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Markets.
Food Halls.
Meanwhile Uses.
Retail Repurposing.
Competitive Socialising.

FOOD Hall, Market HALL, Experiential socialising AND HOSPITALITY SPECIALISTS

We are a new type of solutions-driven consultancy created by a team of proven operators and industry leaders. We are here to help you navigate the unprecedented upheaval in the UK property landscape.  

Our team have backgrounds in developing and delivering innovative concepts in market halls, food halls, leisure, hospitality and regeneration with extensive experience planning, launching and managing exciting sites.

If you have underperforming or vacant spaces, we create exciting meanwhile or long-term solutions which can deliver income and footfall.

We work with landlords, operators, asset managers and local authorities to deliver transformational schemes. From concept design to delivery, we can help.

How we can help

All of our projects are individually specified to suit the needs of our partners and clients.

Get in touch for a no-obligation conversation to discuss your project, and we can work with you to create a proposal to support your needs.

  • We identify vacant or underutilised space and explore opportunities to attract increased footfall, deliver commercial returns and diversify the use of space to invigorate your venue.

  • We combine detailed data analysis with stakeholder engagement, competitor analysis, precedents and industry data to provide you with options for your site or vacant space.

  • We provide detailed assessments of sites to understand their current offer and future potential. Whether it be testing a concept to confirm its viability, or developing a scheme based on a wide range of options, we provide our clients with confidence in the preferred route forward for their site or vacant space.

  • Building on years of operational and commercial experience, we develop detailed business cases including income and expenditure forecasts, strategic plans and, where required, Green Book Assessments to support investment decisions and financial planning.

  • We cover all aspects of operational planning, from defining operating hours to detailing staffing schedules and maintenance programmes. Our frameworks support you to launch and manage your site effectively from day one.

  • Ensuring sites have the right mix of high-quality and diverse tenants can be crucial to their success. Our team are experienced in finding the best small business tenants, from lettings campaign to completed contracts. We help to create collaborative and productive tenant landlord relationships by creating clear expectations and acting as a critical friend.

  • We work with landlords and development companies to procure an operator(s) for their development, either at soft market testing stage or final contract negotiations.

  • We work with existing commercial operators to review processes, operations, profitability etc to enhance the customer experience, maximise returns and increase efficiency within the operation.

  • Our team can act as a critical friend to site operators to help with day-to-day management, tenant curation and strategic planning, or lead on operational delivery as required.

Some of our recent projects

Featured
Market Peckham
Market Peckham

Next Phase are supporting Market, Peckham to undertake a branding and operational review of their ground floor food hall, identifying growth opportunities and supporting the operators to implement technological solutions and drive efficiencies.

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Royal Arcade, Boscombe
Royal Arcade, Boscombe

Next Phase have been working with Montagu Evans to undertake market testing for operators and small business occupiers for the Royal Arcade in Boscombe, Bournemouth.

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Feast at the Mills
Feast at the Mills

Feast at the Mills is a compelling example of creating a meanwhile venue in an area without a history of hospitality. In the heart of Wigan, a town facing economic challenges, this initiative has become a shining success, attracting over 2,000 guests weekly despite challenging weather.

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INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS, POWERED BY EXPERIENCE.

Latest Articles

Featured
Expressions of Interest Sought for Burton Market Hall
Expressions of Interest Sought for Burton Market Hall

Based on local feedback, the vision features a blend of modern and craft retail, fresh food offerings, a new food and drink area with communal seating, and flexible co-working spaces, all aimed at supporting the town’s small business community.


As part of the early planning stages, Next Phase, on behalf of East Staffordshire Borough Council, is inviting expressions of interest from prospective operators and tenants who share this vision for a revitalised Market Hall. At this preliminary stage, expressions of interest will help assess the level of interest and inform initial discussions around potential site operations ahead of any future procurement process.

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How big is our market?
How big is our market?
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Does our sector need a new name?
Does our sector need a new name?

What is a food hall? The team at Next Phase and I encounter this question all the time, and for a good reason—the distinctions between food halls, street food markets, traditional markets and food courts are often blurred. Given the sector's growth and the diversity of offerings, has the time come to establish new classifications?

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The end of the beginning, not the beginning of the end.
The end of the beginning, not the beginning of the end.

A few months ago, a food hall closed, and I was inundated with emails and calls from journalists and contacts asking if this was the beginning of the end for the food hall industry, with radio shows and articles discussing the industry's potential demise.

I felt the need to provide some context: while only one food hall has closed in the past year, an average of ten pubs, restaurants, or bars close every day.

At present, the UK boasts 97 food halls or multi-vendor operations, marking a significant 28% increase from 76 in June 2023. What's more, the number of food halls in development has skyrocketed by 138%, growing from 21 to 50 over the same period. This growth is a clear indicator of the industry's potential and the exciting times ahead.

There are multiple reasons for the growth and popularity of food halls, but these are some of the main factors presented in no particular order.

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