A top TV chef has teamed up with Darlington Market bosses to launch a new social kitchen initiative in a bid to draw in more diners. 

Chef Matei Baran is next week (Tuesday, October 29) set to launch the ‘Social Canteen’ within the popular market, serving up two courses for £5 every Tuesday and Wednesday for a limited period between 12pm and 1pm. 

The 48-year-old - who recently opened his new healthy food truck Natural Health Bar in the market and also manages Haus of Bratwürste - wants to try and attract more people to the site by offering affordable meals.

He told The Northern Echo: “The market struggles to bring people in especially during the midweek, so I came up with an idea called the ‘Social Canteen’. 

Darlington MarketDarlington Market “Between 12pm and 2pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, we'll be offering a £5 two-course meal. It’ll be first come first served, so when it’s gone, it’s gone.”

He added: “My battle is to try and beat Greggs! 

“You’ll not get a better deal than this with £5. You’ll actually get a very decent meal with good vegetables - and it’s great for people who struggle with their budget too.”

An example of how the two-course meal could lookAn example of how the two-course meal could look (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

Michael Harvey, markets manager for Market Asset Management, which manages the site on behalf of Darlington Council, said he’s hoping the new initiative will help bring more people through the door of the market. 

He said: “It’s a scheme myself and Matei came up with. Lots of students and workers come here to the market hall. We want to make it cheap and affordable so the students and workers can come and enjoy themselves. 

“On a weekend, the food hall is thriving. But during the weekdays, there are not enough people to maintain a fully functioning street food hall, so we wanted to try and repurpose it as a sort of community kitchen.”

The Social CanteenThe Social Canteen (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

Matei added: “We see a lot of people coming in bringing in food from Subway or Greggs - but we want to see people using it to support logical businesses.” 

Michael noted how the current food hall format has been great at “getting people through the doors” again - with the butchers and greengrocers at the site also benefiting as they continue to supply all the food stalls. 

“It’s working,” he said. “We have got a couple more units left to fill, and we have a space called the alley where, from November 2, will be filled with lots of pop-ups and day traders.”

Recommended reading:

Get more from The Northern Echo with a digital subscription. Get access for 5 months for just £5. Click here.

The news just days after Chef Baran launched Natural Health Bar, which serves up smoothies, breakfast, and natural meals from the market. 

He wanted to bring something “totally different” to the town - and was inspired by his own staggering weight loss of 11 stone several years ago. 

The market is currently already home to a range of traders, including Fusion Mexicana, PP’s: Pizzas & Parmos, Harry’s Burger Joint, and &Gravy.