Food halls and markets are the trend of the summer, and luckily for us, there’s plenty to go at here in Yorkshire. The freedom to socialise, dine and drink at your own leisure with endless options on offer has become the new Friday pub night, with street food becoming the new fish and chips. From huge al fresco rooftop spaces to traditional market halls pimped out with cool independent traders, here’s our guide to the best food halls and markets in Yorkshire.
1. Chow Down, Leeds
Popping up with an al fresco pergola, a ton of outdoor seating and some great food vendors, Chow Down can be found at Temple Arches – with live music and events taking place over the summer. Think tacos, ice cream, pizza, burgers and more – all accompanied by a huge seasonal events programme bringing the summer ambience to the city.
Traders include Little Bao Boy, Pizza Loco, Eat Like A Greek, Dog Almighty and Seitan’s Kebabs, to name a few, and guest can expect some brilliant DJ sets and performances from April right through the summer.
2. Kommune, Sheffield
Providing an ambient community kitchen-style venue for independent traders to serve from, Kommune is a great place to reunite with friends – with long tables to gather around and plenty of brilliant foodie spots to enjoy. And the best part? You can try them all through a touch of a button from your phone (meaning, no judgement when you fancy your second sitting!).
The all-day dining experience is home to Fat Hippo burgers, Korean Fried Chicken, The Depot Pizza Co. and more, as well as a creators market, a mini book shop, and even an art gallery space.
3. Wool Market, Doncaster
As a Doncaster native, I constantly found myself underwhelmed by the dining options in town. It seemed that Relish was the only restaurant considered a go-to, while the bar scene, in contrast, flourished – leading to me packing my bags in search of a more thriving metropolis. So, imagine my joy when I discovered that the temporarily unloved Wool Market had re-discovered its footing, becoming a bit of a hot spot for al fresco dining and fantastic on-the-go grub.
The market – now peppered with rainbow-coloured benches outside – offers up coffees, Neapolitan pizza, Mac & Cheese and more, with a number of great independents inside to potter around once your tummy’s full.
4. Fruit Market, Hull
While the Fruit Market is more of a city Quarter than a market or food hall, it’s packed full of fantastic places to visit – including a large variety of independent bars, restaurants, bakers and more. Sitting right by Humber Dock Street with sea views, the Quarter is home to Thieving Harry’s, Flour & Feast (with their must try marshmallow brownies!), Ambiente Tapas, and Humber Street Distillery, to name a few.
Enjoy beers in the sunshine, tasty fish, tapas, and bakes, before pottering around Humber Dock Street and checking out the waterside views.
5. Spark, York
A fantastic addition to York city centre opening back in 2018, Spark:York provides both outdoor and covered seating, with curious shipping containers making up the majority of its structure. It has a certain industrial vibe to it that brings a sense of coolness to the usually traditional city, with independent bars, vegan kebab vendors, quirky shops, events and more.
Think bohemian piano bars, huge stacked chicken burgers, asian cuisine, and beers brewed in the North, as well as your typical pizzas, tacos and tasty bakes.
6. Solita, Harrogate
New to Harrogate this year, Solita – known for its delicious burgers served in York, Beverley, Hull and Manchester – has now opened a fantastic food hall in Harrogate, serving up their Wagyu burgers alongside a brand new Solita Fish Bar, Slice My Nicely Pizza, their very own Rotisserie and Grill, wines, cured meat, coffees and more.
Guests can enjoy their wonderful roof terrace in the sunshine – which boasts plenty of seating – with a little bit of something to suit almost everyone’s palate.
7. Assembly Underground, Leeds
Assembly Underground has long been a go-to for foodie fans, with Yorkshire favourite Slap & Pickles taking up residence there, alongside a number of other brilliant vendors.
The industrial-style basement space is home to West Yorkshire-born Vocation Brewery, the Falafel Guys, Holy Ramen, and the Pizza Authority – to name a few – so you can be sure to leave with a tummy full of good grub and a slight buzz from great brews during your visit.
8. Trinity Kitchen, Leeds
Found within Trinity Leeds – which is, naturally, one of our favourite places to shop – Trinity Kitchen provides a street food offering for those in search of on-the-go grub, with colourful pop-up vendors around every corner.
The kitchen hosts a rotating roster of vendors, meaning there’s plenty to try throughout the year – with Archie’s Burgers, Doner Shack, Pizzaluxe, Pho, and Chicago Rib Shack currently taking up residence at the city centre hotspot.
9. Belgrave Music Hall, Leeds
A fantastic place to catch up with friends all year round, Belgrave Music Hall & Canteen currently has a brilliant outdoor terrace to enjoy, with plenty of seating both in the sunshine and undercover.
The Music Hall & Canteen offers up a whole host of events to enjoy, too – from Yoga sessions to club nights – with Dough Boys pizza and Patty Smiths burgers taking up long-running residence in the canteen.
This summer, expect al fresco dining and drinking, DJ sets, a Taylor Swift club night and more – with events booked in for the rest of the year already.
Read more: You Can Now Get Boozed At A Bottomless Pie Brunch In Yorkshire
