Mercato Metropolitano opens first of three planned sites

08-Nov-2019 - Last updated on 26-Apr-2021 at 16:52 GMT

Related tags Food Hall

Food market Mercato Metropolitano has opened the first of three new London sites planned for the next six months.

Mercato Mayfair launched on 7 November in the historic St Mark’s church following a two-year, £5m restoration by landlord Grosvenor.

The site now features food stalls, a rooftop terrace and a basement crypt transformed in to a wine cellar, microbrewery and space for cookery classes and events.

The market is designed to act as a community hub and includes an affordable grocery store selling seasonal produce, some of which is grown in urban farms across London.

Mercato Metropolitano is also set to launch MM Factory, an 'artisanal food factory' with a working stone mill and bakery, at London’s Elephant Park development later this year.

In spring 2020 it will be followed by MM Ilford, which is billed as a rooftop urban farm and market designed to produce 60-80 tonnes of mixed vegetables a year.

Mercato Metropolitano was founded in Milan in 2015 and ran a site in Turin until 2016. It opened in London's Elephant and Castle in 2016 following the closure of both the Italian markets.

The original London site welcomed three million visitors last year and has incubated over 40 food start-ups to date.