BOXHALL City: First look at plans for London Liverpool Street's new food hall and roof terrace

The team behind BOXPARK, the world’s first pop-up mall, has revealed plans for a new social dining concept in London’s Liverpool Street.

Applications are open for food and drink operators to take residence at BOXHALL City.

The food hall is set to open next spring, with space for thirteen fully fitted kitchens.

Read more: London news

BOXHALL City marks the first new dining concept from the group since the launch of BOXPARK in 2011.

The Liverpool Street venue will be the inaugural venue in a planned programme of BOXHALL openings across the UK over the next five years. 

With up to thirteen kitchens and food retail spaces, BOXHALL is seeking innovative, premium food and beverage brands to take occupancy in its new food hall.

The team is seeking proposals from proprietors, chefs, bartenders, and food retailers who are passionate about food and drink, and champion high-quality cuisine. 

The next evolution in BOXPARK’s position as a launchpad for new food concepts, BOXHALL City will also have a dedicated ‘Chef’s Kitchen’ that gives rising talent a space to showcase their emerging culinary concepts and menus. 

BOXHALL takes inspiration from international best-in-class food hall formats such as Chelsea Market NYC and Mercado de San Miguel in Madrid to bring together a collection of pioneering and passionate culinary concepts, including restaurants, bars, delis and food and drink purveyors.

BOXHALL will transform under-used city centre locations into refined dining spaces with a particular focus on heritage and industrial buildings. BOXHALL has partnered with Macaulay Sinclair, the designers behind Dishoom and Hawksmoor to deliver the interior architecture proposals, with the vision to create an inspirational ‘contemporary casual’ food hall.

BOXHALL City will be located in the sensitively restored Metropolitan Arcade – an Edwardian shopping arcade opposite Liverpool Street station. The scheme aims to cater to the 135 million yearly visitors to the station, and the 615,000 City workers on the doorstep, with options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

In addition to the 14,000 sq ft covered arcade, BOXHALL City will house a 3,000 sq ft roof terrace, boasting panoramic views across the City, which will be available for post-work drinks as well as private hire and corporate events. 

Ben McLaughlin, COO at BOXPARK, said: “We have seen immense success with our award-winning BOXPARK concept, and are incredibly proud to have played a role in the success and growth of a huge number of our popular street food brands.

“Now, we are excited to see similar success with our BOXHALL City destination. Unlike our BOXPARK sites, BOXHALL City will re-animate a historic slice of London – an Edwardian shopping arcade – with a unique mix of dining and drink experiences for discerning foodies. We want to partner with visionary people who are passionate about the art of food and drink, and who champion quality ingredients.

“With its unparalleled location by Liverpool Street, its attractive, historical setting, and our unwavering commitment to finding the best that London’s food and drink scene has to offer, we’ve no doubt that BOXHALL City will fast become Londoners’ favourite foodie escape when it opens next spring.”

Dan Lovatt, director of asset management at Places for London, said: “We are delighted that BOXHALL City will soon be open for all to enjoy new, exciting food options to this busy hub in the City. Being located next to Liverpool Street station, which is served by four Tube lines and the Elizabeth line, alongside national rail services, we’re confident this will quickly become a vibrant place for nearby workers and visitors to the area.

“Both BOXPARK and Places for London have small and medium sized businesses at the heart of their work, and we’re looking forward to seeing the thousands of people who pass through Liverpool Street every day get to explore this new location.”

Mike Sinclair, director at Macaulay Sinclair, added: “We’re really excited to be partnering with the BOXPARK team on the interior architecture and design of its latest concept at BOXHALL City. The new Metropolitan Arcade location is steeped in history and its heritage is something we’re keen to preserve and celebrate in our designs.

“Having worked with major hospitality brands on protected sites including listed buildings, we understand the importance of sensitivity and respecting the building’s history, while still contributing to each brand's individual ethos and story. We look forward to unveiling more about our BOXHALL City concept very soon, and for the public to experience this unique new venue.”

For more information or to apply, candidates can visit https://www.boxhall.co.uk/. Applications are open until 29th November.