Gravesend Borough Market

One of the oldest markets in Kent, chartered in 1268 and built in 1897. At the beginning of the 21st Century, Gravesend Borough Market was run down, failing. Shopping was shifting from the old High Street to the lure of high value out of town destinations such as Bluewater Shopping Centre. Something needed to be done. 

We worked closely with Gravesham Borough Council’s economic development team to develop an aspirational masterplan for the market and to make a successful £1.74 million bid to the Coastal Communities Fund. 

The revamped market holds space for 21 permanent stalls, 30 temporary stalls, a café and a food-court with space for 6 pop-up food stalls and seating area for up to 110 covers. The market will eventually open out onto the future Market Square development with al fresco seating and outdoor stalls. The historic building has been conserved and improved with a new roof, restored rooflights (removed sometime in the ‘70s) and natural ventilation, lighting, background heating and public facilities. 

The project revitalises the market’s role as a social hub, shopping experience and destination for locals and visitors within the town centre. It generates job opportunities, provides a focus for incubating new start-up businesses, and provides a much-needed events space within Gravesend Heritage Quarter, hosting fairs, farmers markets, and a monthly business networking event. It is a meeting place for local groups such as knit-bombers Gravesend Urban Knitters. 

Recent successes include Marie’s Emporium, a cake decorating stall selling equipment and running classes which has now moved on to its own premises on the high street, and Pad Thai Live, a festival food truck caterer, who has found a permanent home in the market’s food court, attracting such a crowd that some evenings the market has extended opening times .