington, Morley and elsewhere in the UK.

McGoff originally appointed the firm to carry out a feasibility study for the proposed market hall but decided to expand the relationship. WMC will now develop the project’s business plan and coordinate lettings, layouts, legal agreements and other aspects of the development.

Esther Worboys, sales and marketing manager at WMC, said: “We are really excited to be working with the McGoff Group on this innovative new concept for Urmston and will draw on the experience of operating our own markets and implementing similar projects for others across the UK to deliver a fantastic new market hall that will further invigorate Urmston town centre and offer a great new leisure experience for locals.”

Thom Hetherington will use his knowledge of the region’s food and drink sector, and insight into consumer tastes and trends, to boost the development and get the food hall off to a strong start.

Thom, CEO of the Northern Restaurant and Bar exhibition, commented: “Urmston is already a great place to live with bags of potential.

“Combining well known high street names with an ever growing and popular blend of independents, it’s a place that’s definitely on the up and the perfect location for this new market hall which promises to provide an extra dynamic to the flourishing food and drink offering in the town.”

He added: “I look forward to contributing to the concept and design of the building and blend of food and drink operators focusing on local artisan traders to create a real point of difference.”

McGoff Group director Chris McGoff said of the appointments: “The overall concept, blend of operators and operating framework are essential to getting this project right and I’m confident that with WMC and Thom on board we can create a fantastic new asset for Urmston that becomes a key part of the town.”

Work on the market hall is due to start later this year, with a view to opening in early 2019.