Arcade Food Hall lines up third London opening

Arcade Food Hall looks set to open a third London venue in Covent Garden.

The group has applied for planning permission to overhaul the exterior of 6 Bedford Street, the former TGI Fridays restaurant.

The site, originally a 19th century department store, was home to the American-themed chain until it closed in April 2022.

Documents show Arcade Food Hall is seeking permission form Westminster City Council to add new entrance doors, timber sash windows and fan lights. Plans for the exterior include redecorating it with oxblood red tiles, similar to those used outside Covent Garden tube station.

The landlord has stripped out the previous TGI Fridays fit-out and the group plans to install a completely new interior. 

A design and access statement submitted by designer CO:DE Studios on behalf of Arcade Food Hall said: “The interior concept of the food hall is still in development and whilst it will carry the brand DNA of previous Arcade Food Halls, it will be a unique experience.”

Arcade Food Hall originally opened at Tottenham Court Road in 2019 but closed during the pandemic. It was relaunched with the backing of JKS Restaurants in 2022 and a second, 24,000 sq ft food hall opened at Battersea Power Station in 2023.

Estates Gazette, which first reported the plans, said a previous application to convert the Covent Garden site into a pub was refused in February 2023 due to concerns it could cause potential disturbances.

Food halls are booming in popularity with a host of sites opening in London and across the UK. Openings this year include the first Boxpark in Liverpool and House of Social in Manchester while London has seen the launch of Market Halls Paddington, Market Place St Paul’s and Kerb’s Corner Corner at Canada Water.

Last week Market Halls hired Laine Pub Company veteran Dan Hills as its new chief executive and announced plans to double in size from five to 10 food halls by 2028 and target over £100m in annual sales.