Spanning two floors, the 10,000sq ft Food & Drink Market site will house vendors from the local area and is being brought to the town by Ormskirk residents and hospitality operators Simon and Fiona Beer.
The former indoor market on Moorgate was originally built in 1903 as the home of Hesfords DIY & Gardening company. It is undergoing a six-figure investment that will create a food hall as well as six kitchens, a games loft and bar area. It will also have a private hire space and well as space for a number of retail units and a live music space.
“We’ve been dreaming about doing this for many years. We want to reimagine this historic space with a modern concept that can thrive while emulating the success of similar sites in other UK market towns,” says Simon.
“Having been left abandoned for many years, we want to bring this space back to life and to what it was so well known for locally - a market building.”
Many of the building’s original features including its clock face and signage from when it first opened will be retained with the new project expected to create 80 jobs.
“Many people from this area have to travel into Liverpool if they want food, drinks, and entertainment on this scale, but that will no longer be the case,” says Fiona.
“Ormskirk Food & Drink Market will offer a taste of the city centre, and the restaurants and bars that it has within it, much closer to home. Venues like ours will open new avenues for people on our doorstep to explore.
"Whether it’s family time, fun with friends, date nights or days out accompanied by your dog, this is a space for everyone to enjoy, all under one historic roof.”
The pair are currently on the lookout for emerging local businesses to get involved as traders in the new space, with interested vendors encouraged to apply here.