Shaftesbury has officially announced that KERB’s Seven Dials Market will be the first of London’s major food halls to re-open its doors on Friday 7th August.
The 24,000 sq ft food hall, which launched last September within the original Thomas Neal’s Warehouse, has carefully adapted its operations in line with government regulations and a dedicated customer survey. The new measures prioritise the health and safety of visitors, operators and staff, while maintaining the inviting and relaxed atmosphere for which Seven Dials Market is known.
Modified opening hours are in place for August, as well as spaciously rearranged table seating across the two floors, with a new online booking system and walk-in allocation in order to maintain a 250-seat capacity at any time. Table service, cashless transactions via click and collect, and custom KERB hand-sanitiser stations are also being implemented, as well as a one-way entrance and exit system.
Seven Dials Market’s signature ‘tastes like London’ spirit will be restored, with seven of the sought-after independent traders returning in the first phase of re-opening. Visitors will be reacquainted with old favourites including: the world’s first cheese conveyer belt Pick & Cheese; award-winning vegan street food by Club Mexicana; Japanese soul food from Nanban, steamed bun specialists Yum Bun, one of the greatest burger brands Truffle, Latino fried chicken from El Pollotte, and Strozapretti, the pasta restaurant from the team that founded Franco Manca. In addition to each operator’s menu, there will be special menus available on Mondays in addition to the ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme deals.
The market Bar will be open alongside providing London’s finest independent drinks producers, East London Liquor Company and Gipsy Hill Brewing Company, plus exclusive house pours, craft beers, the unique KERB lager and collaborative cocktails.
The reopening news follows an announcement of plans for temporary timed road closures throughout Seven Dials, coming into effect from Wednesday 5th August. Working in partnership with Camden Council, Shaftesbury will utilise this initiative to put pedestrians and cyclists first during core daytime trading hours for F&B operators and retailers.
Charles Owen, Portfolio Executive at Shaftesbury, commented: “The re-opening of Seven Dials Market is a significant step to further propel the post-lockdown momentum throughout our streets. Since its launch last year, the unique undercover food hall has served as a beating heart for the host of retailers and restaurants throughout Seven Dials. With KERB bringing the space to life again, alongside our planned timed road closures throughout the surrounding streets, we can ensure that visitors can feel confident when returning to Seven Dials.”
Founder of KERB and Seven Dials Market, Petra Barran, added: “We’ve got this gorgeous, soaring, double-height, space that’s just been sitting there, redundant, and it needs life and soul and food in it! So, after months uncertainty we are taking the plunge and opening our doors to share our passion for food once again. Of course, we are taking all the necessary new steps – that’s a given – but we want to get back to doing what we love and creating a space for Londoners to come and eat and drink and just BE.”
Seven Dials’ temporary timed road closures will operate from 10am to 6pm, seven days a week, and will be controlled by a combination of droppable and/or plug-in barriers and the Seven Dials security team. Shaftesbury is also in discussion with Camden to allow F&B operators, such as Seven Dials Market, to utilise Seven Dials’ newly pedestrianised streets to provide additional al fresco seating areas.
