New Food Hall Opens in Oldham’s Historic Old Town Hall

A new food hall, complete with various stalls, a bar, and a dedicated seating area, has commenced operations within a historic town hall. This establishment, known as The Egyptian Room, launched this month inside Oldham’s Old Town Hall, situated in Greater Manchester. Its opening is a component of the local council’s multi-million pound refurbishment project for the edifice, which was originally inaugurated in 1841. The venue features five distinct food vendors, a bar, and provides seating for two hundred patrons, available both indoors and outdoors, alongside a newly constructed mezzanine level. Arooj Shah, who leads Oldham Council, stated: “The new modern food hall complements and showcases the building’s stunning Victorian architecture, making it a true one-of-a-kind venue.” She further commented: “It’s a great attraction to bring local people and visitors into the town centre, especially in the evenings, and will not only boost our local economy but also create jobs for residents.” The extensive renovation of the Grade II listed building, which also incorporated a new cinema, has reactivated the structure after a period of nearly 40 years out of use. However, The Egyptian Room specifically had remained vacant since the building’s overall reopening in 2016. Simon Smith, proprietor of the Caribbean food stall Seacoles, characterized the hall’s architecture as “inspiring”. He added: “I’m hoping for a very open atmosphere, getting young people in and business people in.” Smith also remarked: “The place can be opened up to many possibilities.” Among the initial visitors to the food hall were Lisa and Grace Marks, a mother and daughter. Lisa observed: “I think they’ve done a good job of preserving the room.“I’m pleasantly surprised by how busy it is for a Tuesday afternoon.” Alison Clough-Halstead, who journeyed from Rossendale specifically to visit the new food hall, commented: “I’d say it’s as good if not better [than other food halls in Greater Manchester].”“We’re very impressed with the food – that’s one of the nicest egg-fried rice I’ve had.”