Central Bay: Plans for waterfront foodie village revealed for Salford Quays

Plans for a new waterfront dining and drinking destination at Salford Quays have been revealed.

Earmarked for a summer 2023 launch, Central Bay will be one of the biggest independent food and drink operations in the North; it will house four new independent restaurants, 13 kitchens, pop-up events, indie markets, live music performances and recreation space for children, with more announcements set to be made in the coming months.

There will also be more than 2,000 sq ft of south-facing outside terrace that can be enjoyed by up to 600 visitors.

The operator behind the British Street Food Awards 2022 – ‘Food Hall of the Year, Cutlery Works’, in Sheffield and The GPO in Liverpool, has been brought on board to run and develop the food hall, which will be known as Kargo, while the street vendor elements of Central Bay will be branded Kargo Mkt – aligning with the area’s rich industrial history.

Plans form part of a £3.5m transformation of the waterfront stretch. Working with local artists, Central Bay’s heritage will be reflected across the destination’s design, from the branding, signage and artwork, through to the re-imagined shipping containers, which will serve as a launchpad for up-and-coming local food traders.

Stephen Wild, Managing Director for MediaCity said: “Central Bay is an ambitious and transformational project for Quayside MediaCity which will be a fantastic place for our growing number of residents, workers, students and visitors to enjoy great food, in a tranquil yet vibrant waterside setting.

“It will be truly unique and a celebration of local food, drink and art – which is what we know, from the Salford Vision 2030 research piece, local people want to see and access. Central Bay will add another dimension to MediaCity and Quayside and will bolster its growing reputation as a leading leisure and cultural destination.”