The UK’s first train station food hall is set to open at London Victoria next month, bringing 10 street food traders together under one roof inside Victoria Place Shopping Centre.
Market Place Food Hall Victoria will launch on Friday, October 16, promising commuters, travellers and visitors a dining experience a world away from the usual station grab-and-go.
The venue, accessed from the station’s main concourse, the taxi rank and Eccleston Bridge, will offer 180 seats alongside live train departure screens, so diners can relax over a meal or a drink without worrying about missing their train.
Its 10 independent traders will serve cuisines from around the world, from flame-grilled Argentinian meats and Greek gyros to fresh sushi, West African jollof rice, Caribbean-Indian fusion, authentic Italian pizza, Korean-inspired bowls, Latin American tacos, Thai street food and signature duck wraps.
A full bar will serve cocktails and craft beer, and screens will show major sporting events. The venue will be family- and dog-friendly, with free Wi-Fi and private hire options, and is designed as much for after-work drinks or catching a game as for a quick meal between connections.
Holly Hilton, marketing director at Market Place Food Hall, said: “Victoria is one of the busiest stations in the country, so we wanted to create something that feels completely different from the usual train station food experience.”
“We want to make grabbing a proper meal before your train just as quick and easy as standing in a queue to pay for a meal deal, but with 10 independent food traders, great drinks and a proper place to sit and enjoy it.”
“And because we have the live departure screen inside the food hall, you can even sit back with a pint, keep an eye on your train and know exactly when it’s time to head to the platform.”
She added: “It’s about making the journey feel like part of the experience, rather than something you simply rush through.”
The opening continues a wave of investment in the capital’s stations. A new step-free entrance has opened at King’s Cross St Pancras on the Euston Road side, while Surrey Quays station has also gone step-free with a new entrance on the Windrush line.
To mark the launch, the food hall will give away 50 free items every day from 5pm during its first 11 days — 550 complimentary treats in total — with each day’s offer announced on its Instagram page.
There will also be £5 Margaritas and pints during Happy Hour, Monday to Friday from 3pm to 7pm, and new customers who sign up to the Market Place rewards platform will receive a free welcome drink.
Market Place says its venues are known for a lively social environment, with all-day dining, bar spaces and event programming such as comedy nights, live music, DJ sets and seasonal celebrations.
The Victoria site is the latest addition to Market Place Food Hall’s growing London portfolio, which includes Leicester Square, St Paul’s, Vauxhall, Harrow and Peckham. The brand says it operates the UK’s first unified loyalty scheme in the food hall sector, letting guests earn and redeem rewards across multiple locations, alongside an ecommerce platform for booking sports packages and planning visits.
