‘Pop-up mall’ operator Boxpark has won planning permission to open Boxhall City, its first food court in London, at the Metropolitan Arcade complex near Liverpool Street station.
The site, which will open in summer 2024, will include 16 pop-up restaurants. Boxpark chief executive Simon Champion told the Standard his team would scour London street food markets for suppliers.
Champion said: “We are delighted to receive the news today that plans for Boxhall City have been approved, as our aim is to revive the Metropolitan Arcade building while retaining its unique character. Our team worked very hard to secure this incredible With its city-centre location, we are very excited to create an all-day social dining destination that will satisfy hungry city workers, nearby local residents, and attract tourists and help draw foot traffic into the area.”
Boxpark already has three hospitality and events venues in the capital, Shoreditch, Croydon and Wembley, but this will be its first in the capital and its second food court in the UK. The concept should appeal to city workers “looking for something different,” but also serve as a destination in its own right, Champion said.
He added that the site in a historic building was a major part of the appeal of his business.
He said: “Our poor old estate team looked at 300 different sites across the UK. We said no to a ton of different properties. For the Box Park site we were looking for an iconic building. I think there was a plan for demolition 20 years ago Arcade and build an office on it, it’s a shame.”
“This site meets all the criteria. We have a lot of sites that meet most of the criteria.”
Food courts and street food markets have mushroomed across London in recent years. Champion highlighted the live events at Boxpark and Boxhall as a significant factor in avoiding oversaturation.
Champion also noted that in the current high interest rate environment, many other hospitality businesses may struggle to raise funds.
“You may see some growth in food courts, but I don’t think that growth will continue significantly,” he said.
