Gizzi Erskine returns to London’s Mare Street Market as chef creative director

Chef and food writer Gizzi Erskine has returned to London’s Mare Street Market as chef creative director.

Erskine will oversee menu development at both the Hackney and King’s Cross markets and introduce a selection of deep-filled focaccia sandwiches and salads at the delicatessen.

Later in the year, she will be launching a new health-led concept and also organise a line-up of industry friends to host pop-ups and guest residences at Mare Street Market.

Both sites are known for their cultural and culinary offering, providing a mix of independent shops and tattoo parlours alongside French-Americana cuisine and carefully curated music.  

Erskine pulled out of the Mare Street Market project back in August 2018, less than six months after she launched three dining spots at the Hackney site.

Marc Francis-Baum, owner of Mare Street Market, said: “Mare Street Market continues to grow as an emporium of talent. Alongside Gizzi’s return, we’re proud to be the home of Island, the latest restaurant from chefs Brad Carter and Tom Brown, as well as an upcoming, first of its kind, pop-up shop and music hub from Sony RCA Records.”

Erskine added: “Mare Street Market is my home. It has my DNA in the walls, and it feels natural to come back. Marc and I have always been connected in its vision, and I look forward to being part of re-establishing MSMH and MSMKX as some of the most important food and cultural spaces in London.”

Mare Street market first opened its doors in March 2018 as a deli, off-licence, open kitchen and 50-cover dining room led by executive chef Tim Mawn, previously an executive chef with Caprice Holdings. It expanded into King’s Cross in 2023.

The concept was created by Francis-Baum, who is behind the Barworks collection of east London pubs.