Manchester Gorton Market revamp brings food and events

By Hiyastar News Desk

Published: 2 June 2026

Major regeneration works have started at Gorton Market, with new food, beauty, seating and event spaces planned as part of the wider renewal of Gorton District Centre.

Manchester City Council says the work is designed to bring more visitors to the high street, support existing traders and give residents more reasons to use the market during the day and into the evening. The scheme follows recent improvements around Gorton Square and earlier work on the market roof, including the installation of solar photovoltaic panels.

All existing tenants are expected to remain in the market while the works take place. Traders affected by the project are being moved into newly refurbished units so business can continue during the redevelopment.

New food and beauty spaces inside the market

The main change now under way is the creation of new food and beauty clusters within Gorton Market.

Plans include 10 new food units, a dedicated bar area, a community event stage, a newsagent, four health, beauty and wellbeing units, and a common seating area intended to support evening opening.

The market stalls are also being reworked to support a daytime, family-focused food offer. The same area is expected to stay open later for local entertainment and community events, giving residents a new social space close to home rather than only a place for shopping.

A glazed frontage will connect the indoor seating area with the outdoor market terrace, allowing visitors to move between both spaces. The west frontage and entrance are also set to become more visible and more inviting from the high street.

What the changes mean for traders and visitors

For market users, the works should mean a broader mix of reasons to visit Gorton Market, from affordable food and everyday supplies to beauty and wellbeing services.

For traders, the project is aimed at increasing footfall and extending the market’s trading potential beyond traditional daytime shopping. Clustering similar uses, such as food businesses and beauty services, is intended to make the offer easier to find and more attractive to repeat visitors.

The council says disruption is being kept to a minimum so shoppers can continue to use the market while construction continues. Existing tenants remaining on site is a key part of that approach, particularly for residents who rely on the market for affordable shopping and familiar local services.

The new food hall-style area could also change how the market functions in the evening. If the event stage and seating area are used regularly, the market may become a stronger community venue as well as a retail space.

Gorton District Centre regeneration continues

The market project sits within a wider programme of work across Gorton District Centre and other Manchester high streets.

Gorton Square was completed earlier in 2026, improving the public space around the market. The roof works and solar panels have already updated part of the building, while the current phase focuses more directly on how people use the market day to day.

Funding for the project has come through the UK Government’s Local Growth Place Flexible fund. The council says investment in infrastructure, business spaces, public areas and community facilities is intended to support the long-term sustainability of local neighbourhoods.

The next major phase in the area is expected to include the first provision of genuinely affordable and social housing, linking the market upgrade with broader plans for homes, public space and local services.

Progress updates over the coming months

Further updates are expected as the redevelopment progresses and individual phases are completed. The council says traders, residents and visitors will be kept informed while the work moves forward.

Councillor Basat Sheikh, Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, said Gorton Market had served the community for generations and that the improvements were intended to secure its future.

“This investment not only strengthens our local businesses but also creates new opportunities for residents and visitors to come together, shop, eat and socialise,” he said.

The council has also noted that the project images released so far are computer-generated and indicative only, with materials, finishes and layouts still subject to change as the design develops.

Source: Manchester City Council