The next step for city food quarters
Food quarters need to keep developing their offer according to Darren Freed, Asset Manager at Aviva Investors, who will be speaking at our next forum to be held at Burlington House, London. Darren has been overseeing he Queen Street food quarter and Guildhall Shopping Centre in Exeter with previous experience of developing the £70 million Watermark Westquay development, Southampton.
Queen Street dining in Exeter is set within the recently restored Charles Fowler classical façade and has already taken off with shoppers flocking to eat at this exciting destination within the city. Three public spaces have been re-invented including Market Square, bordered by amphitheatre-style seating areas and next to the 13th century St Pancreas Church. Darren says he would now like to see live music and theatre performance taking place in the seating areas. Additionally he adds it would be good to bring in useful local services to the quarter such as doctors and dentists surgeries.
Restaurants have taken space within the quarter such as Absurd Bird serving food inspired by the American South. It is joined by Comptoir Libanais and Kupp, a modern restaurant with Scandi roots. A contemporary rooftop bar and restaurant has been created on two levels with views over the medieval city cathedral. It is hoped that live music in the Club Lounge will preserve the eating and social experience long into the night.