Vision outlined for Sheffield City Centre’s major new food hall

Cambridge Street Collective, which is currently under construction on the corner between Cambridge Street and Wellington Street in the city centre, will be run by the company behind some of Sheffield’s favourite food venues, Blend Family (previously The Milestone Group).

Blend, founded by Matt Bigland and managed with his wife and business partner Nina Patel Bigland, also runs Cutlery Works in Kelham Island.

As Sheffield’s first celebrated food hall, Cutlery Works is currently the largest independent food hall for the North of England. Featuring 14 vendors over two floors, the 15,000 sq ft Rutland Cutlery Works building has become a hive for food and drink lovers in the city and has played a significant role in driving the regeneration of Kelham Island and neighbouring Neepsend.

Heading into their next venture, Blend Family are readying themselves to begin the exciting fit-out of Sheffield’s next big food hall, which will be a culturally diverse food destination at the centre of the transformative Heart of the City development programme led by Sheffield City Council and their Strategic Development Partner, Queensberry.

Matt Bigland believes his business has hit upon a winning formula when it comes to food halls, commenting: “Cambridge Street Collective will be a 27,000 sq ft food hall set over three floors, encompassing over 24 kitchens, cookery school, bakery, and a mix of traditional, Asian and rooftop bars.

“This venture will reinvigorate the city centre. With Cutlery Works, we found a niche in the market that allowed traders to test products and lean on bigger footfalls without taking a traditional 15-year lease and having to put their life savings on the line.”

Matt and his team believe the time has come for Sheffield to be braver with its food offer and wants Cambridge Street Collective to truly embrace the diversity the city has to offer.

He said: “We want the food hall to be a platform for new talent. We already run a programme called Future Food Stars, where we look for unique foodie entrepreneurs and provide them with somewhere to run their business and develop their brand.

“We’re looking for those people who are creating amazing food but don’t have any means to share it. It’s very in keeping with the spirit of Sheffield. The city looks after its own and that’s what we want to showcase. Cambridge Street will challenge people and move them out of their comfort zone with various unique independent vendors. There’s going to be loads of choice and even some theatre.”

Cambridge Street Collective, along with the neighbouring Leah’s Yard and Bethel Chapel developments, is seen as Heart of the City’s cultural and social focal point.

Sean McClean, director of regeneration and development at Sheffield City Council, said: “Heart of the City is making fantastic progress and we’re moving towards the business end of the construction programme. Visitors to the city centre can now see the significant mix of quality new buildings and diverse offers all coming together at pace.”

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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