Derby Market Hall Reopening Set For May 24 After Extensive Upgrade

The Derby Market Hall is reopening soon. It will open Saturday, May 24. The hall had a £35.1 million upgrade. Work took almost eight years. The building closed four years ago. It originally opened 159 years ago.

The revamped hall will feature shops, food, drinks, and entertainment. Look for themed stalls with fresh items, maker spaces, food vendors, and bars. They also plan pop-up shops and events.

The project received £9.43 million from the government. The roof was a main focus of the work. Rowland Mason Ordish designed it, and he also designed part of a London train station. The Market Hall roof needed lots of repairs.

Drafts, snow, and rain once closed the hall. Glass windows could fall from their frames then. They replaced the glass, and workers finished the roof restoration in 2022.

The next phase included inside updates and work on Osnabruck Square outside. The original entrances were put back, and a central staircase was added. The old stalls are gone, and now it is an open space with new windows facing Osnabruck Square.

The new design makes it easier for everyone to visit. Wates Construction led the project with the help of architects and engineers. Plans began in 2017, and work started in 2018. The pandemic and problems caused delays and tripled the costs. The hall closed in 2021.

Derby hired Hemingway Design to help. The goal became a hub for creators, building on Derby’s history.

Council Leader Nadine Peatfield is excited that the reopening of the Market Hall is in May. She calls it a treasure for Derby, and she believes that the Market Hall will draw visitors.

It sits at the heart of the city. The hall will help the economy. Officials are planning an opening event, and the Market Hall originally opened in 1866.