A NEW ‘Market Kitchen’ is hoping to bring some spice to Barnsley’s culinary offering as part of the Glass Works development - and the council is looking to the public to help decide what it can offer.
The dining area will be upstairs in the Glassworks redevelopment, have space for 600 seats, ten different vendors and an outside terrace overlooking the town square.
It is hoped the food court might attract a wider variety of people, but long term customers of the existing long-running cafes are being reassured they should all be going to the new location.
It promises to be a different experience to the larger scale food retailers and restaurants which will be part of The Glass Works and wider town centre development, a council spokesman said.
And it will have a ‘from market to plate’ ethos, encouraging its outlets to source ingredients directly from the market itself or other local providers.
The council’s head of economic development Paul Clifford said: “At the moment we are working closely with all five cafes to bring them into the new offer.
“We are working with the cafes as they have a lot of experience and we know they have a strong customers base within town, and we don’t want to lose that - instead we want to bring them along and add to it, as their many years of experience operating is valuable.
“In terms of the wider offer it is quite early days and we are keen to get views from the public on what they want to see, what sort of additional food providers, opening times - this is really an opportunity to shape it.
“We do want as much feedback as possible and will be speaking to people at Elsecar Food Festival.
“It is really a place for the people and for them to influence it.”
Paul said a proper procurement process would have to be carried out for the additional providers, but the council is keen to hear from anyone interested in operating a unit.
He said: “Preference would be given to local provenance but we are open to anything and to bringing some diversity - we will be guided by the types of things people ask for.
“Other than the concept of the units and the traditional providers, we have got a blank slate to work with.”
It is hoped the Market Kitchen will be open in summer next year.
Sharon Mills, from Hilton’s Cafe, currently based in the former semi-open market, said the move would help modernise it.
She said: “I think it is going to be a lot more modern, more of a family-oriented sort of place with lovely views from the balcony. I think it will be a better atmosphere and will drag us into the 21st Century.
“One thing we want to reassure customers is we will still have crockery. Some might be taking up takeaway boxes but we will be sticking to cutlery.
“The rent is still undecided and there are a few things to sort out but all in all it seems positive.”
Kaye Bouttell, from Kay’s Cafe, said: “It looks like it is going to be nice and bright. We just hope our regular customers will give us a chance up there. But we do want to get some new people in too from the younger end.
“We will still be serving the same home-cooked food, the same staff, just a different location.”
To take part in the consultation, visit consult.barnsley.gov.uk or send feedback by emailing marketkitchen@barnsley.gov.uk from today until November 30.
