Newcastle's Grainger Market stalls to be demolished

Pumphrey’s Coffee and Hunter’s Deli will both be moved from their current locations, under a council vision to create a large events space in the centre’s arcade.

This year has already seen big changes at the historic Georgian market, with over-running renovations to its barrelled glass roof finally coming to a close – restoring daylight to a huge section of the building that was dominated by scaffolding for years.Plans for the new Pumphreys stall in the Grainger Market, Newcastle (Image: Newcastle City Council)

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But there are more works to come, under a £9m refurbishment project that follows the market being awarded Levelling Up Fund cash by the government.

A new planning application published by Newcastle City Council this week confirms that it intends to demolish the 1970s rectangular central pavilion in the arcade, in which Pumphreys and Hunters are the only remaining traders, and use the space as part of efforts to boost the market’s status as a “major food and produce destination”.

Both stalls are due to make a short move to vacant units which run around the edge of the arcade area, opposite their current homes.

The latest news comes after independent shoe shop Scorpio closed its Grainger Market shop, saying it was unable to find a suitable alternative stall after being told its pavilion would be knocked down under the Levelling Up refurbishment.

Further details about the larger renovation scheme are expected to be made public later in the autumn.

A spokesperson for Newcastle City Council said: “As an initial part of our plans to regenerate the Grainger Market, we are applying for Listed Building Consent to remove the central unit in the arcade and adapt the fronts of adjacent units where Pumphreys and Hunters, the two remaining traders in the unit, will be moving into.

“This will open up this section of the arcade and create space to allow us to expand the market events programme in advance of the main improvement works.

“It has always been our ambition to further enhance the markets’ position as a unique destination in the city, offering something for everyone both in the day and into the evening. A new event space would allow this to happen, and we hope to be able to have an events programme in place for Christmas.”

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Stuart Lee Archer, director of the coffee purveyor which has had a stall in the Grainger Market since 1983, said Pumphreys was “excited by the plans that have been published”.

The council added: “We have been working very closely with the traders as our plans for the market have developed, and their feedback has been invaluable to help shape decisions. The traders who have space in this central section have been kept up to date on plans for this area and offered alternative and refurbished units in the market.

“If the application is approved, work will start in October.”