Aiming to become one of the most forward-thinking and disruptive markets in the world, Escape to Freight Island opens in Manchester mid – July.
An inspiring urban landscape where an outdoor food market, art space and terrace-style seating collide on one sprawling tract, a long-forgotten freight depot carved from the city’s industrial past.
Located on Baring Street, amid the thrilling regeneration of Depot Mayfield, Escape to Freight Island will become a permanent urban market and festival space – an axis of food, drink, music, immersive entertainment, festival takeovers and family focused happenings.
It will be home to a number of different bars, restaurants, food trucks, with retail space and a bike park. There will be a 70s New York-inspired roller disco, a hidden high-fi audio bar, which will transform into a karaoke venue called Queen Samantha’s, and a retro arcade games corridor. Escape to Freight Island will also host a diverse, ticketed events programme, with free festival-calibre entertainment 12 hours-a-day.
Among the first traders on board will be Madre, with its own non-traditional, upscaled, ingredient-driven tacos. The amazing Voodoo Ray’s Pizza will launch a northern outpost following success in Peckham and Dalston, and a favourite of renowned restaurant critic Jay Rayner, Ramsbottom’s pioneering Baratxuri will hold court in the outside space, with a wood-fired ‘Asador’ grill, roasting large cuts of meat and whole fish.
Escape to Freight Island will be Camden Town Brewery’s biggest collaboration outside of London, launching a boutique craft ale bar in partnership with Salford’s inimitable Pomona Island brewery. This will run alongside a specialist wine bar, and a cocktail space from the team behind Ancoats’ favourite neighbourhood bar, The Jane Eyre.
The entire venue will be sound-tracked by a visionary selection of music, festival takeovers and exclusive collaborations with the likes of Homoelectric, We Out Here festival, Festival N°6, Love International and other iconic musical curators.
Phase one launches mid July 2020. The first area to open its doors will be dubbed ‘Platform 15’, a tip of the cap to neighbouring Piccadilly Station. It has been designed with social distance at the forefront of its operations with a world leading ‘Safe + Social Manifesto’.
‘Platform 15’ will offer a place for people to be together, safely and responsibly, in preparation for Escape to Freight Island’s full launch.
Bookings will be open next week and to be given a 24 hour advance notice for tables, join the community on the Escape to Freight Island website. Table slots of three hours will be pre-booked from Thursday to Sunday, running from midday to midnight.
This isn’t your average food market. It’s a new and unique destination in Manchester, it is the next evolution in the food market sector that will fill a hole in the life of our city. Escape to Freight Island will take its place as one of the most exciting, forward-thinking and disruptive markets in the world. Escape to Freight Island is a game changer and most importantly to me, Escape to Freight Island has soul.
“Platform 15 will give a flavour of what is to come when we launch the full Escape to Freight Island experience, so let’s all meet at Platform 15 to begin our escape to freedom.”
James Heather, development director at U+I for the Mayfield Partnership, said: “Mayfield has over the last three years been re-established in the hearts and minds of both Mancunians and visitors to our city as an outstanding location for culture and entertainment. With Escape to Freight Island, our partners at Broadwick Venues have assembled an amazing line-up of operators, brands and innovators which will take this to the next level.
“This is an exciting new chapter in Mayfield’s regeneration story and one which raises the bar further still for our city’s visitor offering, underlining our vision for Mayfield as Manchester’s true commercial, creative and cultural nexus.”
