New Bolton food hall to bring 'buzzing atmosphere' to town

Bolton Market's Peter Entwhistle said the food hall would help bring more people to the centre

A new indoor food hall designed to bring a "totally buzzing atmosphere" to a town centre is set to open later this month.

The new venue at Bolton Market has been funded by the local council in a bid to drive footfall through the town centre.

Market manager Pete Entwhistle said he could not wait for the "absolutely fantastic" hall to open.

The space, which can host nine traders, was funded as part of a wider £5.5m transformation of the area.

Mr Entwhistle said it would feature a licensed area for alcohol and would also be open on Friday and Saturday nights.

Organisers wanted to encourage "niche and unique" traders who were not currently represented in the town centre, he added.

The indoor food hall is set to open later this month

Bolton Council has used funds from the government's £3.6bn Town's Fund to build the venue and transform the surrounding area, by creating a new public space in Elizabeth Park, as well as refurbishing Bolton Central Library.

It also comes alongside the development of hundreds of new homes behind Le Mans Crescent.

The council hopes the food hall will complement the existing indoor market next door.

A new public space known as Elizabeth Park is also being created in Bolton

A jewellery shop owner in the market, Roger Wisehead, told BBC Radio Manchester the area "could do with more footfall", while pub owner Shelly James said the new venue would be "competitive, but I think it will be good competition".

Deputy council leader Akhtar Zamam said the hall was part of "our vision" to bring more people into the town centre.

It comes months after neighbouring Oldham Council announced plans to redevelop the former town hall into a food and drink hall.

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