Avison Young appointed to fill vacant Liverpool market hall
The 90,000 sq ft former St John’s Market closed in March 2024 after the city council cancelled traders’ tenancies over unpaid rent and service charges.
Avison Young is working with leaseholder Liverpool City Council and the shopping centre’s landlord Rivington Hark to find an occupier for the space, which offers accommodation across three levels within St John’s.
Located between Liverpool Lime Street and Liverpool Central Station, any future venture could benefit from significant footfall.
Joel Lawson, director at Avison Young, said this kind of opportunity does not come along very often.
“St John’s Market presents a rare opportunity to repurpose a landmark city centre property in the heart of Liverpool’s retail core,” he said.
“Its scale, prominence and location – immediately adjacent to Liverpool Lime Street and Central Station – make it an exceptional opportunity for a wide variety of potential occupiers.”
He added: “[We] anticipate strong interest from occupiers seeking to capitalise on high levels of footfall and ongoing momentum in the city’s occupier market.”
The market has been vacant for over a year and a half following Liverpool City Council’s decision to cancel the tenancies of more than 40 traders over £1.7m of unpaid bills.
Speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside earlier this year, Cllr Nick Small said that the former market would be suitable for a variety of uses, including a food hall.
Eight months on, and with no occupier yet secured, Small, who is cabinet member for growth and economy, doubled down.
“This is an incredible opportunity for something different and exciting to come to the streets of the city centre,” he said.
“Any plans submitted would be subject to planning, but Liverpool City Council is committed to revitalising this key city centre asset.
“We welcome interest from parties looking to contribute to the vibrancy and economic growth of Liverpool.”
Foodhall has been tried before, the best solution is padel and squash courts and attached bar and cafe,this will get people in no problem.
By Anonymous
The two foodhalls that have succeeded at Duke Street and Baltic Market attract a demographic that would never set foot in St John’s, so that ship ain’t sailing. Some form of indoor group participation use may work – look at the success of Gravity Max in Liverpool ONE.
By More Anonymous than the others
The best location for a food market near there would’ve been the old Blacklers store, it’s a good size and could include bars and cafes too on multiple levels, like the one in Bilbao.
Otherwise somewhere round the Baltic would be good where there are old warehouses, similar to the St George’s? market in Belfast.
By Anonymous
It most definitely should be some form of events space.. bowling axe throwing etc.. the building is an eyesore and so out of place.. or “landmark” as they describe it.. it could be cinema and other family entertainment.. but it’s not a foodhall.. nope..
And why doesn’t Liverpool have a snow dome and proper ice rink.. ridiculous
By Anonymous
To be honest, I think it would be best if it was knocked down and made into an urban park.
By Old Hall Street
@ Old Hall St, an urban park, surely not, do you have any idea how many shops and businesses are in the St Johns complex, where would they all go. No doubt the shopping centre needs updating, reconfiguring, or replaced with something new , maybe bring the old streets back, and this could include a pocket park, but this is in the heart of our shopping district.
St John’s Gardens is nearby for those who want to sit and take some air, while the City Council have been talking about landscaping Williamson Square for years.
By Anonymous
The section facing Lime Street station is an absolute eyesore. If it can’t be pulled down it should be faced with a “green wall”.
By Anonymous
Definitely event space to increase footfall.
Get some decent activities in there.
By Dez
I see we’re getting another food market at the bottom of Duke St in the historic Humyak House building and it’s neighbour, which is good news. However any thoughts of having this kind of set up in St John’s won’t work, it needs to be something like a conference centre, sports hall, a good quality kids adventure playground, etc.
By Anonymous