Exciting plans to breathe new life into the Grade II-listed Market Hall in Carlisle are being developed - with Cumberland Council also delighted to announce a new company has acquired the leasehold for the historic city centre building.
The new leaseholder of The Market Hall and Eden Centre site - which includes the covered market, TK Maxx unit and the unit formerly occupied by Wilko - is Bearmont Group. The acquisition aligns with Bearmont Group’s strategy to “rejuvenate undervalued shopping centres, enhancing footfall and tenant mix to create sustainable retail spaces”.
Following the change of leaseholder, a new managing agent has been jointly appointed by Bearmont Group and the council, the building’s owners. Going forward Mason Partners will manage the site on a day-to-day basis.
The change comes at an exciting time for The Market Hall as the council is currently exploring options to improve the experience and offer there. This includes a potential communal seating area that would complement and support the fantastic food offering - and attract even more people to eat and shop.
As The Market Hall is a listed building, any alterations require listed building consent. An application for listed building consent has been submitted to gain in-principal approval for works that would affect the historic fabric.
Some concept designs for a communal seating area were included in the application to provide some context, however, these designs need to be developed further, and the council looks forward to working with the traders and stallholders as a key part of that process.
Cumberland Councillor Barbara Cannon, Executive Member for Financial Planning and Assets, said: “These recent developments at The Market Hall are really positive news for Carlisle and the wider Cumberland area. We look forward to working with Bearmont, the new managing agents and existing traders and stallholders to develop the site and help it reach its full potential.
“The Market Hall presents a huge opportunity to create an exciting destination for residents and visitors that would contribute to the vitality and sustainability of Carlisle city centre. It’s been a much-loved part of the city’s retail offer for generations and we’re excited to see what the future holds.”
Rob Lloyd, CEO of Bearmont Group, shared his vision for the Market Hall’s future, by saying: “The Market Hall represents the heart of Carlisle’s retail experience, and we see a tremendous opportunity to bring new energy to this historic site. This is part of our strategic approach - identifying shopping centres that have lost their way and giving them a new lease on life. We’ll be working closely with Cumberland Council to breathe new life into the indoor market, with an emphasis on introducing more local artisan businesses and an expanded food offering. We’ve already received interest from prospective tenants for the former Wilko site, and we hope to announce further developments shortly.”
Mr Lloyd emphasised Bearmont’s focus on supporting local retail and driving foot traffic by blending traditional retail with fresh, modern offerings.
“Markets today need to inspire people to visit; we’re looking at introducing more artisan vendors, like butchers, fishmongers, and bakers, to restore that personal, vibrant atmosphere where shoppers can enjoy unique, quality goods and genuine interactions,” he added. We are keen to welcome smaller local businesses that require flexible, cost-effective space. As a private company, we can make quick decisions - often within a day or two - allowing us to respond rapidly to the needs of our tenants, especially independent retailers.”