The regeneration of Accrington’s town centre has received another major boost, with a local restaurateur being picked to run the new look Market Hall.
Owner of The Crafty Fox bar and restaurant, Paul Fox, has been selected through an open recruitment process as the person to oversee the rejuvenated Grade II-listed venue, which will feature both familiar stalls and a number of new businesses.
With the exterior of the iconic market now fully refurbished, the restaurant owner will be overseeing the all-important revitalisation of the market hall’s offering to visitors, with modern eateries and social spaces aimed at drawing people back to the centre of Accrington
Mr Fox is a well-known figure in the town’s hospitality scene, having run The Attic music venue for years, bringing more than 1,500 performing artists to the town in that time.
Then, during the Covid-19 pandemic, he did some civic regeneration himself.
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After completely transforming a unit on Abbey Street and turning it into his new eatery, Mr Fox’s business success last year saw him expand The Crafty Fox into the neighbouring shop unit, investing £150,000 in the extension, in response to public demand for his field-to-fork food.
Paul said: “I love this town and everything the market means to local people.
"This is about creating somewhere people feel proud of again – a place to shop, eat, meet and spend time together.
“The Market Hall has such an important place in Accrington’s story, and I’m really excited to be part of its future and in the potential of the Town Hall as a vibrant entertainment venue.”
The revived Victorian-era market’s opening date is scheduled for November this year, giving Mr Fox just a few months to find the right businesses to fill the long-awaited new-look market.
This will also mean the removal of the semi-permanent market stalls currently situated in front of the Grade II building, with the traders finally being able to ply their trade indoors once again.
On the appointment, Hyndburn Council Leader, Councillor Munsif Dad, said: “We were looking for someone with a strong track record in developing venues, and Paul certainly has lots of experience, so it’s great to have him on board.
“We are still finalising plans and looking for additional traders to join Accrington Market when it reopens, and if there are interested parties, they should contact kiera@barkerproudlove.co.uk”
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