The Barnsley Market Food Hall is now open for business after the first meat and fish traders moved into their new home in The Glass Works at the end of August.

An official opening ceremony was held on Saturday 1 September, with the Mayor of Barnsley Councillor Steve Green and Sir Stephen Houghton CBE, Leader of the Council, cutting the ribbon and ringing the historic Barnsley Market Bell. Our Operations Manager Tony Shaw and Project Director Ryan O'Loughlin also assisted with the ceremony.

It is good to see all of the hard work that has gone into this project so far coming to fruition with the opening of the Barnsley Market Food Hall. This is another significant milestone in The Glass Works development.

Tony Shaw, Operations Director, Henry Boot Construction

The Food Hall is part of the multi-million pound Glass Works project. The opening revealed the luxurious new Food Hall area which features wider aisles and purpose-built stalls that respond to the individual needs of each trader.

To celebrate the opening, shoppers enjoyed local performances and street entertainment throughout the town centre. Customers also had the opportunity to see The Glass Works virtual reality experience and Henry Boot Construction gave out special Barnsley Markets cool bags to the first visitors to the Food Hall.

The move is a major milestone in the town centre regeneration scheme. We have always had an outstanding market built on quality food and tradition, and people come from far and wide to visit us. Barnsley Market will continue to remain the focal point of our town centre and we are excited to see our traders move into their newly-refurbished home. It is a brilliant modern venue and one that we can all be proud of.

Councillor Roy Miller, Cabinet Spokesperson for Place, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

The rest of the new market will be completed at the start of November, in time for an official opening on Saturday 3 November, when the May Day Green and Market Parade traders will move into the new Barnsley Market Hall.