Design specialist will partner with Dawnvale Group and Sefton Council in restoring the market, which dates back to 1857. Tony McDonough reports
One of the North West’s best-known interior design specialists DV8 Designs is take a major role in a project to restore Southport Market to its former glory.
Birchwood-based DV8 will partner with Dawnvale Group and Sefton Council in transforming the market, which dates back to 1857. The original food hall burned down soon after the opening and the present building is the second version of the design and retains its classic Victorian form.
Following on from a major renovation more recently, the new market operation has been in steady decline and so a radical new approach was required.
Track record
DV8 Designs and Dawnvale have an established reputation within the food and drink industry – designing bars restaurants, distilleries and food halls including The Liverpool Gin Bar and Distillery on Castle street, Liverpool and the recently opened ‘meet, eat, work’ destination EngineRooms at Birchwood Park in Warrington.
The company’s directors, Lee Birchall and Neil Guest are trusted advisors to local councils as well as cultural and destination management partners and are a passionate champion for the regeneration of Northern towns.
Mr Birchall said: “We bring our extensive experience and specialist knowledge of the sector to the table, along with our passion and our true Northern pride. The re-design of Southport Market space will be integral to the regeneration of this fantastic destination, and we are so proud to be involved.”
Cultural model
The vision for the redesigned market hall will draw on the influences of successful UK and European food markets with a cultural model that encourages social eating and sharing, local partnership and collaboration and that supports local producers and small businesses.
The market will focus on Southport’s coastal influences, sourcing the best local ingredients and produce as well as drawing on expertise from local food and drink specialists such as brewers of craft ales and small batch spirits.
A flexible event space within the venue will encourage collaboration and creativity and will be at the heart of the market, providing a social hub and an ideal meeting place within the town.
The market hall is bursting with character, with ornate ironwork and exposed brick giving the designers a ‘reclaimed’ aesthetic to use to their advantage. DV8 Designs and Dawnvale plan to utilise elements of a fun fair, incorporating carousel horses and circus tent-style canvas into the scheme.